Clear Braces Vs Metal Braces
Crooked or misaligned teeth, also known as malocclusion, is very common and a completely correctable problem. Misaligned teeth or bite can cause not only improper tooth wear but troublesome jaw pain as well. When this happens, the option for dental braces is often suggested by the dentist or orthodontist. These days there are a wide variety of braces available for people suffering from dental misalignments.
What are Braces?
Most braces are made up of 4 basic parts:
- The Brackets (attached to each tooth)
- Bonding material (to glue the brackets to the tooth)
- The Archwire (to put pressure on the teeth to promote alignment)
- The O-ring or ligature elastic (small rubber bands)
Braces will place a constant yet gentle pressure on the teeth that will, over time, properly align the teeth. The type of braces required differs depending on a number of factors, including the severity of the malocclusion, whether extractions are involved, whether headgear is involved, and of course how much you are willing and/or able to pay.
Metal Braces
Metal braces can come in silver or golden tones. Golden braces are fairly popular with young women who choose to sport them as a sort of tooth jewellery. Metal braces are not only the strongest of all the braces available they are also the least expensive on the market and are able to treat virtually any degree of malocclusion or misalignments from mild to severe. However they are generally unpopular amongst adults due to their lack of aesthetics and noticeability.
Clear Braces
There are several braces on the market right now that are considered clear. Most clear braces are made from a very strong ceramic material and for the most part do not stain. They are paired with white or clear ligatures (rubber bands) to tighten the brackets. The downside to the aesthetic side of ceramic braces is that although the brackets themselves do not stain, the ligatures can, which can be unsightly over short periods of time especially for coffee or tea drinkers.
Ceramic braces are able to correct tooth alignment problems within the same period of time as metal braces and are equally effective, their only inferiority to metal braces is their overall strength against breakage, which is why orthodontists do not recommend ceramic braces on the bottom teeth.
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Another option
Invisalign aligners are another clear braces option; Invisalign braces are a strong plastic orthodontic aligning trays that are custom made to each patient. They are virtually 100% invisible and can be removed for short periods of time to accommodate eating and brushing. Invisalign is on a par cost wise with ceramic braces and many go for this option if they do not want their braces to be visible, and want to still have a great smile.
Whichever type of braces you choose, consult your dentist or orthodontist to check which types you can have, before setting your heart on a particular type.