Everyone deserves a beautiful smile, but not everyone wants to get that smile with metal braces. Ohana Orthodontics offers clear braces as an alternative to orthodontic treatment with traditional metal braces.
Clear ceramic braces offer the same moving power as traditional metal braces. The difference between these types of braces is in the brackets. Our ceramic brackets are harder to see than metal braces. You can get the same great smile with a lower profile than metal braces.
What Are Clear Braces?
Clear braces are like traditional metal braces. They use brackets and wires to move your teeth gently into their proper positions. The difference is in the brackets.
Instead of metal brackets, clear braces use ceramic brackets that are closer to your natural tooth color. This makes them harder to see and gives them their “clear” appearance.
Clear braces can correct the same orthodontic issues that metal braces can correct. This includes:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Deep bite
- Gap teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Crossbite
Talk with us if you want to consider clear braces as your preferred braces treatment in Canby, OR.
Pros and Cons of Ceramic Braces
What are the pros and cons of ceramic braces? The most obvious pro is the look of ceramic braces. They are harder to see, so your friends may not even notice you’re wearing braces until they see your teeth up close!
Instead of seeing a bunch of metal, the most obvious sign you’re wearing braces is the thin archwire that stretches across your teeth. Many patients prefer this lower-profile solution.
The biggest con to these braces also happens to be the brackets. Ceramic braces are stain-resistant, but they can stain eventually. Stainless steel makes up metal braces, unlike clear aligners.
Caring for Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces need the same care as metal braces. You need to brush and floss your teeth daily to avoid tooth decay or decalcification that causes white spots on your teeth.
The best solution is to brush with braces properly. This includes brushing for at least two minutes at least twice daily. Use an electric toothbrush to remove food and plaque from around your brackets more effectively.
You should use mouthwash with braces. The mouthwash can also dislodge food particles and plaque around the brackets. It can also provide extra protection for your teeth when used at least half an hour after brushing.
Good oral hygiene is vital to your treatment plan and your oral health.
Foods to Avoid With Clear Braces
You should avoid the same types of foods with braces that you do with metal braces. Foods that are hard, sticky, crunchy, or chewy can damage your braces.
Here is a list of a few foods to avoid with clear braces.
- Hard foods: Hard candies, nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, raw grains, ice
- Foods you must front bite: Whole apples, carrots, corn on the cob, whole pears, whole peaches
- Chewy foods: Bagels, licorice, taffy, pizza crust, soft pretzels, gummy bears, jerky, hard-crusted bread, jelly candies
- Crunchy foods: Popcorn, tortilla chips, hard cookies, hard crackers, Doritos, hard breadsticks, hard taco shells
- Sticky foods: Gum, caramel candies, granola bars, protein bars, cereal bars, caramel apples, popcorn balls
There are a few extra food and drinks you may have to avoid with clear braces vs. metal braces. Drinks and foods like coffee, dark fruit juices, tomatoes, chocolate, tea, and sodas can stain ceramic braces.
You should avoid these foods during your treatment. If not, brush your teeth immediately after eating to prevent the colors from staining your braces.
Ceramic Braces vs. Invisalign
We’ve already discussed the differences between ceramic braces vs. metal braces. What if you want Invisalign clear aligners? Which treatment is better for you?
Invisalign is another popular alternative to traditional metal braces. The clear aligner trays are custom-molded to your teeth. That makes them difficult to see, so they are nearly invisible during treatment.
Invisalign trays are also removable. This has pros and cons compared to ceramic braces. You can remove them easily for brushing and flossing, and you can eat anything because you can take the trays out while eating.
On the other hand, to be effective, you must wear the trays for at least 22 hours a day. If you forget to wear them long enough, it could delay your treatment. You also run the risk of losing the trays when they are not in your mouth.
Ceramic braces work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week because they are bonded to your teeth and cannot be removed. You don’t have to worry about delaying your treatment with clear braces. You also never have to worry about losing them.
Invisalign can treat many dental issues, but they can’t treat all of them. The most severe cases may require treatment with braces. In these cases, clear braces are still an option.
Do Clear Braces Cost Extra?
This specialized material means that clear braces tend to cost more than traditional metal braces.
The cost of clear braces varies depending on the treatment of the patient. The average cost of clear braces is $3,000 to $7,000. This differs only slightly from the cost of Invisalign, which costs an average of $3,500 to $7,500. It makes both treatments viable options.
How do you pay for braces? Ohana Orthodontics offers in-house, no-interest financing with extended payment options. We also accept major credit cards, and we will work with your insurance to see what your plan covers. We even offer third-party financing through CareCredit.
Clear Ceramic Braces in Canby, OR
Clear braces are an excellent metal-free option for effective teeth straightening. They provide the power of metal braces without all the visible metal components. Additionally, they serve as an ideal treatment alternative for individuals who may not be suitable candidates for Invisalign.
Curious if clear braces are the right fit for you? Schedule an appointment with Ohana Orthodontics today to explore your options!
