
The Facts You Need to Know about Clear Braces
When you talk about the innovative treatments that have changed dentistry as we know it, clear braces is definitely among them. Providing a way for patients to straighten out their teeth with a treatment that is virtually invisible to onlookers was a winning formula – adults and teens alike love clear braces for their ease, comfort, and the discretion involved in wearing them. Discover more important information about clear braces and find out why an increasing number of people are choosing them over traditional metal braces.
How Do Clear Braces Work?
Clear braces are widely considered to be more comfortable than their metal counterparts because the aligners are comprised of plastic and are measured specifically to fit the dimensions of a patient’s teeth. Once the aligners are custom-crafted, they’re worn by the patient for 22 hours a day, but can be removed for meals and cleaning. After a couple weeks, the patient switches to the next tightest aligner and repeats the sequence until their teeth are completely aligned.
Popular Brands of Clear Braces
While clear braces as a whole are becoming massively popular in recent years, Invisalign and ClearCorrect are leading the pack with their well-established lines of clear braces technology. Whether you choose a well-known brand or find a dentist that provides other lesser-known variations, there are many types of clear aligners to choose from to realign your smile.
Most Popular Brands of Clear Braces
- Invisalign
- ClearCorrect
- OrthoClear
- ClearPath
- Stratasys J700 (In Office 3D Printing)
Timeline for Metal Braces vs Invisible Braces
To some degree, the timing may vary from patient to patient, but for the most part, there is a consistent range needed for both treatments to be completed. That range is as follows:
Time range to complete metal braces treatment: 24 hours per day for at least 2 years
Time range to complete Invisalign treatment: 22 hours per day for 6-18 months
Average Cost Comparison: Invisalign vs Metal Braces
Another defining factor of clear braces when compared to their traditional counterparts is that they’re a premium treatment and they come with a premium price tag. Here’s the average costs you can expect to pay for both metal braces and Invisalign:
Average Cost of Metal Braces: $1800-5500
Average Cost of Invisalign: $5000
Comparing Clear Braces with Metal Braces
Advantages of Clear Braces
- Nearly invisible
- Removable
- Comfortable
- Easy to clean
- Shorter treatment time
Advantages of Traditional Metal Braces
- Stronger ability to realign your smile
- More affordable
The One Major Weakness of Clear Braces
Although there’s a lot of hype surrounding clear braces and their ability to realign your smile without onlookers being aware of it, there is one glaring weakness to the treatment – it only straightens the front teeth. While this may be ideal for those with overcrowding in their front teeth, it also means that clear braces can’t be directly compared with metal ones because they provide a different level of treatment.
Why Learn More About Clear Braces?
If you’re studying dentistry or are a dentist yourself, then the articles, blogs, and sources on our site may provide a valuable supplement to your research. If you’re a student writing about orthodontics or the innovative treatment known as clear braces, you’ll find our sources to be extremely useful in your ongoing education. Whatever the purpose of your research, feel free to use the sources on our site however you need to.