Teeth Straightening Options

Dr. Mark Grucella • Feb 21, 2020

If you don’t have naturally perfect straight teeth, don’t worry, you’re not alone! Most people don’t for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless, we all take notice of those who do have perfectly straight teeth, whether they are natural or had the help of one of the many teeth straightening options outlined below.

The benefits of straight teeth should not be focused merely on aesthetics. Functionality is even more important. Straight teeth, along with proper care, help avoid many types of common oral health problems like tooth decay, periodontal disease, and jaw pain.

If you think traditional metal braces are the only option for straightening teeth, think again. Today, there are many options available that can fit almost any budget.

Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are stainless-steel brackets that are attached to teeth with metal wires connecting the brackets together. Metal braces have been around a long time and are proven effective in correcting teeth alignment issues. These types of braces are usually the most inexpensive option, but as most people know, they aren’t the most attractive or the most comfortable. Not to mention the time commitment to maintain and clean them.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are similar to the metal braces described above. However, the brackets and wires associated with these types of braces are attached behind the teeth which helps hide them from view. While you can conceal, you can’t hide the discomfort and limitations associated with lingual braces. People who wear these types of braces should avoid crunchy foods and often times, the braces cause them to speak with a lisp. Another side effect is tongue irritation. As a person wearing lingual braces speaks, or eats, their tongue will rub against the brackets and wires. A lubricating wax can be applied to the braces to help address the irritation, but even then, they can be a challenge.

Invisible Aligners

Due to their inconspicuousness, invisible aligners such as SureSmile® (link to internal website page) are a very popular option today, especially with adults. Invisible aligners are easy to remove and are made of clear plastic that is almost undetectable. Someone enrolled in an invisible aligner program receives new aligners at scheduled periods of time which sequentially move the teeth slightly closer together each time until the ideal alignment position is reached. Because they can be readily removed, cleaning is easy, and discomfort is minimal. However, invisible aligners do have their limitations. For example, they are not effective at treating severe teeth alignment problems like large gaps or twisted teeth.

Veneers and Lumineers

Veneers and Lumineers will not correct misaligned teeth. Rather, they serve to cover or mask the imperfections. Veneers and Lumineers are thin, porcelain shells applied to the surface of teeth. To apply veneers, a dentist must alter or reshape a natural tooth so the veneer will fit properly and have a natural appearance. On the other hand, Lumineers are thin enough that natural teeth do not have to be altered or reshaped.

Questions to Ask Yourself

There are a variety of questions to ask yourself and factors to consider when trying to decide what teeth straightening option is best for you. Here are just a few:

How extreme are your teeth misalignment issues?
Are you experiencing jaw pain or difficulty eating?
Are you trying to permanently correct misaligned teeth, or just mask to improve appearance?
Is it important that the teeth straightening option isn’t readily visible to others?
What’s your budget?

Contact Us to Learn More

If straightening your teeth is something you’re exploring, we invite you to contact us so you can further evaluate teeth straightening options available to you and learn more. Please call us at 330-733-7911 or send us a message from our website at any time.

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By Dr. Mark Grucella, DDS • 26 Jul, 2023

Oral health plays a significant role in our overall health, both physical and mental. Therefore, it’s beneficial and rewarding to think about oral health every day. There are national awareness months throughout the year that focus attention on different aspects of oral health and the importance of taking care of ourselves with good practices, routines, and professional care. Here are some of the months receiving national recognition for different types of oral health topics:

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Just Like Halloween, There’s Really Nothing To Fear

By Dr. Mark Grucella • 22 Oct, 2022

Halloween can understandably be a scary time of year. Afterall, when October rolls around, we start seeing the emergence of witches, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, vampires, bats, spiders, and everything else that can make the hair on the backs of our necks stand up. But then, October 31 st comes and goes, and we realize, there really wasn’t anything to fear in the first place. It was just our worries, anxieties, or the unknown running wild and getting the better of us. Time and time again, our new patients tell us how dental care can be a lot like Halloween. They have anxiety because of the unknown, or they had an unfavorable experience in the past that resulted in a reluctance to continue to seek care on a regular basis. We are proud to say we were a breath of fresh air for these patients. Once they came to us, they discovered there really wasn’t anything to fear and now look forward to each and every appointment so they can enjoy the many benefits of routine dental care. As we like to say, “Our Dental Care Does Not Scare” and here’s why: Friendly, Fun, Non-Judgmental Style of Care When patients come to one of our three Akron-Canton area dentist offices, they find a welcoming and friendly team of professionals focused only on the comfort, care, and well-being of our patients. We also like to have some fun! In addition to being dedicated dental professionals, we are sports fans who like to support our teams. When there’s a big game, you’ll see each of us wearing our favorite team’s jersey whether it’s the Guardians, Browns, and yes, even the Steelers. Holidays also provide us with great opportunities throughout the year to incorporate some fun by decorating our offices and ourselves with the applicable ornamentation. What’s really special is watching how our patients love to join in on the fun and dress up for the big games and holidays too! Informing and Empowering Our Patients Before we proceed with any type of care, we provide our patients with all the information, explanations, and answers to questions they want. Costs are also shared up-front so approval can be given and there are no surprises. We make sure our patients are always in charge of their individual care. Navigating Dental Insurance Benefits Like any type of insurance, dental benefits can get complicated. What’s covered? What’s not? Am I taking full advantage of all my dental insurance benefits? These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions by our patients. We help you navigate your dental insurance plan and understand all your benefits. No Dental Insurance, No Problem Not everyone has a dental insurance plan and the ability to minimize their out-of-pocket dental care cost. That’s why we created an in-house discount dental plan. It helps our patients who are not covered by dental insurance save on everything from cleanings and fillings to cosmetic procedures and crowns. See Why There’s Nothing To Fear While many people put off dental care because of worries or anxieties, we invite you to give us a try by scheduling an appointment at one of our three Akron-Canton area dental office locations. Please call us at 330-733-7911 or send us a request for an appointment here on our website by visiting this link: REQUEST APPOINTMENT Just like Halloween, we’re confident you are going to see there really is nothing to fear. In fact, you may just find you’ll have some fun!