You’re ready for that straight, beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. But how do you get that smile? Do you go with tried-and-true metal braces? Are clear braces best for your smile? Maybe you want something less subtle like clear aligners.
Woodhill Dental Specialties wants you to have the smile of your dreams, and we want you to get it the best way possible for your dental needs. There are pros and cons to braces vs. clear aligners. Which is best for you? Let’s explore what you should know about both.
Woodhill Dental Specialties’ patients wanting orthodontic treatment in Dallas, TX, have several options when it comes to braces. We offer clear ceramic braces, metal braces, and lingual braces. We even offer a little “bling” with gold braces.
If braces aren’t your thing, clear aligners may be better for you. Clear aligners do a much better job of fixing dental issues than in the past, so that even more severe cases have clear aligners as an option.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of braces, then we’ll check out clear aligners’ pros and cons. That way, you can make an informed decision about what type of treatment you might prefer.
When it comes to crooked teeth, braces are a tried-and-true method for repairing bad bites of all severity. Braces date all the way back to ancient Egypt, but today’s braces are much more sophisticated than gold plates and wire wrapped around the front teeth.
Braces for teeth range from traditional metal braces to clear braces to lingual braces. What’s the difference between these three?
Braces can handle nearly every dental problem, even the most severe. They can correct:
They can handle all these orthodontic problems, including a combination of issues.
Braces are not removable, which means they are working 24/7 to repair your smile. You also don’t have to worry about losing your braces like you do with clear aligners.
Today’s braces are better than ever. Woodhill Dental Specialties uses self-ligating braces. These custom braces are more comfortable and more efficient than braces of the past, yet they provide the same amazing results.
While braces can do every job, not every patient is comfortable with braces. They have a much higher profile than clear aligners, and not everyone appreciates the look of braces.
Certain foods can loosen or pop off brackets or break wires, so patients with braces have food restrictions. Hard foods, chewy foods, crunchy foods, and sticky foods should be avoided during braces treatment.
Brushing and flossing can also be more difficult. Getting around all of the brackets and wires takes extra tools, such as floss threaders.
Braces treatment tends to take longer than clear aligners, though self-ligating braces take less time than traditional metal braces. Regular braces can take an average of 12-36 months, while self-ligating braces may only take 12-24 months.
You may have heard arguments before about braces vs. Invisalign. Woodhill Dental Specialties offers treatment with clear aligners that our patients find more comfortable than Invisalign treatment.
Our SureSmile clear aligners are custom-molded to your teeth and provide the same moving power of braces without the metal look. What you won’t see is the brackets and wires you see with braces. In fact, you won’t see much of anything.
Clear aligners are made of a virtually invisible acrylic material that follows the contours of your teeth. That means that they are nearly invisible while straightening teeth and moving them to their desired positions. People may not even notice that you’re straightening your teeth!
Clear aligners are removable, so you can brush and floss easily with them. You won’t need any special tools. You also won’t need a special diet with clear aligners. Simply remove them before eating or drinking, and you can enjoy whatever foods you want!
Not every patient is ideal for clear aligners. While clear aligners for teeth have come a long way in how much they can repair, they still aren’t as effective in the most severe cases as braces.
Clear aligners must be cleaned daily to keep bacteria and food particles from building up on them. You can lightly brush them with antibacterial hand or dish soap or use non-abrasive cleaning tablets made for clear aligners. Denture tablets often contain abrasive “scrubbing” particles that can cause microabrasions that cloud your clear aligners.
Clear aligners must be worn at least 22 hours daily to be fully effective. Wearing them for less time daily could delay your treatment time. It takes a lot of responsibility to have a fully successful clear aligners treatment.
Finally, clear aligners can get lost or damaged when out of your mouth, and replacement can be expensive. It’s important to keep them in a clear aligners storage case when they are not in your mouth and keep the case out of reach of children and pets.
There are advantages and disadvantages to braces and clear aligners. Which treatment is best for your orthodontic issues? Woodhill Dental Specialties can help you figure that out! We will provide a full examination on your first orthodontic visit and provide the best options for you, including whether braces or clear aligners are best.
Schedule an appointment with Woodhill Dental Specialties to find out which treatment is best for you!
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