Braces have come a long way in the last decade or so. When we were kids, you really only had one option- super visible metal. Today, you not only have so many fun colorful options, but you can also go with totally clear and virtually invisible braces. If you’re considering this option, read on for everything you need to know about aligner vs braces.
Clear Braces: Literally Everything You Need to Know
Dental braces are apparatus used in orthodontics that align and straighten teeth, promoting their movement towards the teeth’s correct position. In a more broad way, braces apply pressure on the teeth, moving them to a more straight smile. The bone ends up changing, allowing the teeth and their roots to change as well. Not only do they also improve a person’s bite, but they help people have a more aesthetic smile.
Some common reasons why people end up needing braces are overcrowded or crooked teeth, not enough spacing between them, lower teeth that bite far behind your upper ones (overbite), upper front teeth that bite behind your lower ones (under bite) and to improve the overall appearance of your smile.
In most cases, orthodontic treatment works well, but there is a tremendous need of commitment for your treatment and for the instructions of your orthodontist for it to be successful. This type of treatment can last a couple of years, depending on your teeth’s position, and is advisable to start as soon as possible, preferably during childhood.
There are various types of braces, such as traditional metal wired, gold-plated stainless steel, lingual, titanium, clear, and invisible aligners. Lately, clear braces have been having a lot of demand, because they’re practically invisible and an efficient, comfortable and adequate way to get a straight and healthy mouth. Here is some essential information about clear braces you should know. Since this is a quick overlook, if you want to learn more about them and what differs them from other types of braces, check out BracesBoss’ article on clear braces.
What Are Clear Braces?
Clear braces are identical to traditional metal wired ones, but they use translucent or white brackets and wires. They’re made of plastic poly-carbonate or ceramic brackets that attach to your teeth and, consequently, rectify your smile. Since they’re clear, they won’t be as noticeable as the classical metal ones and people won’t even realize that you are working on your smile.
How Much Time Does the Treatment Last?
Each person has their own conditions and teeth concerns, so the time between placing a brace and removing it will depend on misalignment, among other variables – only the dentist will really know how many months or even years you need to have this orthodontic device. Although, for mild to moderate cases, it can take at least between 12 to 24 months.
Who Can Wear Clear Braces?
This type of teeth treatment can reach its potential if used in children or teenagers, like any other type of braces, but anyone can use and still get a good result. The only big variable in the matter of correcting the teeth is their misalignment.
Clear Braces or Traditional Metal Wired?
The major difference over both braces is that the clear ones are a better choice if you want your apparatus to be subtle, because they’re less noticeable than the traditional metal wired with metallic silver brackets. Other characteristics you will want to be aware of is that clear ceramic braces are more sensitive and can crack over a smaller impact, so you won’t be able to move your teeth as fast and freely as the metal ones – if you play sports regularly, you may want to keep that in mind.
Clear Braces or Invisible Aligners?
Invisible aligners, or Invisalign, is a type of orthodontic treatment that makes your teeth straight without the use of the typical braces with an attached wire, as it involves wearing invisible plastic aligners that help moving your teeth into the proper position. Even though this treatment is extremely useful for aesthetic purposes and simple dental issues, clear braces are more functional and work more efficiently in fixing complex tooth issues, while also working faster.
How Much Does a Clear Brace Cost?
On average, from the time you put them on to the time they’re removed, clear braces will cost about $4,000 to $8,000. Metal braces, on the other hand, will go for about $3,000 to $6,000 and invisible aligners will typically cost between $3,000 to $8,000.
Do Clear Braces Stain?
Don’t worry! Clear braces don’t stain that easily, but there are some tips you can do in your routine to protect your brackets: brush and floss after every meal to remove any kind of food residues; avoid foods and drinks that leave stains or discoloration like coffee, tea or tomatoes; don’t smoke; don’t use whitening toothpaste (because of whitening agents); and see your dentist regularly to replace any stained brackets when needed. Trust me, these simple tips will almost guarantee an excellent outcome.
Smile!
As you can see, there is a diversity in types of braces but, in my opinion, if you want something effective, subtle and appealing, clear braces are an excellent option to move your teeth into the right position, improve the bite, and obtain an absolutely perfect smile. Here you should have all the information you need to know about them and their benefits, but only after you get one, you will really understand how well they work. Thank you for reading and remember – smile!
