It is hard to imagine your life with braces, especially metallic braces. They look awful, are very uncomfortable, and you have to suffer through them for a year or more. While they are problematic – to say the least – for children and teens, they are even more so for adults. Most adults simply can’t stand the looks of metal braces, and while they could need them to straighten their teeth, they can’t handle these looks or the other problems. Many other options have surfaced over the years to try and treat these problems, including clear braces. Follow our guide to find out all the pros and cons or clear braces, and if they are the right choice for you.
What’s the difference between clear braces and metal braces?
Metal braces is a system of brackets that are attached to the outer surface of the teeth, with a wire crossing over these brackets, both made of metal. The wire is held firm in place with circular elastic bands of many colors. Clear braces are exactly the same, only different in color. The brackets are made from a clear ceramic material, the wire is coated with a white material to mask the silver metallic color, and the elastics are white or transparent. The whole assembly looks a lot better than metal braces.
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What are the pros and cons of clear braces?
Pros:
- The ceramic nature of the rackets, the coated wire, and the colorless elastics make them look a lot better than metal braces. From a distance, you can’t even know if a person is wearing them.
- The system has been used for years. In addition, it works exactly the same way as metal braces, which have been around for ages. This all means that the system is reliable. It does what it’s supposed to .. move your teeth where we need them to go.
- It is a cheaper option compared to other esthetic braces options (more on that later on)
Cons:
- While they look better than traditional braces, they are not the most esthetic option available. They are still visibly from close range.
- The appearance is better, but they did nothing to solve other problems of metal braces. They are still uncomfortable. They cause bruises and scrapes to the lips and cheeks.
- Cleaning your teeth with them is difficult. The brush doesn’t effectively clean around the brackets, and the wire makes it impossible to floss.
What are the other esthetic brace options?
- Lingual braces:
These are attached to the inner surface of the teeth. They are practically invisible, even at close range. However, they are still fairly new, so they still have some problems of their own. - Invisalign:
An option that solved almost every problem of traditional braces. Looks, comfort, speed and oral hygiene are all improved. However, they could be a bit expensive and not suitable for cases where the problem lies in the bones rather than the teeth.
In the end, the choice is entirely up to you. If you want a fast, reliable option that has been used for many years, then clear braces are the right choice for you. However, if appearance is your major concern, you might be better off with one of the more esthetic options.
