What Are Clear Braces?
Clear braces are constructed from either a plastic or ceramic material. They are similar to Conventional braces made of metal, but these are made of material that allows the brackets to be transparent. Therefore, clear braces can also include clear wire braces.
How Do Clear Braces Function?
Clear braces are attached to each tooth individually in the same manner as traditional metal braces. They are then connected with a wire. Teeth are manipulated via delicate placement of the brackets by your orthodontist in order to manage them into correct alignment. It's possible that you may use a white archwire, which makes the braces less obvious from a distance.
Clear ceramic braces require careful maintenance to keep your teeth clean and healthy, especially considering that there are now areas that are more difficult to reach with conventional brushing. Even though they can be a little discomforting during the initial days of wear, be mindful of the position of your lips, and utilizing dental wax can help reduce mouth sores and abrasions.
Invisalign vs. Clear Braces
Invisible braces and clear braces should not be confused with one another. However, their names are similar enough to one another that it is easy to get them mixed up. Thankfully, there are a few key differences that help to differentiate between the two types of braces.
Clear braces function just the same as their more visible metallic counterparts, while invisible braces operate with a plastic aligner tray that is transparent. Only a dentist can remove clear braces which are fixed to your teeth, while invisible braces are removable and are required to be taken out prior to eating a meal. Clear braces can be used or even the most severe cases of tooth missing alignments and malocclusions, while invisible braces can only handle moderate cases at worst.
Who Are Clear Braces Suitable For?
The teeth and jaw are developing the most during the teenage years. Therefore, braces are often the most impactful at straightening teeth and forming space in the palate during this stage of life. However, never discount the use of braces in adulthood; adults can undertake even rigorous orthodontic procedures and experience stellar results!
Adults frequently feel more self-conscious about wearing braces, so clear braces are ideal for those who are experiencing “braces shyness.” With invisible aligners added to the mix, it's possible that people won't even know that you're wearing braces at all.
If you have a severe case of misaligned teeth, you may not be able to use Invisalign. However, in roughly 90% of orthodontic cases, Invisalign can be utilized to adjust teeth slowly over time. It's important to consider that Invisalign does cost more than traditional braces, even clear ones, by between a 40-70% margin depending on the length of treatment required to achieve the desired results.
Cleaning Your Teeth With Clear Braces
After selecting the appropriate clear braces for your needs, your orthodontist will instruct you on how to maintain your braces and clean your teeth properly. A bit of extra time is required every day since braces have so many unique angles and spaces where food can get lodged and form bacteria.
Ideally, it's best to clean your braces and teeth immediately after eating. If this isn't practical at the moment, attempt to rinse your mouth thoroughly with a sip of water. You can then later run an interdental cleaner or a floss threader below the archwire in order to achieve a more thorough cleaning of your clear braces.
It's important to remember that foods and substances that are prone to staining teeth such as coffee, turmeric, and cigarettes we'll also stain your clear braces. For health and aesthetic reasons, it's important to discuss your eating habits with your orthodontist and dentist in order to make sure that your diet is compatible with your oral hygiene.
Fruge Orthodontics has been providing clear braces in Denham Springs to straighten teeth for decades. If you’d like to join the long list of happy patients with glowing smiles, contact our office today to schedule an appointment!