Have you been considering braces? All the different options can be overwhelming sometimes. Our team at Brodie Bowman Orthodontics in Fort Walton Beach, FL and Niceville, FL, is here to help with some information on clear braces and why they may be a good fit for you.
What Are the Advantages of Clear Braces?
They’re Discreet
Clear braces are an especially good option for adults. Some patients enjoy customizing traditional braces with different colored elastics as a way to express themselves. Some kids may even see getting braces as a right of passage, and it can be easier for them to get braces when they see their peers getting them around the same age too.
When it comes to many adults, however, the excitement and novelty around getting braces aren’t so apparent. Many adults worry about feeling self-conscious with their braces, and don’t want them showing up in pictures or affecting their confidence at work. In those cases, these braces can be very helpful.
They Can Encourage Action
Braces with clear brackets are less obvious during casual conversation. If you’ve been putting off getting braces because you don’t like how they look, these braces can get the job done while being discreet at the same time. You just have to keep a few things in mind. The first is that you’ll have to remember to wear them consistently if you want them to work properly. The second is you’ll want to make sure you don’t lose them or put them where a curious child or pet may take it upon themselves to investigate them.
Choosing Between Clear Aligners and Braces
If you’re confident you’ll remember to wear them and won’t lose them, clear aligners might be a great fit for you. Otherwise, braces with clear brackets can offer some of that see-through technology without having to worry about your aligners getting chewed up or misplaced.
Improved Confidence
It can be discouraging when you’re unhappy with your smile. We want you to feel confident about showing your teeth off and being happy with your improvements. Getting braces can help patients feel encouraged now that they know the corrections they’ve been wanting are finally underway.
With braces that have clear brackets, you can enjoy knowing these corrections are coming without additional stress about how the braces are going to look. This can be especially helpful if you have a big event coming up, but don’t want to hold off getting your treatment started.
Braces Can Improve Your Health
Having your smile corrected can offer a lot of benefits. By straightening your teeth, clear braces don’t only offer a cosmetic benefit. Straightened teeth tend to be easier to clean. When teeth are misaligned they often will overlap with one another. These places where teeth are overlapping are very difficult, and sometimes even impossible to properly clean, no matter how thoroughly you try to reach the area through brushing or flossing.
These spaces can become breeding grounds for plaque, and eventually decay. Tooth decay is harmful to your health and can be costly as well.
Professional Cleanings May Be More Effective
When you have problem areas in your smile, a dentist with professional tools will be able to give them a better cleaning than you can do at home. But a dentist can only do so much when teeth are severely overlapped. Since difficult teeth may be more likely to contribute to tartar development or gum disease, having your teeth corrected can mean better daily and professional cleanings.
Improved Long-Term Comfort
Protruding teeth can put you at more risk for mouth injuries, especially if you enjoy an active lifestyle. Whether you bump your face on something or get hit with a soccer ball, the sharp edge of a protruding tooth may cut the inside of your mouth. Misaligned teeth can make it harder to find a good fit when it comes to mouthguards, and may require that you get a custom mouthguard to keep you safe during sports.
Misaligned jaws themselves can actually cause discomfort too. When the jaw isn’t set how it’s meant to be, it puts the muscles around your jaw under pressure. This uneven pressure can cause aching, headaches, and can even contribute to sleep issues. Investing in some good braces can help resolve these symptoms.
They’re Effective
Clear braces can handle some fairly serious corrections, all while being less noticeable than their traditional counterparts. During a consultation, we’ll be able to give you a better idea of the right braces for your needs, but most adults will be able to find these braces suitable for the corrections they’re looking for.
What Can These Braces Treat?
Crooked Teeth
There are many reasons teeth may not come in straight. Whether due to overcrowding, genetics, malnutrition, or previous dental issues, crooked teeth can affect a person’s confidence and make it harder to thoroughly clean their teeth. These braces can help guide crooked teeth into a more correct position.
Crossbites
A crossbite involves some of the upper teeth fitting inside the lower teeth. As little as a single tooth could be involved, or entire groups of teeth could be affected.
Crossbites can have genetic causes. They can also develop if your permanent teeth came in abnormally, or if baby teeth took a while to fall out. Prolonged thumb sucking may also put pressure on the teeth and lead to a crossbite. Anything that pushes teeth out of place or distorts the bone could eventually cause a crossbite.
Why Treat Crossbites
It’s important to have a crossbite addressed as quickly as possible, as the teeth grinding against one another in this way can cause premature enamel loss. This outer layer of our teeth helps protect them from bacteria and decay, so it’s crucial to protect our enamel as much as possible.
Underbites
While similar to a crossbite, an underbite means all of the top teeth are behind the bottom teeth.
Overbites
You may have heard of overbites or overjets referred to as “buck teeth.” Overbites involve the front teeth extending past the bottom teeth. Overbites are very common, and mild overbites may not cause any issues. However, overbites may wear down your enamel, which means severe overbites can contribute to gum disease, tooth decay, and jaw pain.
Overjets
An overjet is similar to an overbite in that both issues involve the upper teeth being positioned in front of the lower teeth. Overjets differ in that they jet outwards, meaning there is more horizontal distance when compared to overbites, which have more of a vertical difference.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
1. When Should I or My Child Get Braces?
If you or your child already have your permanent teeth and show signs of needing braces, it’s better to act sooner rather than later. Some parents may try to wait it out to see if the issue resolves itself. However, when it comes to permanent teeth, once you notice an issue it’s likely to get worse with time instead of better. This is especially true once wisdom teeth start to come in.
Seeking out early treatment can save you money and time for the future. That said, if you’re an adult and want to have your teeth corrected, you’re not out of luck! Clear braces can handle difficult corrections as well as minor ones. Our team is passionate about helping each of our patients achieve their smile goals, so we’re happy to help you pick the best option for your needs.
2. What Happens Once My Braces Are Removed?
Once the big day arrives and you get to have your braces removed, there’s still some important work to be done. A retainer is often worn for a little while after you’ve had your braces taken out. Retainers remind your teeth to stay in the correct position, and not to try and return to how they were.
How long you’ll have to wear your retainer will depend on several individual factors, so we’ll be able to give you a better time estimate when we have more information on your teeth.
3. What Are These Braces Made Of?
These braces are usually either made of composite resin that’s colored to match your teeth, or clear ceramic brackets.
Ready To Correct Your Smile?
If you want to learn more about these braces, or one of the other types of braces we’re proud to offer, why not drop us a line? Reach out to us at Brodie Bowman Orthodontics in Fort Walton Beach, FL, and Niceville, FL, to set up your consultation today.