Dental-care has changed over the years.  People have known that you need to clean and care for your teeth for a very long time, but the way in which we do so has changed a lot.  A lot more people get their teeth straightened today than in the past.  That is because the ways in which teeth straightening is done have become easier.  Braces are still the standard, but alternative products like Invisalign are becoming increasingly prevalent.  Invisalign is different from braces because it is less uncomfortable and less noticeable.  Braces utilize lots of metal brackets and wires.  Invisalign relies simply on a piece of thin transparent material.  The principle of how the two devices work is pretty much the same, though.  In both situations, the teeth are pushed into their proper place by the pressure created by the design of the contraption.  Invisalign is becoming more popular because it has a few advantages over traditional braces.  Invisalign is not very noticeable, since it is made of a transparent material.  In general, people cannot tell that your teeth are being straightened.  Also, Invisalign is less uncomfortable than regular braces.  Ordinary braces can get pretty unpleasant because they generate a lot of pressure in your mouth.  I had braces when I was young, and they were fairly painful for the first few days.  Some dentists specialize in teeth procedures that have a cosmetic benefit, such as braces or Invisalign.  If you simply want to get your teeth straightened for cosmetic reasons, you should go see a cosmetic dentist.