What is a Clear Brace?

You’re probably familiar with the traditional ‘train track’ braces that are most commonly associated with orthodontic treatment, but the dental industry has seen dramatic developments over the last few decades, and there are numerous other options available to patients of all ages. A clear brace is a relatively new device, designed to gradually move the teeth into a more desirable position, without appearing obvious or significantly affecting the patient’s lifestyle. Appliances like this are formed using strong acrylic resin, which is shaped to fit over the teeth and needs to be worn for a certain length of time, in order to achieve the results required. Clear braces are completely removable, which makes them much easier to live with than more permanent orthodontic devices, and they are practically invisible when worn, thanks to the transparent resin, which is why they have earned the nickname ‘invisible braces’.

Do clear braces really work?

Just ask the thousands of patients across the UK, if you want to know how well clear braces perform – there’s a reason why they are one of the most requested treatments on the market. The system is discreet and very effective, which makes it popular with adults and teenagers alike – how many people can say they would prefer a more obvious appliance, such as metal braces? All you have to do is commit to wearing your brace for the appropriate amount of time, and follow your dentist’s instructions to the letter, then you’ll have a beautifully straight, proportionally spaced smile in no time at all. Here are some points worth remembering if you are approved for treatment with a clear brace:

You need to wear it almost constantly – Your dentist will instruct you to wear your aligner for a minimum of twenty hours out of the day, more if you can manage it, and remember to keep your braces in when you are sleeping. You can’t just rely on the appliance to do the work it is designed to do, if you are not prepared to put in the hours yourself, with effort on your part, you may be able to reduce your treatment time to less than initially predicted.

Your aligner is changed every few weeks – With most clear brace systems, more than one device is required, because each aligner has only a limited range of movement – which is what allows them to be more discreet during the manufacturing process. This method of changing the braces when they have performed to their highest capability means that your teeth are not instantly forced from one position to another; small amounts of pressure are applied to coax them in the right direction in tiny increments. Only moving the teeth a portion at a time is much better for their stability and cuts down on the risk of root resorption, which can be a problem with metal braces, as they apply constant pressure over a long period of time.

You can remove it when eating – One of the real advantages of this kind of system is that they are completely removable, which makes it much easier to maintain your daily routine of eating and cleaning your teeth. Metal wires and brackets are often quite difficult to clean around, and there are lots of hard to reach places where bacteria and food debris can gather, but this is not a problem with clear braces. Simply remove your aligner when you want to eat or clean it, then clip it back in when you’re done – be careful to store it somewhere safe when you are not wearing it, it’s easier than you think to drop it down the plughole or throw it away with the rubbish bag. Your dentist should provide you with a storage case to make sure nothing untoward happens.

Treatment should be completed within a year or so – A large number of patients with clear braces will see significant results in six months, but some conditions can be slightly more complex to deal with. Most people will see their treatment finished in under a year, barring any complications or occurrences that hinder progress. There are even some clear brace systems that boast highly accurate results in a matter of weeks.

Regular check-ups are a must – Returning to the surgery every few weeks might seem like a hassle at first, but it’s very important that you keep to your follow-up appointments; your dentist needs to keep an accurate record of how your treatment is coming along, as well as making sure your mouth is in a healthy state. Also, your aligners need to be replaced after two to three weeks – depending on how much you wear it at home – so you will have to return to the clinic to have the next one fitted. When a particular device has done its job, you will notice that it starts to feel loose fitting around your teeth, this is because it has achieved its optimum level of movement, and it won’t be applying any pressure to the teeth anymore.

Are clear braces better than metal braces?

In most respects, yes, clear braces are better than metal ones; they are less noticeable, easier to take care of, and they are generally accepted to be more comfortable. However, clear aligners are not always suitable for every patient, the limited movement they provide means that they won’t work with more extreme orthodontic problems, such as severely crooked, crowded, or badly spaced teeth. Don’t despair if you have your heart set on clear braces, there are several different options available to you, such as designs that incorporate some of the features from both metal and invisible braces, to form a kind of hybrid device. You may also be able to have clear braces fitted after a short period of orthodontic treatment, to deal with your malocclusions to some degree first. If you think clear braces could benefit you, speak to someone at the Pearl Dental Clinic, they will be able to give you a brief overview of the treatment, and run you through some of the other options on offer.