Straight teeth allow you to bite, chew and speak more efficiently than crooked teeth. Additionally, straight teeth will keep a number of ailments away more effectively. Not to mention that straight teeth are the foundation for an even, regular, healthier and aesthetically pleasing smile.

There are a number of alignment problems which call for tooth alignment and straightening, such as tooth overcrowding and malocclusion (poor bite). Malocclusion includes overbite (upper teeth are too far forward of lower teeth when you bite down), underbite (lower teeth are forward of upper teeth when you bite down) and crossbite (upper teeth are too far left, or right, of lower teeth when you bite down). Each of these alignment problems causes impaired functionality and negatively impacts your appearance.

Straight teeth are much easier to clean than crooked teeth. Crooked teeth result in some areas being difficult to clean properly. If all areas are not properly cleaned, the result is formation of pockets of bacteria, infection and, eventually periodontitis. Additionally, crooked teeth can make it impossible to achieve proper jaw alignment, which leads to a debilitating and painful condition known as TemporoMandibular (TMJ) disorder.

Straight teeth produce a strong wall of teeth. Crooked teeth result in all sorts of mechanical complications, such as protruding teeth and teeth that put increased, undue strain on their neighbors, resulting in a weaker wall that is much more prone to injury than a straight wall. Additionally, crooked teeth cause some teeth to work harder than others when biting or chewing, resulting in uneven tooth wear.

Often the main concern people have about braces is the poor aesthetics of a metal appliance on their smile. For adults, wearing ugly metal braces for long periods of time is a problem. Invisalign offers an almost invisible aligning system that straightens teeth quickly, contains no metal and has no perceivable negative aesthetic consequences.

Invisalign consists of a series of custom fabricated aligning trays. The dentist changes the alignment trays every several weeks to make progress in the alignment process and to fit the new configuration of your teeth. Each new set of trays brings your teeth closer to their proper, ultimate alignment. The Invisalign alignment trays can be removed temporarily and thus the patient is in control of the duration of the overall treatment.

Both Invisalign and braces will be effective in treating a wide variety of alignment cases, such as malocclusion (overbite, underbite, crossbite), crowding, uneven spacing and crooked teeth. Both Invisalign and braces cost about the same.

Invisalign, however, is the only procedure that allows you to eat all the foods you want. It is also the only one to offer almost invisible alignment treatment, with the added option of removing the alignment trays entirely for that special occasion. It also allows you to brush and floss your teeth normally by simply removing the alignment tray momentarily.