what are clear braces? how are they different from regular braces? And what about invisalign? you have questions and we have answers!
Clear braces are similar to traditional metal braces, except they have clear brackets instead of metal. this makes them less noticeable and a more popular choice for adults who want to straighten their teeth more discreetly.
How much do clear braces cost? Clear braces typically cost more than all-metal braces, primarily due to the technology and materials used. You can read more about the cost of clear braces below.
Invisible braces like invisalign and other clear aligners are not the same as clear braces, because they don’t use any wires; instead, they are plastic trays that are completely removable.
To help you determine if clear braces, regular braces, or clear aligners are the best option for you, we’ll go over the following:
- What is the difference between clear and traditional braces?
- What are transparent braces like?
- what about clear aligners like invisalign?
- how much do clear braces cost in the united states?
- How do clear braces for adults work?
- what different brands are available in the us? uu.?
- pros and cons of transparent, invisible and invisalign braces
- …and more!
- the adjustment process occurs continuously over time, so it is more comfortable than staged adjustments
- sliding mechanism means less pressure on teeth
- fewer dental checkups needed
- easier to keep clean since they don’t use elastic
- available without visible metal parts
- hard foods like nuts, crackers, and ice
- chewy foods like candy, cereal bars, bagels, and gum
- crunchy foods like apples, raw carrots, crusty bread, and potato chips
- acidic foods such as pickles, vinaigrettes, and fruit juices
- brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day: learn how to floss with braces
- use an electric toothbrush
- rinse with a fluoride mouthwash
- visit your dentist regularly
- use the retainer as recommended (see below)
- daily cleaning of your retainer
- wire retainers are wrapped around the teeth and secured with an acrylic plate
- Clear retainers look like aligners, except they don’t need to be changed every two weeks
- alternative styles of braces, including “hidden” lingual braces
- how they compare in terms of cost and appearance
- what it’s like to wear braces as a teenager or adult
- how to take care of your braces
Keep reading to find out what type of clear braces or aligners are best for you!
what are transparent braces?
Clear braces are like conventional metal braces but with clear braces, sometimes made of ceramic. sometimes they also include transparent wire clamps. keep reading to learn more!
what are clear braces made of?
Clear bracket braces are made from a ceramic or plastic material. we have an entire article dedicated just to ceramic braces if you want to learn more about them specifically.
how do clear braces work?
As with conventional metal braces, clear ceramic braces are attached to each tooth and then connected with a wire. This system is effective in treating all types of dental misalignments.
By careful placement of the braces, your orthodontist can manipulate your teeth in all directions to align them correctly. the treatment usually lasts between 18 and 24 months, although some brands offer faster treatment thanks to the technology they use.
Most systems use a metal wire to connect the clear brackets, but patients can opt for a white archwire. They are usually more expensive, but have the advantage that braces are much less obvious, especially from a distance.
While wearing clear ceramic braces, you’ll need to take extra care to keep your teeth clean, especially in places that are hard to reach with normal brushing.
Although they may be a bit uncomfortable at first, most users soon get used to their braces and do not experience any ongoing discomfort. There is a chance of mouth sores as your cheeks and gums adjust to the new settings, but using dental wax will help reduce abrasion.
The following video is a detailed review of kamari’s experience getting metal braces on her lower teeth and clear ceramic braces on her upper teeth. she gives tips on how to choose braces colors and whether it’s worth getting clear braces. If you are interested in invisible braces for adults or clear braces for adults, it is worth taking a look.
But what about clear and invisible braces, also called clear aligners? read on to discover the differences!
clear braces vs invisalign braces
Invisible braces are very different from clear braces. but, the names are so similar, and there are so many variations, that it can get quite confusing! so here’s a quick breakdown of the overall differences.
Both types of braces do an effective job of straightening misaligned teeth in a discreet manner.
We’ll be looking at some of the most popular brands of clear braces in the United States, including Damon Clear and 3M Clarity, so you can understand the differences between each.
We’ve also included information on transparent invisible braces like invisalign so you can easily compare the two options.
who can wear braces and clear aligners?
Teeth straightening with braces is often most effective in adolescence, when the teeth and jaw are still developing. This doesn’t mean you can’t wear braces later in life. in fact, many adults also undergo orthodontic treatment with excellent results.
If you feel self-conscious about wearing braces as an adult, you don’t need to. According to the American Orthodontic Association, many adults wear braces. more specifically, more than 1.5 million adults in 2016 were treated by us and the canadian members of the aao.
Thanks to the development of technology used in invisible aligners, you may not even realize the person you’re talking to is wearing braces.
One thing that may limit your choice of braces is the severity of your case. For example, invisalign braces can treat 90% of orthodontic cases, but in the other 10% where teeth are severely misaligned, braces using a wire and bracket system may be the only option. six month smiles is a brand that offers clear braces and aligners, depending on the complexity of your case.
