Benefits of Clear Braces

Teeth that are unevenly spaced or misaligned can negatively affect an individual’s smile as well as his or her overall bite pattern. If these issues are not addressed, undue wear and tear on overused natural teeth will affect his or her smile as well as the health of the overworked teeth.

Orthodontic Treatment Options

Unlike years gone by, when orthodontic treatment is necessary today, patients have a variety of treatment options. One of the most popular treatment options is clear braces (ceramic braces). Clear braces are the same size and shape of traditional metal braces. However, these braces consist of transparent or tooth-colored ceramic brackets that blend well with the patient’s teeth.

Ceramic braces can be used to treat the same issues that metal braces treat, including:

Crooked teeth
An overbite
An underbite
An open bite
Teeth that are widely spaced
Malocclusion
A crossbite
Crowded teeth
A horizontal overlap (overjet)

Whereas, traditional metal braces significantly affect your smile, clear braces offer transparency:

Therefore, directly after you begin treatment, your smile will remain, for the most part, the same. However, as treatment continues, your teeth will slowly move to their proper positions. Once treatment is complete, you will have the beautifully-aligned teeth you have always desired and, chances are, you will love your new smile!

The Benefits of Clear Braces

Clear Braces Provide Inconspicuous Treatment

Clear braces are perfect for individuals who want to straighten their teeth inconspicuously. The majority of our patients’ state that most people do not even notice they have braces.

Tooth-Colored Wires

To camouflage their braces even more, some patients choose to have tooth-colored wires as well.

Easy to Replace Brackets

In the event that a bracket breaks or becomes stained, replacement brackets are readily available and can be applied quickly, and easily.

Cost

When compared to the clear aligners, ceramic braces are much more economical. Ceramic braces are slightly more expensive than their metal counterpart; however, for most people, the additional cost is well worth the overall benefits received. Furthermore, some patients choose to reduce the additional cost by placing clear braces on the visible front teeth and traditional metal braces on their back molars.

Financing for Clear Braces is Available

At Valderrama Orthodontics, we accept many insurance providers. For a list of these providers, please click here. If your provider is not on the list, please contact our office and we will do our best to assist you.

We also offer our patients a variety of financing options, including:

Care Credit
In-House Payment Plans
Bank of America
Wells Fargo

Our After-School Program

Since Dr. Natalia Valderrama has three teenage children of her own, she knows just how busy life can be. For this reason, she has created a program that is designed to assist parents by ensuring their children are able to attend their monthly follow-up appointments.

When you choose to take advantage of our After-School Program, we will pick your child up from school and bring him or her to the office for their appointment. Once his or her check-up and adjustments are complete, your child will remain in our office until you arrive to take him or her home. During this time in our office, your child can work on homework and socialize with the other children participating in the After-School Program.

It is Never Too Late to Improve Your Smile

No matter your age, it is never too late to address teeth and jaw irregularities. Now, with clear braces, you can discreetly attain the smile you have always wanted. Teenagers are ideal candidates for ceramic braces as well.

Dr. Natalia Valderrama, DDS, PA and her staff are dedicated to providing patients with exceptional, compassionate care. As a previous dental brace wearer herself, Dr. Valderrama knows the joy that her patients experience when their braces are removed to reveal their newly revised smile: Beautiful smiles really can change lives!

If you think you or your child needs braces, contact Valderrama Orthodontics today at 321-544-4127 to schedule a complimentary initial consultation, or, if you prefer, you can fill out our online contact form by clicking here.

Feel Confident With Clear Braces

If you are planning to get braces, clear braces may be your best option. Not only do they straighten the teeth as effectively as their all-metal counterparts, but they are much more discreet. In fact, when you wear clear braces, people may not even realize that you are wearing braces at all.

What are clear braces?

Clear braces are braces that have ceramic brackets. The brackets of traditional braces are made of metal.

The ceramic used for clear braces can be white or translucent. As a result, clear braces are difficult to discern from your natural tooth material. This means that you can have your dental alignment corrected without feeling self-conscious.

If you are uncomfortable with the thought of metal brackets covering your teeth, you are not alone. Many people just don’t feel as confident when their appearance is dramatically altered. You may not be comfortable smiling, laughing or even talking while wearing traditional metal braces. This lack of confidence can impair your ability to act naturally in social situations. For adults who regularly interact in business settings or for teens who may already feel awkward due to the developmental changes they are undergoing, this can be particularly problematic.

Like the brackets of metal braces, the brackets of clear braces can still be connected to an archwire using elastic bands. The archwire is adjusted periodically to apply consistent alignment pressure to properly position your teeth. To ensure that the archwire is not noticeable, a frosted or white wire can be used. In addition, the elastic bands that are selected can be translucent or white.

Can clear braces correct the same alignment issues as traditional metal braces?

In the past, ceramic brackets were not as strong as they are nowadays. As a result, less alignment pressure was used with ceramic braces to avoid damaging the brackets. Nowadays, clear braces are much stronger and often offer the same alignment force as conventional metal braces. Thus, you can be confident that the ceramic brackets will not delay or negatively modify your results. Even bite problems can be corrected effectively.

What happens if a ceramic bracket is broken?

Ceramic brackets are quite strong but are still more brittle than metal brackets. If a ceramic bracket breaks or becomes damaged, there is no need to fret. It can be quickly and easily replaced.

Why are clear braces sometimes selected instead of plastic aligners?

Although plastic aligners, such as those used for Invisalign, offer great discretion during your treatment process, they are often unable to correct severe alignment and bite problems. Clear braces can handle difficult alignment issues without significantly altering your appearance during treatment. In addition, clear braces can be used by people of all ages, but clear plastic aligners are usually only prescribed for teens and adults. In order to be effective, most aligners can only be used for a patient whose palate has already finished growing. As a result, kids and young teens may not be suitable candidates.

Clear braces are also a better option for people who may fail to wear their plastic aligners consistently. To provide adequate aligning force, plastic aligners cannot be left out of the mouth for more than a couple of hours per day. Clear braces are put in place by your orthodontist and remain in position until he or she removes them.

Can clear and metal braces be paired during the same treatment?

Clear braces are certainly not the most costly orthodontic option, but they are a bit more expensive than their metal counterparts. To lower the cost of your treatment, your orthodontist may place clear brackets on the teeth that are easily seen when you talk or smile and use metal brackets for the remainder of your teeth. With this option, you pay a bit less than you would for a complete set of ceramic brackets but still enjoy the aesthetic advantages of clear braces.

There are multiple alignment applications available for people who require orthodontic correction. However, many of these options are easily seen when applied to the teeth. Clear braces combine the advantages of discretion and effective alignment. If your teeth are misaligned, clear braces may offer you a way to feel more confident as you have your teeth properly positioned.

To learn more about clear braces and determine whether or not they are right for you, contact our office for a consultation.
Sources:

https://www.invisalign.com/