What are Clear Braces?*

As the name would have you to believe, clear braces are invisible to the naked eye and so they can be confidently worn by teenagers and adults alike in order to correct their misaligned bite or crooked teeth.

There are two different styles of these braces and that is to have them either fixed or removable. A discussion with a dentist will allow a patient to understand what style of treatment is best suited for their needs.

It is generally understood that all braces of this nature are for issues of misalignment such as a crossbite, underbite or overbite of a mild to moderate severity. Teeth that are in need of more alterations than this would be better suited to the traditional metal braces, which can cope with moving more teeth about in the jawline. This is rather than the recommended six front teeth that dentists can confidently achieve with clear braces. There is not one style of braces that are perfectly suited to every patient’s needs.

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How do they work?
These styles of braces work by moving teeth into the correct alignment in order to achieve a beautiful smile and a correct bite, which will help with speech impediments, self-confidence, eating, chewing and overall oral health.

Unlike traditional braces which pull the teeth into the correct position, removable and invisible braces from Invisalign rather push teeth into alignment by the use of pressure points that are found within the removable aligners themselves.

Another brand of invisible braces is the Inman Aligner, and this works with two bows that oppose one another and move teeth into their rightful place over a certain amount of time.

Do they hurt?
It is normal to experience some kind of pressure in the mouth that may be uncomfortable as the braces do the work of moving teeth into the desired position. If a patient is able to use removable braces for their treatment, every time that they receive a new set of aligners, which is generally every four to six weeks, they will find that the first few days are the most uncomfortable.

For those who have braces that are fixed to their teeth, after a visit to the dentist where they tighten the wires further to continue to move teeth into the correct position, the first few days following this procedure are generally the worst.

The pain should not be too uncomfortable and certainly not unbearable. If the pain is persistent and a patient finds that they cannot enjoy a normal quality of life, then they should seek advice from their dentist as something may be wrong with the fitting or style of braces in the mouth.

Clear braces are an excellent option for those who seek to perfect their smile by straightening their teeth or improve the quality of their oral health by correcting their bite so that they are able to access every tooth to clean, they can confidently smile and speak properly without misaligned teeth inhibiting their daily lives.