Tooth-colored ceramic braces are another option for people looking for a subtle way to straighten their teeth. the choice between clear and tooth-colored braces may depend on the natural color of your teeth.
People with naturally bright and clear teeth generally find clear braces to be the least noticeable option. for people with darker tooth shades, tooth-colored ceramic material may be a more natural match. Other than this, these two types of braces work the same way.
how much do clear braces cost?
In general, clear braces cost more than their all-metal equivalents due to the materials and technology used. To save money, some patients may opt for metal braces on their lower teeth. these are less visible and clear brackets on the upper teeth.
Before looking at how much invisible and clear braces cost, keep in mind that prices can vary widely from dentist to dentist. the price charged will also depend on your location and the length and complexity of your treatment.
If your teeth do not require treatment for severe malocclusion, we recommend that you consider at-home options such as candid, newsmile, byte, and alignerco. Take a look at the table below for a comparison of the costs of clear braces and clear aligners.
clean the cost of orthodontia with insurance
If you have dental insurance that covers orthodontic work, it probably includes treatment with ceramic appliances. however, your annual coverage limit may well be less than the full cost of transparent orthodontic treatment, in which case you will still have some out-of-pocket costs.
You can also ask your dentist if they offer an interest-free payment plan to help you spread the cost of your treatment.
If you need help finding the right dental insurance plan for you, dentalinsurance.com can help. This online marketplace makes dental insurance easy to understand, with helpful articles and tips for choosing the best plan for you. You can also call one of their helpful licensed agents at 888-626-0057 if you need additional guidance. It’s easy to get started – just click the link below and enter your zip code and date of birth!
how do invisible braces work? (transparent aligners)
Clear aligner systems are a completely different solution to straightening teeth. They consist of a series of clear plastic removable aligners (or “trays”) that fit snugly over your teeth. trays are custom made for each patient from dental scans or impressions. every two weeks or so the patient must change to a new aligner and, little by little, move the teeth to the desired position.
treatment with invisible braces usually lasts 9-18 months, but can take 3-6 months for minor corrections.
A great benefit of these braces is that you can remove your aligners at home, although only for two to four hours per day. this allows the user to eat what he wants and clean his teeth normally. They’re also much less noticeable than any type of fixed braces, even those with clear braces, making them the perfect solution for people who want to discreetly straighten their teeth.
There are many brands that offer at-home aligner treatment, but not all of them provide the same level of care and customer service. Take a look at some of the best brands to see which one best suits your needs:
Brace wearers may want to remove their aligners for important meetings or special occasions, and clear braces offer the flexibility to do so.
If you’re interested in this type of treatment but aren’t ready to commit yet, you can get started by simply taking a free assessment to verify your eligibility.
To learn more about invisalign braces and other types of invisible aligners, read our full article on aligner braces, where you’ll find out much more about the costs and practicalities of wearing them. You can also check out our invisalign vs braces comparison.
However, these aligners may have some drawbacks. If you have clear aligner braces, you should clean your teeth after eating or drinking something other than water. Otherwise, bacteria get trapped inside the aligners and increase your chances of tooth decay and gum disease.
They also require the user to have some willpower; if you don’t have this, fixed braces may be the best option!
transparent braces brands
damon transparent braces
There is an important difference when it comes to damon clear braces vs metal braces. Damon braces are a kind of self-ligating brace, one that ‘tightens’ itself. this has several benefits over the traditional system:
All of these advantages come at a cost, of course, but the higher price of clear braces is one that many patients are willing to pay, considering the convenience, discretion, and comfort through less brace pain it offers. damon clear. braces.
Here you can watch a damon brace patient share her experience three months after her treatment:
3m advanced clarity
3m Clarity Advanced Clear Braces are designed to be stain resistant, so you don’t need to restrict your food and beverage choices to prevent discoloration.
The brackets have rounded corners and a low profile to reduce the chance of irritation inside the mouth. comfort is certainly a primary consideration when it comes to choosing the right braces for you.
While you’re probably choosing clear braces so they won’t be as noticeable, these do come with the option of using your clear braces with colored bands if you fancy a pop of color for variety.
glow more
Radiance braces are manufactured by american orthodontics and are extremely strong as they are made from sapphire (the next strongest element after diamond). They have a glass-like appearance, making them the clearest braces available on the market. in fact, they are actually quite attractive as far as braces go. however, this is definitely a luxury option as they are one of the most expensive brace brands available.
choose a brand of clear braces
If you have a severe malocclusion and don’t qualify for at-home braces like candid, or just feel more comfortable going a more traditional route, you’ll need to decide which in-office brand you want to go with.
