Clear Aligners vs Metal Braces: Do Clear Aligners Work Better Than Braces?

 Metal Braces vs. Clear Aligners: Definitions

Two common orthodontic treatments that try to correct misaligned teeth and give you a straight smile are braces and clear aligners. Both techniques use controlled forces to shift the teeth into the appropriate locations.

Metal Braces

• Metal braces use metal components, as their name implies. Your teeth are fitted with metal brackets on their facial surfaces, and then metal archwires are inserted through the brackets.

• You might use ceramic brackets that complement the colour of your teeth if you want braces to be less noticeable. We refer to these as ceramic braces. It is also possible to place metal braces—sometimes referred to as lingual braces—on the interior surfaces of your teeth.

Teeth Aligners

The translucent thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material used to make teeth aligners is a detachable appliance that fits tightly around tooth movements.

Clear Aligners benefit

Benefits

• Effective in treating mild to complex cases
• Cost is slightly lesser than aligners
• Virtually invisible appearance
• Equally effective in treating mild to complex cases
• Removable, so easy to maintain oral hygiene
• No restrictions on what to eat
• Comfortable to wear or remove

Procedure

Metal Braces

• Your dentist will take the necessary X-rays and pictures in addition to doing a thorough and comprehensive examination of the teeth.

• A suitable treatment plan is formulated in light of the findings.

• Bonding cement is used to affix brackets to teeth following treatment plan approval. Elastics or ligature wires are used to hold metal wires in place once they have been inserted through the brackets.

• Follow-up appointments are planned every month to tighten the wires or make any required changes.

Clear Aligners

• Clear aligners require a similar first dental examination as traditional braces. Although imprints can also be made, an intraoral 3D scanner is typically utilised to create a 3D image of the teeth.

• A treatment plan is created using these digital scans or imprints. The patient's personalized clear aligners are made once the treatment plan has been approved.

• When the aligners are prepared, you will receive a call to schedule a first fitting. You'll receive your aligners and the required instructions from your doctor. If attachment placement and IPR are necessary, they shall be carried out in accordance with the treatment plan. Then, to continue the treatment, you can adjust your aligner step every one to two weeks, depending on the circumstances.

• Follow-up visits are planned every few months (or more frequently in complex cases) to assess how well the case is progressing and to check on the fit of the aligners.

Appearance And Color

Metal braces: Braces generally have a dark metallic appearance which looks quite unaesthetic and unappealing to the eye.

Clear aligners: Clear aligners are virtually invisible as they are made out of transparent plastic material.

Comfort And Pain

Metal Braces: Traumatic ulcers on the inside of the lips and cheeks are more likely to occur when wearing braces. Wearing metal braces can be uncomfortable and even painful due to the metal brackets or loose ends of the wires rubbing against sensitive tissue.

Clear aligners: Because the material used to make aligners is smooth plastic, they are incredibly comfortable to wear.  When wearing their aligners for the first time, people may feel some pressure or tightness in their teeth for one to two days. However, this is solely due to the pressure that the aligners provide on the teeth. In a few days, the discomfort will go away as the mouth gets used to the aligners. 

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Removability

Metal braces: The orthodontist fixes them, and they are only taken out after the course of treatment. It is not removable by the patient.

Clear aligners: Patients can wear or take off clear aligners with ease. Eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing are all made much simpler by this!

Care, Maintenance, And Diet

Metal Braces: Cleaning your teeth with metal braces requires a specialized toothbrush that won't harm the brackets. This makes maintaining your teeth with braces difficult.

Hard and crunchy foods should be avoided as they may break the wire or cause the brackets to come loose from the teeth.

Clear aligners: Maintaining your teeth is simple when you use aligners.  Simply remove your aligners and brush or floss as usual whenever you need to. You can also eat everything your taste buds desire! If you are about to consume any food or drink other than water, simply take out your aligners.

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