When I was a child, you had to have very crooked teeth in order to get braces. Barely any of my classmates had braces, and I was definitely not jealous of the metal in their mouths. As I have gotten older, however, I have often found myself wondering what it would be like to have perfectly straight teeth. It seems like everyone now visits an orthodontist, and I am feeling left out.

No adult wants to be caught dead with a mouth full of metal braces. It can be embarrassing for a professional to face their colleagues wearing something so juvenile. When I first heard about invisible braces, I became very intrigued. Are you telling me that I can have perfectly straight teeth without any of the metal?

At my last dental cleaning, I decided to ask my dentist about the invisible braces. He offers the most popular brand, Invisalign, in his office. My teeth are almost straight, but I do have some unwanted spaces between some of them. Since my case is very minor, I am considered an ideal candidate for the treatment.

Patients who undergo Invisalign treatment are given a series of clear plastic trays called aligners. The aligners gradually shift the teeth into the desired position. Each aligner is worn for a few weeks, and then the next tray is used. Treatment can last between one to three years, with the average being about two. When worn on the teeth, the aligners are almost undetectable. I once met a person wearing Invisalign trays, and I did not notice until she told me she was wearing them.

The plastic aligners are worn all of the time, except when eating. Since they are completely removed during meals, the patient does not have to avoid any foods, like with traditional braces. Patients are also able to remove the aligners for special occasions, such as weddings, for Invisalign-free photos.

Will I choose to get Invisalign? Quite possibly. They are still very expensive - sometimes more than traditional braces - but I feel the advantage of being unnoticeable is worth the cost.