Braces and Aligners
Braces and Aligners
Braces and aligners are devices used to improve the alignment of your teeth or jaws. The two main types of braces include traditional metal braces, which use wires and brackets, and clear aligners, also known as Invisalign, made from a smooth plastic material.
Both can be used to treat malocclusion (misalignment between the upper and lower teeth) but have different benefits and drawbacks.
What are Traditional Braces
Traditional braces are metal brackets attached to each tooth’s front and back. Wires connect the brackets, and gently move your teeth into place.
This orthodontic treatment is used to correct the alignment of teeth, improve the bite, and prevent or correct jaw problems such as overbites (when your lower jaw sticks out beyond your upper jaw) or underbites (when your lower jaw is shorter than the upper).
Traditional braces are often recommended for adults who want straighter teeth but don’t want their mouths crammed with metal wires and brackets.
They’re also a good option for children who may not be able to wear clear aligners because they have trouble keeping them clean or aren’t old enough yet to understand how they work (for example, they might still be learning how to brush).
What are Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are plastic trays worn over the teeth to align them. They are made of flexible, transparent plastic. They are made of a material similar to the material used to make fly zippers.
The main difference between clear aligners and metal braces is that they can be removed overnight. If you have an event or meeting, you can take them out and put them in your mouth when needed without having to worry about metal wires getting in your way!
Difference between Traditional Braces and Clear Aligners
Traditional braces are fixed to your teeth, so you can only take them out while they’re being adjusted. Usually, the orthodontist will remove them during the adjustment appointments and then put them back on after the appointment is finished.
On the other side, Clear aligners are removable, so you can take them out at any time or place, whether at night or when eating dinner with friends! This makes aligner treatment more comfortable than traditional braces because no pressure or force is applied to your teeth every second of every day.
Clear aligners also allow for better hygiene because they don’t stick directly onto your gum line like traditional braces (which sometimes causes irritation). And since they’re removable, when you take them off at night, you can clean the surface of the aligner thoroughly without worrying about destroying it by scrubbing too hard.
Finally, both types of treatment work equally well in terms of effectiveness—but if we had to choose based on convenience alone? We’d go with clear aligners any day!
Cost of Braces and Aligners
- Clear aligners are the option if you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to traditional braces. They can be used on the top or bottom teeth but only in some instances and not with every patient.
- If your orthodontist recommends Invisalign as an alternative to traditional braces or aligners, ask them whether your health insurance covers this and how much out-of-pocket costs there will be.
Post-treatment precautions
- Stay on top of your orthodontic care.
- Wear your retainer as instructed.
- Avoid playing sports or other strenuous activities that could cause injury to the mouth or teeth, such as martial arts.
- Avoid chewing on complex objects, like ice cubes and pencils. This is because they may break off pieces of the appliance that can dislodge from between your teeth and gum, causing harm to you or others around you with whom you share saliva via kissing or sharing food utensils (like spoons).
- Additionally, it’s easy for small pieces of broken appliances to become lodged in soft tissue in the mouth—and this can lead to discomfort and infection if left untreated!
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Braces and Aligners
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