For anyone considering wearing clear braces for teeth alignment there seems to be a bewildering amount of information available to help you to make up your mind as to whether it's the right option for you or not. It doesn't help that the overwhelming majority of the information available seems very much in favour of clear braces as a method of helping to correct issues such as crooked or uneven teeth, overlapping teeth, gaps between teeth as well as overbites and underbites.
Occasionally you will come across an article or report which provides a less positive view of invisible braces, or at least provides information which may well make you decide that clear aligners aren't the best way forward for you personally after all. But it can be hard work trying to work out just what the arguments for both sides are.
In an effort to help clarify this, in this article we're going to look at the case for wearing clear braces, and the case against, compacting all of the main points and arguments into concise sections which will help provide you with a much clearer and easier to understand set of points which will help you make up your mind.
The Case For Clear Braces
One of the main reasons why people choose clear aligners is because of their discretion. Often referred to as invisible braces they are extremely hard to spot unless you know what you're looking for and you are really close up to the person wearing them. Traditional metal braces are bulky and very visible, which puts a great many people off, in particular adults who feel that they couldn't wear something like that at work.
Clear braces also feel very much more comfortable that metal braces. Traditional metal braces can often dig into the gums and cause ulcers and sores, whereas clear aligners are extremely comfortable, and cause no pain or discomfort at all. Invisible braces can also be removed easily at any time, unlike normal braces, which means that you can eat much more easily, and brush and floss your teeth properly, significantly increasing oral hygiene.
Finally, clear aligners are able to complete the teeth alignment process in a much shorter space of time, often half the time normally required by wearing metal braces. Often the teeth alignment is complete in under six months, with some needing a year, and in more severe cases up to eighteen months, compared to the three or more years required by traditional wire braces.
The Case Against Clear Braces
Whilst it is easy to appreciate the benefits it's less easy to understand why so many people every year decide against wearing them. One of the major problems for many people is the fact that the aligners can be removed very easily at any time. For some people of course this is an advantage, but for many people it's simply temptation.
Younger people, including teenagers, as well as some adults will feel that if they're able to take their braces out very easily at any time, they will do. Many people will even forget to put them back in, either accidentally or on purpose. There is a risk that teenagers may well remove the braces as they get on the bus in the morning and put them back in one the way home, but there's a real problem with this. The clear braces only work if you keep them in for at least 22 hours a day, which means you need a good deal of self discipline.
Another issue for many people is that throughout the entire process you will need to keep revisiting your dentist every two weeks. This is too much of a commitment for some people, especially those who travel regularly, perhaps as part of their work. If you feel that temptation is too tempting, or that fortnightly dentist visits too much of commitment then you may feel that clear braces are not the ideal solution for you.
Occasionally you will come across an article or report which provides a less positive view of invisible braces, or at least provides information which may well make you decide that clear aligners aren't the best way forward for you personally after all. But it can be hard work trying to work out just what the arguments for both sides are.
In an effort to help clarify this, in this article we're going to look at the case for wearing clear braces, and the case against, compacting all of the main points and arguments into concise sections which will help provide you with a much clearer and easier to understand set of points which will help you make up your mind.
The Case For Clear Braces
One of the main reasons why people choose clear aligners is because of their discretion. Often referred to as invisible braces they are extremely hard to spot unless you know what you're looking for and you are really close up to the person wearing them. Traditional metal braces are bulky and very visible, which puts a great many people off, in particular adults who feel that they couldn't wear something like that at work.
Clear braces also feel very much more comfortable that metal braces. Traditional metal braces can often dig into the gums and cause ulcers and sores, whereas clear aligners are extremely comfortable, and cause no pain or discomfort at all. Invisible braces can also be removed easily at any time, unlike normal braces, which means that you can eat much more easily, and brush and floss your teeth properly, significantly increasing oral hygiene.
Finally, clear aligners are able to complete the teeth alignment process in a much shorter space of time, often half the time normally required by wearing metal braces. Often the teeth alignment is complete in under six months, with some needing a year, and in more severe cases up to eighteen months, compared to the three or more years required by traditional wire braces.
The Case Against Clear Braces
Whilst it is easy to appreciate the benefits it's less easy to understand why so many people every year decide against wearing them. One of the major problems for many people is the fact that the aligners can be removed very easily at any time. For some people of course this is an advantage, but for many people it's simply temptation.
Younger people, including teenagers, as well as some adults will feel that if they're able to take their braces out very easily at any time, they will do. Many people will even forget to put them back in, either accidentally or on purpose. There is a risk that teenagers may well remove the braces as they get on the bus in the morning and put them back in one the way home, but there's a real problem with this. The clear braces only work if you keep them in for at least 22 hours a day, which means you need a good deal of self discipline.
Another issue for many people is that throughout the entire process you will need to keep revisiting your dentist every two weeks. This is too much of a commitment for some people, especially those who travel regularly, perhaps as part of their work. If you feel that temptation is too tempting, or that fortnightly dentist visits too much of commitment then you may feel that clear braces are not the ideal solution for you.
Source...