How to Choose the Right Braces for Your Lifestyle

Nobody’s day-to-day life looks exactly like the person sitting next to them. When you’re committing to something like orthodontic treatment, there can be a lot to question and evaluate—but you won’t have to do this on your own. In fact, at Mack Orthodontics, we work closely with you to choose the right braces for your lifestyle.

Explaining Your Options

We employ three main approaches when creating a straighter smile for you. The appliance we settle on will depend on many questions and the individual characteristics of each patient. This is a highly thorough consultation process completed in partnership with Dr. Mack.

  1. Traditional Metal Braces: These are made of stainless steel, advanced shape-memory NiTi wire, and can stand up to the needs of kids and adults alike. They can also be customizable with colorful bands or additional elements to target problem areas.
  2. LightForce Clear Braces: A specialized discreet option that blends with your teeth with the same excellent functionality of metal braces.
  3. Clear Aligners: These clear, removable aligners are beloved for their flexibility and convenience, especially by teenagers and adults.
How to Choose the Right Braces for Your Lifestyle

Five Important Questions

When it comes to choosing one of these options, it can all seem a little overwhelming at first! After all, you’ll be sticking with your choice for several months or even a couple of years. Considering the following five points to help narrow things down further with Dr. Mack’s assistance can be helpful.

  1. Aesthetics

Do you prefer a treatment that’s less noticeable? This can be related to your professional life or simply how you wish to look. Clear ceramic braces and Invisalign are great options for those who want to maintain a subtle appearance. Metal braces, though more visible, might still be the best choice for some patients due to complex issues

  1. Orthodontic Needs

Some treatments work better for specific dental issues. Metal braces are highly effective for multi-layered treatments—for example, treatments that might need to address issues with the jaw first—while Invisalign is usually ideal for mild to moderate alignment problems. Sometimes these needs will take precedence over appearance.

  1. Lifestyle and Habits

For those who lead a very active lifestyle, especially in terms of playing contact sports, having a mouthguard incorporated into treatment is always necessary. Metal braces are more durable than ceramic braces, so they might be an ideal choice. Or a patient may opt for Invisalign since they can fully remove their aligners and put in their mouthguard as needed. This is really up to the patient.

  1. Time and Commitment

If a patient is incredibly busy and may have issues attending appointments for manual adjustments, traditional metal or clear braces might not be the best choice. Invisalign can be managed with far fewer appointments, but this flexibility is offset by an increased need for compliance (i.e., keeping your aligners in 20-22 hours each day).

  1. Budget and Insurance

At Mack Orthodontics, you can absolutely rely on us to help you handle matters of insurance claims and financing with ease. However, coverage can vary depending on factors like your insurance provider, age, or the motivation for treatment (medical vs. cosmetic). The great news is that you won’t have to navigate these questions alone. In fact, our office teams work diligently to do so on your behalf.

Why Choose Us?

In addition to all of these factors, your choice of provider will set up the entire trajectory of your treatment. So, why should you choose Mack Orthodontics? We have a few good reasons!

  • An Outstanding Orthodontist: Dr. Mack stands apart from many doctors in his field. He is a board-certified orthodontist—a distinction held by only 25% of orthodontists nationwide and spent 11 years training to take care of your smile with excellence. In other words, you can trust him completely.
  • More Than A Number: Patients are treated like individuals first and foremost.  Dr. Mack will carefully review your X-rays and diagnostics to create a customized treatment plan just for you. This bespoke approach contributes to how we help accommodate your lifestyle when deciding on treatment options. 
  • A North Carolinian Cadence: We love the families of Burlington and Hillsborough and have a special understanding of their needs. Our two offices are conveniently located to give you care that’s close to your home, school, or work. 
How to Choose the Right Braces for Your Lifestyle

The Start of a New Adventure

If you’re a little nervous to initiate orthodontic treatment—please don’t be! Our team is very good at what we do, and we promise to make the transition into your treatment as seamless as possible for you or your loved ones. Stop by and visit us soon for a free consultation!