Straighten Your Smile With Ease
When it comes to orthodontic treatments, you don’t need to settle for metal braces to straighten your smile. At Maniscalco Cosmetic & General Dentistry, we’re proud to offer alternatives to metal braces. Not every patient is the same, which is why we want to offer as many options as possible.
If you’re in the Birmingham area and the surrounding areas and are looking for alternatives to traditional metal braces, Dr. Maniscalco can help. Between our different options, we hope you can find one that’ll suit your lifestyle to help you achieve a beautiful and straight smile.
Benefits of Orthodontic Alternatives
Dr. Maniscalco believes that our patients should have a choice in the way they straighten their smiles. There are many benefits when you choose our alternatives to the traditional metal braces, such as:
- Discreet solutions
- Comfortable and less painful
- Removable aligner trays
- Shorter timeline than traditional metal braces
Ideal Candidates
While patients of all ages qualify for clear braces treatment, not all can get the treatment. Dr. Maniscalco looks for patients who have strong and healthy teeth and are responsible enough to follow the treatment plan. The ideal candidates for our orthodontic alternatives are those who are suffering from:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Gapped teeth
- Crooked or crowded teeth
ClearCorrect®
ClearCorrect is an American-made brand. During your consultation, Dr. Maniscalco will take impressions of your teeth, take X-rays and perform a dental exam. He’ll ask you about your medical history and your smile goals. If he deems ClearCorrect aligners are right for you, he’ll begin creating your treatment plan. He’ll then send your plan information off to the ClearCorrect lab where all of your aligners are custom manufactured.
Once we receive your aligners, you’ll come to our office and we’ll explain more in-depth about your plan and timeline. You’ll wear them for about two weeks before changing them for new aligners. You’ll also need to wear them for 22 hours per day at least, removing them only to eat, drink, or to brush and floss.
6 Month Smiles®
6 Month Smiles treatment is ideal for adults ages 16 and older who want an expedited orthodontic treatment. This treatment is recommended for patients who only have mild cases that need fixing. Just like its name, this treatment will be completed within six months.
This treatment is a nearly clear option that looks similar to traditional metal braces. The difference is, that they’re made with tooth-colored wires and clear brackets, making your treatment less noticeable. You’ll return about every six weeks for adjustments and your treatment should be completed in about six months.
Red, White & Blue Aligners®
Despite their name, Red, White & Blue Aligners aren’t actually red, white, and blue. Instead, they’re actually clear, they’re a lot like ClearCorrect because they’re clear aligners that are used to gradually move your teeth into their ideal position.
This treatment starts off wearing in this order:
- “Red” labeled aligners
- “White” aligners
- “Blue” aligners
- Retainer
These aligners are designed to deal with minor problems like crowding or spacing. If you need a bite correction, this might not be the right option for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our braces alternatives aren’t as painful as the traditional braces. However, once you start your treatment and begin to wear them, you may experience some discomfort and soreness. This will go away once you get used to wearing your clear aligners or braces.
The pain can be alleviated with over-the-counter pain medications. Though, if the pain continues, contact our Birmingham office at (205) 967-9100 to schedule an appointment.
Not only is it aesthetically unappealing, but it can affect your overall health. Straight teeth can protect your oral health and help your mouth function properly. Leaving your teeth misaligned can bring harm to your oral and overall health, such as:
- Affects your speaking and eating abilities
- Higher risks of oral infections
- Risks of advanced gum disease
- Risks of tooth decay
- TMJ Disorder
- Reduce self-confidence