Clear Braces in Timonium, MD: Straighten Your Teeth

If you have been looking for clear braces in Timonium, MD, the option offered at the office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is Invisalign: custom clear aligners that straighten teeth without brackets or wires. They come in three forms, Invisalign for adults, Invisalign Teen and Invisalign Express for minor tooth movements, and they sit alongside metal braces for complex cases and instant orthodontics with veneers and bonding. Which one suits you depends on how much your teeth and bite need to change, and that is what a consultation answers.

Plenty of adults in Timonium, Towson and Baltimore want straighter teeth but keep putting it off because they picture a mouth full of metal. This guide explains what “clear braces” can mean, how Invisalign clear aligners compare with braces day to day, what the treatment involves at this office, and how paying for it works.

What people mean by “clear braces”

“Clear braces” is an everyday phrase rather than a single treatment, and it is used for two quite different things.

Clear aligners

Clear aligners are a series of thin, custom-made trays that fit snugly over your teeth. Each set makes small, progressive movements, and you move on to the next set as your teeth shift. There are no brackets and no wires, and the trays come out when you eat and clean your teeth. Invisalign is the clear aligner system offered at this practice.

Ceramic braces

Ceramic braces work the same way as traditional braces, with brackets fixed to the teeth and a wire connecting them, but the brackets are tooth-colored or clear so they blend in more than metal. They are still fixed in place for the length of treatment. Ceramic braces are not among the orthodontic options listed on the practice’s pages, so if they are what you had in mind, the consultation is the place to talk through which of the available options fits your goals.

Metal braces

Metal braces are the most familiar orthodontic appliance. They are fixed to the teeth, highly visible, and well suited to complex orthodontic care.

Clear braces options at the Timonium office

Several orthodontic treatments are available in the same office, and Dr. Haywood helps you decide which one suits your case.

Invisalign

Invisalign uses custom-fitted clear aligners for the upper and lower teeth, worn in a series to move teeth gradually. The aligners are made of a smooth, BPA-free clear material, and they can address crowded or crooked teeth, gaps between the teeth and bite issues. Dr. Haywood is an Elite Invisalign Provider, a rank based on education and volume of experience.

Invisalign Teen

Invisalign Teen uses clear aligners designed specifically for teenagers. They are removable for meals and brushing, they will not draw attention to a teen’s smile the way brackets do, and they are built to make tracking progress easy. Invisalign Teen needs fewer appointments than most traditional treatments.

Invisalign Express

If your teeth need only minor movement, a full course of treatment may be more than you need. Invisalign Express is a thrifty way to achieve minor tooth movements.

Metal braces for complex cases

Metal braces are the most economical orthodontic option and suit complex work: adjusting the bite and function of the teeth as well as crowding, positioning and gaps. The practice uses the finest, thinnest yet strongest metal for comfort and efficacy.

Instant orthodontics

Sometimes crooked teeth can be changed without moving them at all. Instant orthodontics uses porcelain veneers, bonding, crowns and tooth and gum reshaping to transform crooked, gapped or discolored teeth in as little as one or two visits. Read more about dental veneers.

Clear aligners vs braces in everyday life

• How it looks. Invisalign aligners are clear and barely noticeable, so you can work on your smile without announcing that you are in treatment. Metal braces are visible every time you smile or speak.
• Eating. With braces, food gets stuck in brackets and appliances can be damaged. You take aligners out to eat and drink, so you keep enjoying a wide variety of foods.
• Cleaning. Aligners come out for brushing and flossing, so cleaning stays normal. Straight, uniform teeth are also easier to keep clean once treatment is done.
• Comfort. Brackets cemented to the teeth can irritate your cheeks. Aligners are smooth, custom-fitted trays and are comfortable to wear, though you may feel some pressure as teeth move.
• Responsibility. Braces work around the clock because they cannot come out. Aligners only work when they are worn, at least 22 hours a day, so they suit people ready to keep them in.

What problems can clear aligners correct?

Invisalign can address crowded or crooked teeth, which leave places for bacteria to collect, gaps between the teeth, and bite issues. Invisalign Teen can straighten minor misalignment. When a case is more complex, metal braces may be the better tool, and because the practice offers both, the recommendation can follow your teeth rather than a single appliance.

Straightening is not only cosmetic. With proper alignment and a correct bite, pressure is spread evenly when you bite down and each tooth works as intended, reducing the potential for excessive wear and breakage as you age. The need is not always obvious, either: problems such as TMJ disorder or grinding can hint at bite issues worth evaluating.

How Invisalign treatment works

1. A consultation. Whether aligners suit your teeth depends on the movement your case needs, which takes an actual look at your teeth rather than a guess from a photo. Your bite is evaluated before anything is recommended.
2. A 3D scan and a plan. The iTero Element scanner, used for Invisalign scans, creates a 3D visual of your teeth in about 2½ minutes, with less tendency toward gagging than traditional impressions. Dr. Haywood then designs a treatment plan around your needs, comfort and budget.
3. Wearing your aligners. Each set of custom aligners is worn for about two weeks, at least 22 hours a day. You take them out to eat, drink, brush and floss.
4. Watching your smile change. Every new set makes small, progressive movements. Treatment can take 18 to 24 months, depending on the complexity of your case.

If you want to speed things up, ask about AcceleDent Aura. This technology uses a mouthpiece and activator for 20 minutes a day and, according to the practice’s dental technology page, can decrease the duration of orthodontic treatment by up to 50%.

What do clear braces cost in Timonium?

There is no honest flat fee for clear aligners, because cost follows how much your teeth need to move and how long treatment takes. A case that needs only minor movement may suit Invisalign Express, while a case with crowding and bite issues needs a full course. Your fee is set once your plan is built.

The practice is out of network with insurance companies. You pay at the time of service, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for whatever orthodontic care it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome. Invisalign can be paid in monthly payments in the office after a down payment, and financing is also available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months. See financing options.

Why patients choose Dr. Haywood for orthodontic care

Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS has more than 35 years of experience and completed the U.S. Air Force advanced residency program, with internships that included orthodontics. Invisalign here is part of a full-service practice, so general, cosmetic and orthodontic care happen in the same Timonium office. That matters if you are also thinking about your smile beyond alignment: Invisalign can move teeth into a better position before a veneer makeover begins, and the two are often planned together. You can see before-and-after photos from patients of the practice in the smile gallery.

Frequently asked questions

Are clear aligners the same as clear braces?

Not exactly. “Clear braces” is used for both clear aligners and tooth-colored braces. Clear aligners have no brackets or wires and come out for eating and cleaning. At this office, the clear option is Invisalign.

Is Invisalign a good choice for adults?

For many adults, yes. Invisalign aligners are clear, barely noticeable and removable, and they can address crowding, gaps and bite issues. Whether they suit your teeth depends on the movement your case needs, which a consultation answers.

How long does Invisalign take?

Treatment can take 18 to 24 months, depending on the complexity of your case. Each set of aligners is worn for about two weeks, at least 22 hours a day.

Can crooked teeth be fixed without aligners or braces?

Sometimes. Instant orthodontics uses porcelain veneers, bonding, crowns and tooth and gum reshaping to change crooked, gapped or discolored teeth in as little as one or two visits. It changes how teeth look rather than moving them, so it is not the answer for every bite.

Contact the office about clear braces in Timonium

If crooked, crowded or gapped teeth have been holding back your smile, find out whether Invisalign clear aligners are right for you. Request a consultation or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, and adults and teens come for Invisalign from Timonium, Hunt Valley, Towson, Baltimore and Shrewsbury, PA.