Clear braces are a popular alternative to traditional metal braces. They’re made from a translucent material that blends in with the color of your teeth. This helps them blend in more with your natural teeth. Many patients prefer clear braces because they’re far less noticeable than traditional metal braces. They’re also more comfortable to wear, so you won’t have as many dietary restrictions.

What Are Clear Braces?

Clear braces are a type of orthodontic appliance that straightens teeth using metal brackets and tooth-colored wires. Unlike traditional braces, the brackets are made of a tooth-colored composite material rather than metal. This makes them less noticeable when worn.

One of the benefits of clear braces is the fact that they are more discreet. Most patients won’t even realize you’re wearing them! They are also more comfortable than traditional braces since they don’t contain any sharp or rough edges. However, they do need to be cleaned regularly to prevent staining since they can’t be removed in the same way that regular braces can be. 

Benefits of Clear Braces

• Comfort. The aligners are custom-fitted to your mouth, so no plastic will irritate your cheeks and gums as traditional metal braces do. In addition, there are no wires or brackets to worry about getting snagged on shirts and other fabrics, so you can eat, drink, brush, and floss your teeth normally.
• Convenience. Because you remove the aligners to eat and clean your teeth, you don’t have to wear bulky metal appliances in your daily life. You can continue to play sports, sing in a chorus, and perform other activities that weren’t possible with metal braces. Best of all, you can remove your clear aligners for special events, such as wedding and class photos.
• Effectiveness. Your teeth will move gradually into their ideal positions with clear braces. After approximately every two weeks of wearing a new set of aligners, you’ll see your dentist to monitor your progress and give you your next set. Before you know it, your smile will be straight and beautiful!
• Shorter dental appointments. Lastly, this orthodontic treatment is convenient as it requires only a short office appointment every six weeks. The dentist will monitor the progress of the patient and provide new sets of aligner trays for the treatment. Each set of trays will be designed to move the patient’s teeth closer to the ideal alignment.

The Treatment Process

At your initial consultation, the dentist will take impressions of your teeth. These impressions are then sent to the company that will manufacture the aligners, along with a scan of your mouth. This allows the lab to create your custom aligners, which should be ready within a few weeks. You’ll wear each aligner for about two weeks, and once you complete the full series, you’ll see your new smile! Clear braces are a popular option for people who want to correct their smiles without the brackets and wires of traditional braces.

If you want to learn more about clear braces, contact Smile Orthodontics at 530 39th St, Des Moines 50312, or call (515) 274-4637. Our team will be happy to review your child’s specific needs with you to determine the best treatment for their smile.