Once you’ve made the choice to straighten your teeth, you face an important decision: choosing what kind of orthodontic treatment you will experience.
More than likely, you know some basic facts about traditional metal braces.
However, you aren’t limited to this orthodontic treatment as your options also include clear braces.
Clear braces may be less familiar to you, but they’re an important option you’ll want to consider – especially if you’re a working adult with a busy life.
When it comes to clear braces, Invisalign is perhaps the most well known of your options. In this article, we’ll cover some things you’ll want to know about this type of treatment and provide an important tip for sorting through your treatment options to help you make a decision.
Here are 3 key facts you need to know about clear braces:
1. Clear braces straighten your teeth without wires
Unlike metal braces, clear braces straighten your smile without brackets or archwires.
To correct your malocclusion, traditional braces use metal brackets that affix to your teeth. Archwires connect to these brackets, pulling on them to slowly move your teeth into the correct position.
However, with Invisalign clear braces, you’ll experience a vastly different process.
Instead of using brackets adhered to each tooth, your aligners will simply fit over your teeth to apply the pressure that will straighten your smile.
2. Clear braces boost your confidence
Here’s another important characteristic that sets clear braces apart from other orthodontic treatment options.
Compared to traditional metal braces, clear braces – by far – will boost your confidence and minimise your embarrassment.
Wearing fixed orthodontic appliances can be a socially awkward and uncomfortable experience—especially if you’re an adult. As you talk with others, you may find that you’re distracted by a heightened awareness of your orthodontic treatment.
Invisalign solves this problem thanks to a translucent plastic material.
Whether you’re meeting a new acquaintance or greeting a fellow co-worker, Invisalign’s clear aligners are discreet and inconspicuous, empowering you to straighten your teeth without making your treatment a conversation piece.
3. Clear braces are removable
While clear braces create confidence and eliminate those annoying brackets and archwires, they have a feature that sets them apart from all other orthodontic options: clear braces are removable.
Metal braces—whether they’re traditional, lingual or ceramic—are fixed to your smile. It doesn’t matter if you’d like to take them off to check the health of your teeth or eat a popcorn snack; you and your braces are inseparable.
In contrast, you can remove your clear braces to…
- Eat your favorite foods. There’s no need to skip hard sweets or take smaller bites. With Invisalign, your removable aligners allow you to enjoy any foods you choose.
- Easily clean your teeth. Forget buying a water flosser or carefully brushing your teeth to avoid popping an archwire. Simply take your clear braces out to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth.
- Conveniently progress in treatment. Thanks to Invisalign, you’ll bypass adjustments at your orthodontist’s office. Progressing in your treatment is as simple as putting in a new aligner.
The key to choosing the right orthodontic treatment
It’s obvious that clear braces have some important qualities that set them apart from other orthodontic treatments.
However, you may still feel overwhelmed with all the treatment options you have to choose from, and you may wonder how to know if Invisalign is right for you.
Here’s a quick tip that can simplify your decision: identify your priorities.
Determining what’s important to you will help you pinpoint which treatment is best for your situation.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself:
- Am I rushed for time when I clean my teeth, or do I have sufficient time for meticulous cleaning?
- Will wearing metal braces cause me to be self-conscious about my appearance?
- Will I mind the necessary food restrictions that come with traditional braces, or do I dislike the idea of altering my diet?
- Will I mind having brackets and wires in my mouth, or do I want to avoid them?
- Does the thought of an orthodontic adjustment make me cringe, or would I prefer transitioning to new aligners during treatment?
As you honestly answer each of these questions, you’ll be one step closer to determining if clear braces or a different orthodontic treatment is right for you.
You can get more information on Invisalign and ask additional questions when you schedule a free consultation with your local MiSmile Invisalign Provider.
