Clear Braces

Clear Braces

The Pros and Cons of Clear Braces

In an ideal world, people would not have dental problems like crooked, overlapping or crowded teeth or bite problems like overbites and underbites. But the reality is that these dental issues are fairly common.

These dental issues arise due to a variety of causes, including tooth decay, early loss of baby teeth, bad habits and accidents. Some of these problems are inherited. Left unremedied, these can lead to worse problems like gum disease, tooth decay, chewing and speech problems and more.

For these problems, the recommended solution is the use of braces which can either be the conventional kind or clear braces, also known as aligners. Your dentist will recommend to you the best type of braces to solve your dental problems.

If your dentist has recommended dental aligners and if you are having second thoughts about this treatment option, here are a few things that you ought to know.

Like conventional braces, aligners can be used to treat a wide variety of dental problems including overbites, underbites, crossbites, crowding of teeth and spacing issues.

The main advantage of aligners over conventional braces is that they can be easily removed. In turn, this offers several advantages. For one, you will be able to clean your teeth better because you no longer have to deal with the brackets that are attached to the teeth when you opt for conventional braces. Next, you can enjoy the food you want without worrying about brackets being damaged or dislodged. The use of plastic in correcting dental problems also means that the patient’s cheeks and gums are less likely to be irritated.

Compared to conventional braces, aligners require fewer dental checkups — a definite advantage for busy young professionals.

But the greatest advantage of aligners, something that young adults and teens will truly appreciate, is that they are practically invisible. Because conventional braces use brackets and metal wires, they can look awkward and can dampen the confidence of the person wearing them. Aligners are practically invisible and you only notice them upon close inspection. Wearing aligners can solve the dental problem of the patient without making him or her feel awkward about his appearance during the duration of the treatment.

It should be worth mentioning that aligners also have limitations. For one, they may not be suitable for some patients. If you wish to opt for this treatment, you need to have your teeth restored before or after the treatment. Finally, you need to ensure that you wear your clear braces according to the recommendation of your dentist. Otherwise, your progress will be slow.