When you are trying to arrange orthodontic treatment to treat misalignments and jaw malocclusions, it’s a good idea to look at all the options and the pros and cons of these treatments before you make a decision about your own situation. Of course, your dentist will be able to tell you what sort of brace is going to be best for you and the first thing you should do when starting this process is to make an appointment and get your teeth assessed. The condition of your teeth will dictate what sort of appliance would be most effective and clear braces may not be an option for you if the misalignments are severe.
Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of clear brace treatment, so that you can be fully informed when your appointment date arrives;
What are the pros of clear orthodontics?
They are invisible – This is probably the biggest reason most patients request this sort of orthodontic system; the transparent resin fits over the teeth and allows the colour of the enamel to show through, so it makes it seem like there is no brace being worn at all. Although it won’t necessarily be 100% invisible, the appliance is likely to be much more discreet than traditional metal ‘train tracks’ and other designs. Some people might not feel uncomfortable with wearing a noticeable brace, but others may feel too self-conscious – which is where clear brace systems can really come in handy.
They are removable – Aligners are not permanently attached to the teeth; the shield can be removed to make eating and cleaning easier. It is important that the braces are not left out for longer than about an hour because this could lead to relapse in tooth position and would seriously hinder orthodontic progress. When the braces are first supplied, they should be accompanied by a storage box that can be used to hold the aligners whenever they are not being worn – this is the best way to make sure they don’t get broken or lost.
They are gentle – Compared to other forms of dental appliance, clear braces are thought to be much gentler on the teeth and the roots; with traditional metal braces, the teeth are put under a lot of pressure and this can lead to root resorption – shortening – due to the trauma that affects them when they are being shifted in the sockets. Resorption is not typically a problem with removable aligners because each one only puts a very tiny amount of pressure onto the teeth to move them; the sequence may include thirty appliances or more, each used one after the other to form continuous movement of the roots and to stretch the periodontal fibers that support them.
They are more comfortable – Because they are so gentle on the teeth and they can be taken out to make eating more pleasant, clear braces are generally considered to be much more comfortable than other methods of realignment. Although there is likely to be some level of discomfort with all types of orthodontic treatment, it is thought to be less of a problem with this sort of removable brace – the discomfort should be easily controlled with normal off-the-shelf painkillers, such as ibuprofen. 
If you like the sound of a comfortable, discreet brace that is gentle on your teeth, get in touch with the our Dental Clinic – a surgery in the Texas. You need to organize a consultation to get the treatment process started, but you could be on your way to a more attractive smile within a couple of weeks.
What are the cons of clear orthodontics?
They are expensive – There is no getting away from the fact that this sort of treatment is going to be expensive; most types of clear brace system will start at about a thousand pounds for minor cases, but could be as much as four thousand pounds if a large number of aligners are needed. Although this is a lot of money to most people, you have to be aware that the manufacturing process is more expensive than with traditional methods because so many appliances will be required to perform the desired movement.
If you are thinking about getting clear braces but you can’t afford them at the moment, you might like to consider a dental loan to cover the cost; this means that a loan company would pay for your treatment and then you would reimburse them at an affordable monthly rate. You should mention this idea to your dentist if you want to arrange a loan before your treatment begins.
They are not suitable for everyone – Whilst they are extremely versatile, clear braces may not be suitable for everyone who wants to get them; this is because the aligners are made from a material that is not especially flexible, so they will not fit over teeth that are severely misaligned. If your dentist tells you that aligners are not going to be appropriate for your condition, they may be suitable to refine the movement and make your teeth look perfect to complete the treatment.
They require more commitment – Due to the fact that clear braces are removable, they are slightly more easily forgotten when taken out and can get lost or damaged if they are not stored correctly during mealtimes. If you are going to go ahead with aligner treatment, you have to be prepared to commit to the process in order to get the best out of it; this means wearing your braces for at least twenty-two hours out of the day and all through the night. This is probably going to be slightly more complicated to deal with than fixed braces might be, but it is the nature of the treatment and you should consider this beforehand – if you are not confident that you can keep this up for months or possibly years, you should probably think about swapping to a fixed brace that you won’t be able to neglect or lose.
