On top of creating a smile that helps you feel confident, straight teeth also offer several benefits for your oral health, including better dental hygiene, better gum health, a reduction in abnormal jaw stress and headaches, and a boost in your general health.
In today’s modern world, dentistry can easily help you overcome the issue of having misaligned teeth. To either correct your smile or lessen the look of crooked teeth, orthodontists can suggest one of many teeth-straightening procedures. Two of the most well-known methods are clear braces and aligners. To help you understand clear braces and clear aligners better, this article will provide you with the information you need to know about them, including their benefits and drawbacks.
Clear Braces
Clear braces are comparable to traditional metal braces. They effectively straighten the teeth after you wear them for a certain period. However, clear braces are less obvious than their traditional counterparts since they are composed of transparent or tooth-colored materials and clear brackets.
Clear braces are typically constructed of ceramic or sapphire because, in addition to matching the color of the teeth, the color doesn’t fade with time and these materials are particularly durable.
Clear braces can fix the same dental problems that metal braces may treat, such as overbites, underbites, crooked teeth, and crowding. Depending on the condition of the teeth, the majority of patients may need to wear fixed braces for somewhere between 18 and 24 months. The procedure for clear braces is precisely the same as that for metal braces. To put it simply, clear braces are like traditional braces but are less obvious while being worn because of the materials used to create them. People tend to be less conscious that they are using braces to straighten their teeth. As a result, many dentists provide transparent braces for adults and teenagers.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are transparent teeth-alignment devices that are used to fix misaligned teeth. The main difference clear aligners have from clear braces is that clear aligners are removable — unlike braces that are fixed on the teeth for months to years. Clear aligners accomplish the same goal as braces but are more practical because they can be taken out and help you have straight teeth covertly. They provide several benefits to individuals who do not want to deal with any disturbances in their lives; after temporarily removing them, you can still enjoy all of your favorite foods and brush and floss as normal.
Clear aligners are most popularly known by the Invisalign brand name and look a bit like a mouthguard. The Invisalign system is a transparent, removable aligner system that is made specifically for your teeth. Invisalign aligners are made of durable medical-grade plastic and gradually move your teeth into their corrected positions. Most people won’t even notice you are wearing these aligners because they are practically undetectable.
Pros and Cons
Clear Braces Pros
Less visible compared to metal braces
Highly effective in fixing orthodontic issues
Do not compromise the patient’s smile
Discreetly straighten teeth
Do not interfere with imaging tests
Clear Braces Cons
More expensive than metal braces
Brackets can stain if not taken care of properly
Usually not covered by medical or dental insurance policies
Less durable compared to metal braces
Needs regular dentist visit
Clear Aligners Pros
Discreetly straighten teeth
Minimum food or dietary restrictions
Removable
Comfortable
Do not cause severe pain
Easier to clean teeth
Fewer dentist visits
Clear Aligners Cons
Need to wear them for about 22 hours per day
Not recommended for teeth that are extremely crooked or misaligned
Your teeth will not require more frequent brushing and flossing
Choose a Reliable Orthodontic Service
Both transparent braces and clear aligners work well to straighten teeth; it simply depends on what best suits your needs. More importantly, you should get any straightening device directly from qualified specialists.
Bay Area Orthodontics is the top Sunnyvale orthodontist that offers the finest orthodontic services. Regardless of the method you choose to straighten your teeth, we at Bay Area Orthodontics are committed to helping you achieve the smile of your dreams using the most cutting-edge orthodontic technologies and techniques available.