• Benefits of Clear Braces over Traditional Braces

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    The perfect smile is often combined with immaculately straight teeth. So it should come as no surprise that many people, from teens right through to adults, opt to have braces to straighten their teeth and give them the smile they’ve always wanted.

    When someone decides to undergo orthodontic treatment, they are often given a choice between traditional braces or invisible braces.

    Many will be familiar with traditional braces option and how they work, but it is not often known that many people will get the same results when choosing to go with clear braces. Not only that, but there are also many added benefits for individuals when they opt to straighten their teeth through the use of clear braces.

    Appearance

    The main reason that someone would opt for clear braces over traditional braces is that they are conscious of the way conventional braces may look. Rightly or wrongly, traditional braces can be seen as unattractive as the metal attachments can be very noticeable when the wearer of the brace smiles or even opens their mouth.

    Clear braces, such as Invisalign, are much more discreet meaning most people will be unaware that the individual is undergoing orthodontic work. The simple fact they are more aesthetically pleasing means that they are for popular choice among adults who would otherwise not be confident going through the procedure of straightening their teeth.

    Invisalign tooth aligners are made of clear plastic instead of the metal in a traditional brace. The plastic is held in the mouth by small attachments of dental bondings that keep the brace in place and assist in moulding the appearance of teeth. These aligners can be noticeable if analysed carefully, but not nearly as much as metal braces would be.

    Removability

    A huge advantage that clear braces have over traditional braces is that they can be removed when the patient wishes to brush their teeth, eat or even take them out for a social occasion. The result of this is that not only can a standard hygiene routine be maintained, but a person has the freedom of still being able to enjoy all their favourite foods and drinks without fear of staining or damaging their aligners.

    The fact that Invisalign aligners can be removed also makes them easier to clean and in turn, protects oral health. This is vastly different from conventional metal braces which remain in your mouth at all times, making it harder for patients to take proper care of their oral hygiene. Wires can make it harder to clean the brace, and protruding bits of metal can often puncture and scratch the inside of the mouth and gums leading to problems such as ulcers, tartar build-up and gingivitis.

    Time of Treatment

    Generally speaking, Invisalign is understood to be the fastest procedure for straightening teeth. Clear braces use a computerised system that scans the teeth and determines how long the treatment will take. A digital plan will be created that will show the patient how the teeth will look at each stage of the procedure as well as an exact date of completion.

    In comparison, traditional metal braces can often be a trial-and-error situation where there is no definite end date to the procedure. Fixed braces move teeth individually and require monthly check-ups as well as re-wiring time to ensure the alignment process is running correctly.

    Braces can take from anywhere between 18 months and five years for complete alignment, whereas the time for Invisalign is much shorter – often less than two years.

    Comfort

    Traditional metal braces are well known to cause discomfort and pain to the person wearing them, especially when the wires have been recently tightened or adjusted.

    On the other hand, clear braces are much more comfortable to wear and can even be taken out if the discomfort becomes too much. Most people who undergo Invisalign treatment forget they are even wearing them as the smooth nature of the plastic is a lot more forgiving to the mouth than metal braces.

    When a new clear brace aligner is worn, there can be some tightness, but this is only the brace putting slight pressure on the teeth to move. However, this is a small price to pay for straighter teeth!

    Fewer visits to the Dentist

    Since most of the work of clear braces is set out before treatment even starts, there are fewer reasons to have consultations with a dentist or orthodontist.

    Once the treatment begins, a patient will only need to visit to pick up their next set of aligners or check to see the right progress is being made on their teeth. This is very handy for someone with little time on their hands to make regular trips to the dental surgery.

    Clear braces – such as Invisalign – are an effective, shorter and more discreet way of obtaining straighter teeth and improved confidence with added benefits that are evident to see.

    So, if you are searching for that perfect smile and are suitable for clear braces, you may have just found the right treatment for you. Check out our Invisible braces page for further details on our treatment options, you can also check out our post on whether invisible braces are right for you