Clear Aligners vs Braces

If you are considering braces vs clear aligners to straighten your teeth, or your kid’s teeth, you may have lots of questions. Which is more effective? Which is more affordable? Ultimately, you want to choose the treatment that will do the job, even if it’s slightly more expensive. In the long run, you don’t want to have to fix your teeth again! So, which one is the better choice for you or your kid?

Clear Aligners vs Braces: Getting Straight to the Basics

Both braces and clear aligners were designed to straighten teeth while improving your smile and oral health. Patients first began using clear aligners at scale in 2000, so this treatment does not yet have the same history as braces.

Braces consist of metal or ceramic brackets being glued to your teeth and tied together by wires and tiny rubber bands. Nowadays, you can get brackets to more closely match your enamel color (making them more discrete), or you can get them in color to make a fashion statement with your mouth!

Clear aligners, on the other hand, are designed to be invisible and removable. Aligner trays made of smooth, comfortable, BPA-free clear plastic are worn over your teeth to subtly and gently move your teeth. Your practitioner will use X-rays, pictures, and impressions to create a precise 3-D image of your teeth and to configure your aligner trays accordingly.

What is malocclusion and how does it effect my treatment

A malocclusion happens when mismatched teeth and the jaw cause a person to have a bad bite. This can result in crooked, crowded, or protruding teeth, and may even lead to gum problems/periodontal disease, severe headaches, and sleep disorders.