Many orthodontists prefer to work with one or two particular brands, so it’s unlikely you’ll find a dental practice that offers this full range of options. there are many other brands available that we have not listed here. You can search online for clear images of braces to find the ones you like best. Remember that more established companies like invisalign have had more time to refine the technology used in their products, so newer companies won’t necessarily have the same level of experience.
It’s a good idea to ask your dentist which brand they think makes the best invisible braces and why. they may have a preference based on cost, performance, company service, technology, and a host of other factors. if you are not satisfied with the one they use or believe they are putting their own profits above their personal needs, you can always look for an alternative.
taking care of your white teeth braces
If you opt for clear fixed braces, you’ll need to take a few extra precautions while wearing them.
Your orthodontist will show you how to properly clean your braces and teeth. this will take a little longer each day, as braces contain many nooks and crannies where food can get stuck, leading to bacteria buildup.
If possible, you should clean your teeth and braces immediately after eating. if this is not possible, at least rinse very well with water. It will help to use a floss threader or interdental cleaner to get the floss under the arch.
Your dentist will also tell you which foods are best to avoid while wearing braces, to keep both your braces and teeth in good condition. these include:
Habits such as nail biting or pencil chewing can also damage cables or accessories. Since the ceramic material used in clear braces is more brittle than metal, it is essential that you follow your dentist’s instructions.
aftercare for transparent braces
Did you know it’s just as important to take care of your teeth carefully after you get your braces off?
After spending all that money on braces and going through the hassle of wearing them, you finally have that smile you’ve been dreaming of. you can take care of it by:
Most patients will want to have a thorough dental cleaning to remove plaque or stains that have built up while wearing braces.
using a retainer
As with any teeth-straightening treatment, you’ll likely need to wear a retainer every night (and perhaps during the day at first) for as long as you want your teeth to remain in their new position. Even after years of being held in place with braces and a retainer, teeth left alone can soon return to their former crooked state.
There are two types of retainers: removable and permanent. permanent (or ‘bonded’) retainers consist of a thin wire fixed discreetly behind the 4-8 front teeth to prevent them from moving out of position. these should be cleaned with the same care as fixed appliances.
Removable retainers come in two styles:
Removable retainers are much easier to clean and allow the wearer to eat and brush normally. however, there is a possibility that they may be lost or damaged.
This can get expensive over the years, with dentists charging $150-$400 for wire retainers (such as hawley retainers) and $100-$250 for clear retainers (such as essix retainers).
>
Both types of removable retainers will need to be replaced at some point anyway. if you take good care of them they can last five years or more.
Your dentist will be able to advise you whether a fixed, wire or clear retainer would be more appropriate to preserve the new position of your teeth.
if you’re interested in essix retainers, you can get them online through sporting smiles. they fabricate their custom aligners in a laboratory with professionally trained technicians. and you’ll never have to set foot in the dentist’s office.
You can start by ordering your impression kit and you can get 10% off your order with promo code smile10.
summary: pros and cons
The following table summarizes the information provided in this article so that you can more easily decide between transparent and invisible braces.
In general, adults and teens looking for a way to straighten their teeth without showing it will likely find clear aligners like candid to be the most efficient and convenient option. Clear aligners are not only very hard to spot, they’re also removable, and home versions cost much less than fixed ceramic braces.
If you’re still not sure which type of brace is right for you, check out our full article on orthodontics and braces for teens and adults. Here you can learn more about:
If you think you’re interested in clear aligners to straighten your teeth, you can read our article on the best clear aligners for more information. While invisalign is the leading brand of invisible braces, it is also one of the most expensive options and may not fit your budget.
If that’s the case, you can take a look at our byte, smileie, alignerco, newsmile reviews, candid, alignerco and snapcorrect brackets pages to learn more about each of them and find out which one is best for you. You can also read more about invisalign alternatives in our comprehensive guide.
Our goal at dentaly.org is to give you all the information you need to make the right decisions when it comes to your oral health. We hope you found this article helpful!
frequently asked questions
can you get clear rubber bands for braces?
yes. clear, transparent and invisible braces can have tooth-colored or clear ceramic or polymer brackets, with clear bracket bands on each bracket as well.
can you get clear metal braces?
Although there are technically no clear metal braces, you can choose to have clear braces on your front teeth and metal braces on your less visible teeth. You can also get clear braces on your upper teeth and metal braces on your lower teeth, or clear bands on metal braces.
how much do clear braces cost for adults?
less noticeable transparent and invisible materials cost more than traditional metal braces. clear braces for adults can cost between $3,800 and $8,000 without insurance.
how much do clear aligners cost?
In-office invisible braces cost about $2,500 without insurance and can cost up to $8,500. Invisible home braces typically cost around $2,000 or less.
