Clear Aligners vs. Braces
Jacksonville, FL
Dental braces, retainers, and aligners are the most common treatment method for correcting bad bites. Some people are born with an unusual jawbone structure. Either the jawbone is bigger or smaller than the normal size. Due to this, their teeth are unable to align properly.
When the jawbone is smaller than usual, teeth don’t have sufficient space to align adjacent to one other, and because of that, they erupt haphazardly and overlap one another. This is known as overcrowding. When the jawbone is bigger than usual, teeth have a lot of space in between them, and this results in tooth spacing.
For some patients, the upper jawbone overlaps over the lower jawbone, and this results in what is known as an overbite. If the upper and lower front teeth protrude out because of this malocclusion, then the patient’s bad bite will be referred to as an overbite. Similarly, when the lower jawbone overlaps over the upper jawbone, the patient develops what is known as an underbite.
All bad bites or malocclusions cause great inconvenience to the patient. Bad bites make it difficult to eat food, brush and floss teeth, talk properly and can affect a person’s overall appearance due to the unusual smile.
To correct these bad bites and align all the teeth in a proper arch-shape on the jawbone, dentists recommend wearing dental braces for at least a year, depending on the severity of the bad bite.
Traditional Dental Braces
Traditional dental braces are made of metal wires and brackets. The brackets can either be made from stainless steel or other materials like composite resin, plastic, or tooth-colored ceramic.
A stainless-steel wire is wound around the teeth and held in place with the use brackets. Brackets are directly attached to the teeth with the help of dental adhesives. The metal wire exerts constant pressure on the teeth bones, and as a result, the teeth shift from their place and align next to one another.
Traditional braces are typically worn for 2 years. During this time, the patient must practice stringent oral hygiene to clean food residue and bacteria from in between the braces and teeth. Along with the teeth, braces too should be flossed every night.
Traditional braces require tightening every few months.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are used when a bad bite is minor and can be corrected within a year. Clear aligners are orthodontic mouthpieces that are custom-made to fit over the patient’s teeth perfectly. Made from strong and durable materials like composite resin and transparent plastic, clear aligners are worn during the day to exert pressure on the teeth bone.
Unlike traditional dental braces, clear aligners are removable and must be removed during eating, brushing, flossing and sleeping. Also, clear aligners have to be replaced after every 2 to 3 weeks to support and expedite the correct alignment of teeth.
When a person wears traditional dental braces, the metal wires and brackets become clearly visible. But this is not the case with clear aligners. Their transparent color and texture make them completely invisible and hence clear aligners are said to boost the patient’s confidence.
Benefits of Clear Aligners
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Removable
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Delivers fast results
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Aesthetically convenient (invisible)
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Hygienic (are replaced every 2 to 3 weeks)
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Effective for treating minor bad bites
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Custom-made
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Reduce pain and discomfort experienced from a bad bite |
Caring for Aligners
The following tips will help you take care of your clear aligners:
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Rinse them with lukewarm water whenever you remove or place them back.
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Do not wear them while eating, brushing or sleeping.
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Do not consume colored drinks or foods.
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Soak them in water every night.
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When you are not wearing them, keep them in their case.
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Use denture cleaners to remove germs and food residue. |
If you are suffering from a bad bite and would like to treat it with the help of dental braces or clear aligners, then visit us at Atlantic Dentistry or call us today at 904 717-0335 to book your appointment. |
