Clear Braces: Cost, Benefits and How to Clean
What Are Clear Braces?
Clear braces, sometimes referred to as transparent braces, are orthodontic appliances designed to correct teeth and bite misalignments. In other words, clear braces can straighten your teeth and align your bite more ideally to enhance the appearance and function of your smile. Sometimes, clear aligners or transparent aligners are also grouped within the category of clear braces. Both clear braces and aligners work similarly to traditional braces but also have distinct differences. Read on to learn more.
Clear Braces vs. Metal Braces: Key Differences
In this section we will discuss clear braces vs metal and aligners vs braces:
- Appearance: Clear braces or transparent teeth braces and clear aligners are less noticeable in appearance and blend in more with your natural teeth than metal braces. However, clear braces and aligners may be more prone to staining than metal braces.
- Cost: Clear braces and aligners tend to be more expensive than metal braces, which is often a result of material and lab costs.
- Material: Clear braces and aligners are commonly made from ceramic and thermoplastic materials, respectively. Metal braces are often made from stainless steel, titanium alloys, or chromium-nickel-cobalt alloys.
- Durability: The difference in material composition between clear braces, aligners, and traditional metal braces can account for their differences in durability. Metal braces tend to be more durable and less likely to break than clear braces and aligners.
- Comfort: Clear aligners may provide less irritation to the mouth than clear braces and metal braces due to their smooth surfaces.
- Effectiveness: Clear braces, aligners, and metal braces can all be effective orthodontic appliances for improving a wide range mild to moderate dental issues. However, metal braces may provide greater efficiency for more complex misalignments.
Effectiveness of Clear Braces
Transparent braces can be as effective as traditional metal braces for treating many mild to moderate orthodontic issues. This includes teeth crowding and spacing, overbites, open bites, underbites, crossbites, and more. However, your orthodontist may recommend metal braces over clear braces or aligners in certain instances, depending on factors such as compliance and case complexity.
Why Choose Clear Braces?
There are many reasons to choose transparent teeth braces. You should consult with a dentist or orthodontist to determine if you are a good candidate for clear braces. Some common dental issues that can be treated with clear braces include:
Malocclusion: Misalignment of teeth when the jaws are closed.
Malocclusion can impact your smile more than just by appearance. When your teeth do not come together properly your oral hygiene, speech, breathing, and chewing ability can be negatively impacted.
Overbites: When the upper front teeth excessively overlap the lower front teeth.
An overbite can cause frustrating symptoms such as jaw pain and stiffness, headaches, earaches, and neck pain. Overbites may also result in gum irritation and tooth enamel wear over time.
Underbites: When the lower teeth protrude past the upper front teeth.
An underbite, also referred to as Class III malocclusion or crossbite can cause jaw pain, headaches and earaches, neck pain, difficulty chewing, and tooth wear if untreated.
Crossbites: Misalignment where upper teeth sit inside lower teeth when biting down.
Crossbites can be present in the front (anterior crossbite) or back (posterior crossbite)of the mouth. Crossbites may cause headaches, jaw pain, tongue or cheek-biting, airway issues, and speech problems.
Open bites: A gap between the upper and lower teeth when the jaws are closed.
Similar to crossbites, an open bite can affect the front teeth (anterior open bite) or the back teeth (posterior open bite). Open bites often cause difficulty speaking and chewing.
Crowding: Lack of space in the jaw, causing teeth to overlap or twist.
Dental crowding is one of the most common orthodontic problems. Crowding can affect how well you’re able to remove dental plaque between the teeth and impact the appearance and function of your teeth.
Gaps or spaces: Noticeable spaces between teeth due to missing teeth or jaw size mismatch.
Gaps, also called diastemas, can cause food to become easily trapped between your teeth and promote decay. Gaps may also impact your speech and chewing ability.
How Do Clear Braces Work?
Transparent braces, like metal braces, apply consistent gentle pressure to your teeth over time to shift them into their ideal positions. Your dental professional will continue to adjust the braces by changing the wires at regular check-up appointments to guide the teeth to proper alignment. Elastomeric bands may be used during treatment per the instruction of your orthodontist to improve the bite.
What Are the Benefits of Clear Braces?
Invisible braces offer many benefits. Here are some of the most common benefits of clear braces:
- Natural appearance: Clear braces offer a discreet way to enhance your smile, as the shade of the appliances blend in with your natural teeth.
- Boosts confidence: As your smile and bite improve, you’ll notice a boost in your self-esteem and confidence.
- Enhanced comfort: clear aligners have smooth edges designed to be gentle to your gums.
- Improved oral health: Better teeth alignment leads to less risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and the development of other dental issues. Those with clear aligners also have the benefit of being able to take the aligners off to brush and floss normally.
- Improved chewing and speech: As your bite and teeth move into their desired positions, you may begin to notice improvement in how you chew and speak.
- Treatment time: In some cases, clear braces may offer a reduced treatment time in comparison to metal braces. Speak with your dentist to determine your treatment options and their associated duration.
Getting Started With Clear Braces
Getting started with transparent teeth braces can be exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. We’re here to settle your nerves. Take a look at how you can get prepared for clear braces:
Preparing for clear braces: What to expect.
Knowing if you’re right for clear teeth braces starts with an initial consultation with your dentist or orthodontist. Photographs, dental X-rays, and other diagnostic tools may be taken to help develop a treatment plan. Your dentist will discuss with you all the ins and outs of your case and the proposed treatment plan, along with how long you can expect to be in treatment. Be prepared for change, as orthodontic appliances may temporarily take a few days to get used to. This adjustment includes making certain diet modifications, such as avoiding foods that are hard, sticky, and chewy. Expect to maintain a good oral hygiene routine and to go in for check-ups approximately every 6-8 weeks.
