Many patients wonder about the effectiveness of clear braces when compared to traditional metal braces. It’s important to understand the key differences between these two treatment options when choosing how you want to address crooked teeth or other dental misalignment concerns.
Learn more about the differences between clear braces and traditional metal braces below:
How Traditional Metal Braces Work
Traditional metal braces utilize metallic brackets and wires that are routinely tightened by a dental professional to apply pressure to your dental structures and encourage them to shift into a straighter position. Usually, patients will visit their orthodontists once a month to have their wires tightened and to have their bracket bands changed. As time goes on, you should notice your teeth moving into a more desirable formation. While undergoing treatment, patients with traditional metal braces must abide by certain dietary restrictions and take additional oral hygiene precautions to prevent food residue from becoming stuck in the orthodontic hardware. Additionally, excessively crunchy or chewy snacks should be avoided as they may damage your orthodontic hardware and prolong your treatment plan. Due to these necessary lifestyle adjustments required to successfully undergo orthodontic treatment with traditional metal braces, many patients look for an alternative solution to straightening their teeth that doesn’t sacrifice their quality of life.
How Clear Braces Work
Orthodontic treatment of any kind takes several months or even years to complete. If you are unwilling to make the necessary lifestyle adjustments associated with traditional metal braces, clear braces are an excellent option to consider. Clear braces are worn over your teeth similar to a retainer. They are made from see-through, yet durable material that allow patients to undergo treatment without anyone even noticing. Unlike metal braces which are secured to your teeth for the entire duration of your treatment plan, clear braces are removable. In fact, patients are encouraged to remove their aligners when eating, drinking, or brushing their teeth. This allows patients to maintain their dietary preferences without worrying about damaging any hardware or prolonging their treatment plans. Additionally, patients are given all of their aligners up front and instructed on when to switch to a new set, usually once every two weeks. This means less time spent in the dentist’s office and more time leftover for after work and after school activities. These major benefits help make pursuing orthodontic treatment more comfortable and convenient than it has been in the past, while still being just as effective as traditional metal braces for providing excellent results.
Invisalign in Fallston, MD
Our office offers Invisalign in Fallston, MD. Invisalign is a system of clear braces that gradually apply pressure to your teeth and encourage them to move into a straighter position over time. If you are interested in learning more about your orthodontic treatment plans, or want to pursue Invisalign to straighten your smile, schedule an appointment with Harford County Dentistry online. We look forward to helping you achieve your dream smile in our Fallston, MD dentist office.