What Are Clear Braces?
There are two kinds of clear braces for teeth. The first is a clear aligner system like Invisalign. The other is slightly more visible but still a much more aesthetically pleasing option called ceramic braces. Let’s look at both of them briefly.
The Invisalign clear aligner system is a set of clear aligners that you switch out every few weeks for a new set, gradually moving your teeth to their new positions. At the end of your treatment, you will get a final set of trays to use as your retainers.
Ceramic braces are made from a light colored ceramic that will closely match the color of your teeth. They are like metal braces in that they are a bracket and wire system, but they are much less visible than metal braces are. Even the wire is a lighter colored metal to add to the translucency. Ceramic braces are affixed to the teeth with a bit of glue and will work every day, all day just like metal braces. We’ll look at each of these types in more detail in just a moment.
What Are the Benefits of Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners near me like Invisalign have a great advantage over bracket and wire braces in that they are removable. That makes it a lot easier to eat and brush and floss your teeth. Bracket and wire braces are susceptible to catching food particles in them and making it harder to keep your teeth clean. You often need to get special devices to help keep braces clean like floss threaders or water irrigation devices.
Also, when you have bracket and wire braces, you need to take care to not eat certain foods, like corn on the cob, whole apples, sticky foods, or other hard foods because they can cause damage to the braces by bending the wire or even snapping off a bracket or two. With Invisalign, those problems are gone, because you simply take them out and store them in their case while you eat whatever you want to eat.
Clear aligners are also completely transparent, so you can get the orthodontic care you need without anyone seeing your devices on your teeth. They are smooth so they will not cause any irritation on the insides of your cheeks, and they can even be worn during sports so you don’t have to have any special mouth guards to protect your teeth and braces from impact, though you certainly can choose to wear one if you wish.
How Do Clear Braces Work?
Depending on the type of clear braces near me you get, they will work slightly differently. Ultimately, both styles will move your teeth gently over the course of a few months to a couple of years by applying pressure to them. As the teeth move, your arches will be in better alignment, and your teeth will be straighter.
Invisalign clear aligners work by using clear plastic trays custom fit to your teeth to move them, then when the trays get loose, they are switched for a new set to continue the process. If you have more significant issues, your orthodontist may also use the SmartForce attachments on select teeth to increase the amount of pressure applied to the teeth.
Clear ceramic braces work just like traditional metal braces. They are affixed to the teeth using dental safe adhesive, and they are connected by an archwire. The archwire is held in place by elastics that can be either translucent or in fun colors, but if you have chosen ceramic braces for aesthetics, you will likely not be wanting to draw attention to your teeth.
Who Can Wear Clear Braces And Aligners?
Anyone! Every tween, teen, or adult who has healthy teeth and jaws is able to wear either type of braces. Some patients may benefit more from ceramic braces as compared to Invisalign, while other patients can use either style because their orthodontic issues are less severe.
For younger children, Invisalign is not recommended because they are more likely to take out the aligner trays or lose them. Regular braces that are affixed are more suitable for kids. However, Invisalign has introduced some features that give parents the opportunity to check their tweens’ and teens’ use of the aligners. A blue mark that fades with time indicates whether the kids are using their trays for at least 22 hours a day.
What Are The Advantages Of Clear Braces?
Clear braces for adults like ceramic braces are much less visible than traditional metal braces, making them a popular choice for adults who want the speed of bracket and wire braces, but don’t want to have the visibility of the metal braces. They are also a great choice for teens who might feel self-conscious about wearing metal braces, or don’t want to have their school pictures taken with a lot of visible metal.
They are also more comfortable than metal brackets because the brackets tend to be smaller and are more rounded, so they won’t rub as much against the insides of your cheeks.
Do Clear Braces Turn Yellow Or Stain?
Clear ceramic braces near me can stain over time, particularly if you eat or drink a lot of staining foods like tomatoes, blueberries, red wine, brown sodas, coffee and tea, or turmeric. But, the new materials used now are less prone to staining than the first clear braces were.
Clear aligners are not likely to stain as much because they are removable while you eat, so they will not pick up the tannins or other staining properties from food. They are also traded out frequently so they do not have the ability to get stained.
How Much Do Clear Braces Cost?
Both types of clear braces near me cost about the same – between $4,000 and $8,000. They are slightly more expensive than traditional metal braces, but as you can see they have a lot of advantages, so for many the extra cost is worthwhile.
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