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Advantages Of Clear Braces

27 January 2017

Oscar Allen

If you are considering different options for straightening your teeth, you may be considering clear braces. Here are a few advantages to this treatment option:

Clear braces are difficult to notice.

Clear braces are called "clear" because they are difficult to see against your teeth. The brackets of clear braces are made of dental ceramic. Thus, they are white like tooth enamel. Metal braces, on the other hand, have brackets that are much darker than tooth enamel and are easily discerned against the teeth.

Clear braces can handle many different alignment issues. 

Clear braces can be used to correct the same alignment issues as traditional metal braces can. Thus, they can help treat severe cases of crooked teeth, crowding and bite problems. 

Although the brackets are made of ceramic, the structure of the braces is generally the same as that of conventional metal braces. The brackets are applied to the front of the teeth and an archwire is attached to the brackets using elastic bands. The archwire is periodically adjusted to facilitate alignment progression. 

Clear braces can offer an expressive outlet for your creativity.

With clear braces, you can still select different colors of elastic ligatures to connect your archwire to your brackets. The bits of color from the bands can appear to float on your teeth due to the clear backdrop of the ceramic brackets. Thus, you can be as creative as you like in using different band colors.

If you prefer the discreet look of the clear ceramic alone, you can choose clear bands.

Clear braces are not as expensive as lingual braces.

If having braces that are less noticeable is your priority, you may be comparing clear braces to lingual braces. Lingual braces have brackets that are placed on the side of the teeth that is next to the tongue, so they are not seen when you smile or speak. Like clear braces, they are difficult to notice in your mouth. Nevertheless, clear braces are priced significantly lower than lingual braces.  

Your teeth can normally be treated with clear braces for between $4,000 and $8,000. However, lingual braces are priced between $8,000 and $10,000.

Clear self-ligating brackets are available.

Self-ligating brackets can also be fashioned in ceramic. The brackets do not require the use of elastic bands to secure the archwire in place. Instead, the wire is fed through tunnel-like holes in the brackets, reducing the friction that must be overcome during the alignment process and speeding up treatment times. 

To learn more about the benefits of clear braces, schedule an appointment with an orthodontist in your area.

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