Orthodontic treatment is a big decision to make, but the type of treatment can be just as big. Should you get braces, the tried-and-true method for moving teeth, or clear aligners, a new method that moves teeth with a nearly-invisible look? Are looks the only difference between the two, or is there more involved?
Kanning Orthodontics knows today’s patients want a gorgeous smile without the “mouthful of metal” look. That’s why we offer clear braces, which are much less visible than traditional braces.
We also have clear aligners from 3M Clarity, which provide amazing movement power without the braces look. Which is right for you? Let’s weigh the pros and cons of each.
Clear Aligners/Invisalign vs Braces
What’s the difference between clear braces and clear aligners? What are they exactly? It can seem confusing at first, so let us explain the difference.
Clear braces are like the traditional metal braces you’ve always known, except the brackets are made of a clear ceramic material that’s made to resemble the natural color of your teeth better. These ceramic brackets are less visible on the teeth than metal ones, so it’s harder to see clear braces. They still provide the same moving power of traditional braces so that they can handle even the toughest orthodontic cases.
Clear aligners are different from braces. Instead of brackets held together by archwires, clear acrylic trays are custom-molded to your teeth. These trays slide onto your teeth and provide gentle pressure to move your teeth into their proper positions.
Because they’re clear and follow the contours of your teeth, it’s much harder to see them. That’s why they can claim to be “nearly invisible.”
Pros and Cons of Clear Braces
Braces are the longest, most trusted method for improving dental issues. Did you know braces date back to ancient Egypt, where archaeologists found skulls with bands and wires around their teeth? Today’s types of braces are far more advanced than that, but they follow the same concept — using bands and wires to apply pressure that moves the teeth.
Kanning Orthodontics uses Clarity clear braces because we’ve found that our patients prefer the lower profile of clear braces. Our braces have several pros when it comes to treating your teeth.
Pro: Braces Correct All Kinds of Dental Issues
Orthodontists rely on braces because they can correct all kinds of orthodontic issues. They can even correct complex cases with multiple issues at once or severe issues, such as impacted teeth.
Braces can correct:
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Open bites
- Gapped teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Deep bites
- Rotated teeth
- Teeth erupted above the gum line
Pro: Braces Work All the Time
Braces work on your teeth 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You never have to worry about forgetting to put them back into your mouth or losing them if you take them out. You also don’t have to worry about whether you’ve worn them long enough each day, or if your treatment will go longer than expected because you haven’t.
Pro: Braces Are Good for Any Age
Clear aligners come with a lot of responsibility, from switching the trays out at the right time with the next set to making sure you don’t lose them when you take them out. Most adults are pretty responsible with their clear aligners, but children can be a bit more lax. Children have a lot less to worry about with braces!
While these are some great pros, there are a few cons with wearing braces.
Con: Brushing and Flossing Are More Challenging
All those wires and brackets on your teeth can make it more difficult to brush and floss your teeth. You need a floss threader or similar device to get around the wires and brackets to floss properly. We recommend floss threaders and soft-bristled toothbrushes, which won’t irritate your already sensitive gums and teeth like harder bristles might.
Con: Braces Are Still Visible
Though our clear braces are far less visible than metal braces, they’re still visible on the teeth, particularly with the metal archwire. Not everyone likes the look of braces, so that may be a con for you.
Con: Food Restrictions While Wearing Braces
You’ve probably heard that braces come with food restrictions. This is true because certain foods can damage your braces. The good news is, these restrictions are only temporary while you’re wearing braces.
The foods to avoid temporarily include:
- Gum
- Popcorn
- Chewy candy and foods
- Hard candy
- Raw, hard vegetables such as carrots and broccoli
- Hard taco shells and tortilla chips
- Hard breads and crackers
Despite the cons, clear braces are a great option to improve your smile. If you’re still not into the idea of braces, then let’s consider the pros and cons of clear aligners.
Clear Aligners (like Invisalign) Cons & Pros
Kanning Orthodontics offers 3M Clarity clear aligners for our patients. These clear aligners are designed to fit over every tooth and move them gently, providing more comfort than traditional braces. There are other pros to clear aligners. Let’s take a look!
Pro: Clear Aligners, Clear Look
Clear aligners are made from a special acrylic material that is custom-molded to your teeth. Because of this, the aligners are virtually invisible on your teeth. People are going to have to look closely to see that you’re creating a new smile!
Pro: Clear Aligners Can Correct Many Issues
Like braces, clear aligners can correct many dental issues that impact our patients. These include:
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Open bites
- Gapped teeth
- Crowded teeth
Pro: Clear Aligners Don’t Have Food Restrictions
Clarity aligners are removable, so you can take them out when eating. Because of this, you don’t have the food restrictions you have with braces, because the food won’t damage the aligners if you take them out. Once you’re finished eating, you just brush your teeth, rinse your aligners, and put them back in your mouth. You can eat what you want throughout your treatment!
Pro: No Problems Brushing and Flossing
Brushing and flossing are easy because you can take your clear aligners out before you brush and floss. There is no need for floss threaders or other special tools for braces. Just keep up your great oral hygiene habits as you normally would!
Pro: Shorter Treatment Times Than Braces
Most of the time, clear aligners complete treatment faster than braces, in 9-15 months compared to 12-24 months for braces. You’ll see the final results faster than with traditional metal braces!
Con: Not Best For Severe Dental Cases
While today’s clear aligners can do a lot, they don’t work for every case. Some cases in the extreme may need braces instead of clear aligners, such as impacted teeth, severely crooked teeth, or extreme overbites. We’ll evaluate you during your free consultation and let you know whether clear aligners will work for you.
Con: Clear Aligners Can Be Lost or Damaged
There are definite advantages to removing clear aligners, but there are disadvantages, too. The biggest is that your clear aligners can be lost or damaged if they’re not in your mouth. It’s vital to keep a storage case handy so you can protect and keep up with your clear aligners. Replacing lost or damaged aligners can become costly and can slow your treatment time.
Con: You Must Keep Up With Wear Time
Clear aligners need to be worn at least 22 hours per day to be fully effective. That leaves two hours for meals and for brushing and flossing. That should be enough time, but leaving them out longer can slow your treatment.
It’s also important to switch from one set of clear aligners to the next at the appropriate time. Otherwise, it can delay your treatment.
Braces and Clear Aligners in Kansas City, MO
Whether you’re ready for clear braces or clear aligners, Kanning Orthodontics offers both. We offer aligners for both kids and adults and braces for both as well! We will evaluate you during your free consultation and go over all your treatment options to align and straighten your teeth.
We can recommend which treatment is best for you, but it’s your decision. Hopefully, you have more information now to make the best decision for you that results in the smile you deserve.