Clear Braces Vs Metal Braces: Choices Compared

As unreal as it sounds, having crooked teeth can lower life quality and breed a lot of insecurity. If you have bad teeth, you probably understand what that means. When you meet someone or face an interview, you create an excellent first impression with your smile. But bad teeth can turn such a simple act of smiling and laughing into a problematic and embarrassing task, tearing down your confidence and self-esteem. Being self-conscious all the time can also wreak havoc on your mental health. No wonder people are willing to bear the pain of braces for months and even years to correct dental issues.

Clear Braces Vs. Metal Braces

Clear Braces Vs. Metal Braces

In orthodontic treatment, you can opt for clear braces or traditional metal braces. Although metal braces have been in the picture for a longer time, clear braces have become more popular over the years. Dental patients, especially adults who want to keep their treatment discreet, prefer clear braces to metal braces. However, both options are effective and have their pros and cons depending on the correction level required.

Now let us see how each type’s construction, its pros and cons, and which of the two is more efficient in orthodontic treatments.

What are clear braces? 

Clear or ceramic braces are similar to metal braces, but they differ in the material used to construct the brackets. Clear braces use ceramic or porcelain and sometimes plastic brackets that are glued to the tooth. They can be transparent or skin-colored, while the archwires come in silver or white. Clear braces can take anywhere between 18 to 36 months, moving teeth faster than clear aligners.

Pros

Apparently, the most significant advantage of clear braces is that they are less noticeable. They don’t draw others’ attention to your teeth as much as metal braces do, so they are aesthetically pleasing. This brings much relief to older teens and adults who find metal braces loud or ugly. 

Clear braces are gentler on your gums and cheeks. They do not irritate or scrape your lips and soft tissues inside the mouth. 

If you have complicated oral issues and require imaging tests, clear braces stack up better. They do not produce signal interference like metal braces.

Cons

However, clear braces are more expensive than metal braces by at least a thousand dollars or two. The design and material that lends its attractive look are costlier and make it less budget-friendly. If you are on a tight budget, metal braces are better options.

Clear brackets are more extensive in size and may be hard to clean. The porous and transparent material may also make it prone to stains.

Because the materials used to make clear braces are less durable, you may incur more expenses in the event of damage. Plus, the time you lose during repair and adjustment can delay the straightening process. You may end up wearing them for longer than you like.

Clear braces take a long time and are more suitable for simple correction issues.

What are metal braces?

Metal braces are the traditional ones that have been around for a longer time. Here, metal brackets are adhered to the teeth with special glue and then connected by metal archwires. If you opt for a metal brace, you will need to see your doctor often for periodic adjustments to increase pressure and see if they are in the right position.

Pros

Of all the options, metal braces are the least expensive type of orthodontic treatment for misaligned teeth. Since many health insurances do not cover braces, metal braces can be the most affordable option.

Metal braces are faster at realigning treatments. They are also more capable of resolving difficult cases that do not work suitably with clear braces and aligners. 

Metals are strong, and they do not break. They are much more durable than ceramic and plastic brackets, so you are less likely to experience setbacks from damage.

If you aren’t bothered by the attention that braces bring, you can go a step further and make your braces look fashionable. You have a wide range of designs and colors to choose from.

Cons

For the self-conscious, metal braces are too loud. Each time you open your mouth, they draw people’s attention to your metal teeth. For some, the unappealing look from wearing braces can bother and impact the quality of life. Besides, wearing metals in the mouth may pose a danger or inconvenience for people in specific jobs such as boxing, acting, modeling, music, and sports.

Wearing metal braces can be painful as well as give you mouth sores. The brace continually rubs against the tender tissues inside your mouth and makes it prone to cuts, scrapes, and sores.

Metal braces are difficult to clean. It takes a lot of time to properly brush and floss, ensuring that food particles do not stick in between the braces.  

Your Teeth and Orthodontic Treatment

Thanks to technology, we have wide options while choosing braces. But which type and how long to wear may depend on several factors. For instance, the severity of your condition, space inside your mouth, the width of gaps, and gum and bone health will determine the treatment plan and time. How closely you follow instructions will also impact how fast the treatment can be done.

Clear Braces Vs. Metal Braces

Verdict

If you are reading this article, you are probably considering getting your teeth job done. And you’ve probably got the answer as well. Which one is better? It depends. For example, if you consider aesthetics, clear braces are the winner, but metal braces are far better for durability.

Both types have their pros and cons, and one will work better in ways that the other doesn’t. Evaluating your condition will help you decide which one will work best for you. 

If you still can’t decide which one to opt for, don’t worry. You don’t have to take the decision alone. Your orthodontist will carefully evaluate your condition and suggest the best option for you. So armed with all this knowledge, hit your orthodontist’s chamber. We are sure you will be able to figure out the best treatment option.