How clear braces are applied.
Your dentist will first start by briefly cleaning your teeth to ensure the adhesive bonds properly. A mouth retractor may be placed to prevent saliva from contacting your teeth and disrupting the bonding process. An etchant gel is applied to the teeth and then rinsed off the teeth and air dried. Your dentist will then bond the brackets to your teeth in their ideal positions using dental cement. Once the brackets are light-cured to stay in place, a wire will be secured to the brackets.
Life With Clear Braces
Life with clear braces can be easy breezy. Here are some tips on how to adjust after treatment:
Adjusting after getting clear braces: What to expect.
Luckily, adjusting to life after getting clear braces can be simple. You may initially experience mild discomfort or pressure on your teeth, but this tends to go away after a few days. If discomfort or oral sores arise, over-the-counter pain medication such as Ibuprofen, and orthodontic wax can help alleviate irritation. Saltwater rinses can also help soothe irritated oral tissues. Opt for soft foods for the first couple of days after getting braces and your adjustment appointments to help minimize discomfort while eating.
Do clear braces stain or turn yellow?
Transparent orthodontic braces made from ceramic typically do not stain or turn yellow. However, consistent consumption of items with strong dyes can lead to staining and discoloration if not properly maintained. Be sure to practice good oral hygiene and limit foods and beverages well-known to stain teeth (i.e. coffee, tea, red wine, curry, beets).
Durability: Do clear braces break more easily than metal ones?
Transparent orthodontic braces are more likely to break than metal ones. Clear braces are fragile and care should be taken when eating foods to avoid damaging your braces and teeth throughout your orthodontic treatment. As a result of their fragility, clear braces may require more frequent repairs during treatment.
Common myths about invisible braces.
There are several common myths about invisible braces to debunk:
Myth #1: Invisible braces are less effective than metal braces
- The truth is that invisible braces can be just as effective as traditional braces for many mild to moderate orthodontic cases. However, some complex cases may not qualify for invisible braces depending on a variety of factors based on your dentist’s recommendations.
Myth #2: Invisible braces are only for adults
- Invisible braces can be used for both children, teens, and adults. With new and innovative technology, clear aligners and braces can be used for early intervention orthodontic treatment even while baby teeth are present and the permanent teeth are still developing.
Myth #3: Invisible braces are not affordable
- Fortunately, many dental insurance plans offer coverage for invisible braces. The cost of invisible braces may even be similar or cheaper than metal braces depending on a variety of factors. Speak with your dental provider to determine your treatment cost options.
Cost and Duration of Clear Braces
Cost and duration are important factors to consider when deciding if clear braces are right for you. Continue reading to learn more.
Are clear braces more expensive than other types?
On average, clear braces tend to be more expensive than other types of braces, as they often have higher material and lab costs. Clear braces may also require more frequent maintenance, which can influence cost.
How long will you need to wear them?
The length of time you will need to wear clear braces depends on your dental professional’s recommendation. Treatment length time can depend on various factors, including the complexity of your dental needs, age, and compliance.
Eating With Clear Braces
Monitoring what foods you consume with clear braces is necessary throughout treatment. Certain foods can impact the results and length of your treatment time in clear braces, as they can cause damage to your braces and teeth. Take a look and what you should and shouldn’t eat with clear braces:
Foods to avoid while wearing clear braces.
- Hard & crunchy foods: Nuts, trail mix, chips, pretzels, popcorn, ice, hard candy, raw vegetables, hard breads, corn on the cob, hard fruits (apples)
- Sticky foods: Chewing gum, sticky candy, taffy, caramel, jelly beans, licorice
- Staining foods: Coffee, tea, red wine, berries, beets, curry, foods with dyes
- Sugary items: Cookies, candy, sodas
Braces-friendly foods you can enjoy.
- Soft fruits: Bananas, melons, grapes, oranges, kiwi, raspberries
- Soft vegetables: Mashed potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, steamed carrots
- Dairy: Milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs
- Grains: Pasta, oatmeal, quinoa, lentils, beans
- Other: Applesauce, soup
How to clean your teeth with braces to prevent staining or decay.
Cleaning your teeth with braces may require additional effort, as the orthodontic appliances may stain and trap food and bacterial plaque more easily. It is recommended to brush your teeth after meals, focusing closely on the gum line and around brackets, wires, and attachments. You may find ease and effectiveness with an electric toothbrush as opposed to a manual toothbrush. Use toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride for added protection against tooth decay. Floss daily using a floss threader to remove plaque between the wires and your teeth. Although not a replacement for traditional floss, a water flosser can be a great add-on to removing debris around orthodontic appliances like clear teeth braces.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Clear Braces?
First, a comprehensive dental exam is needed to determine your candidacy for invisible dental braces. Prior to clear braces placement, all necessary dental treatment, including a cleaning, should be completed. Individuals with mild to moderate teeth or bite misalignment issues, such as crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites are often recommended for clear braces.
When to see your dentist during treatment.
Once you have your invisible dental braces or transparent aligners, your dental professional will determine the frequency of your regular check-ups. In general, appointments for braces and aligners can range between 6-8 weeks. Regular checkups are necessary throughout treatment to track your teeth's progress and ensure healthy tooth movement. Your dentist will also monitor for oral health issues during treatment and address them before they worsen.
Gentle Dental Leads the Way in Clear Braces Expertise
Interested in invisible braces for a better smile? Gentle Dental is making headlines with top-notch quality clear braces expertise. We provide state-of-the-art technology and customized treatment plans to meet you and your family’s lifestyle, smile goals, and dental needs. Whether you’re looking to straighten your teeth, close gaps, fix your bite, or just want a subtle change in your smile, Gentle Dental is the best place to start your smile journey.
