If you have been recommended to have braces to correct your orthodontic problems, you may be able to choose between two different types of this effective solution. These are invisible and traditional braces. Here’s what you need to know about both of these options so that you can make an informed decision about your treatment. 

What are the traditional braces?

Traditional braces are the original and most well-known form of orthodontic treatment. They can be used to address a wide range of different issues including:

• Teeth that are crooked and overlapping
• Teeth with gaps between them
• Overbites, underbites, crossbites and other issues with the way that teeth come together when you close your mouth
• Any other alignment issues

Traditional braces use metal brackets which are glued onto the outer face of each tooth. Archwires are then fed through the brackets and adjusted as necessary to apply gentle, consistent force to the teeth and jaw to move them into a new, more desirable position. This is based both on improving oral health now and in the future, as well as the appearance of teeth. 

Although modern traditional braces are less bulky than earlier models, and it is possible to pick different color brackets, the dark color of the metal used means that they are still very noticeable on the teeth. They also require patients to take special care when eating, and certain foods are off-limits since they could cause damage to the brace. 

Traditional braces require manual adjustments which can only be made by your orthodontist and this will require you to make semi-regular visits to their offices for the duration of the treatment. The length of your treatment program will depend on the severity of your orthodontic problems, but braces are typically worn for between 12 and 24 months. 

What are invisible braces?

Also sometimes called inside braces, lingual braces or iBraces, this ultra-discreet orthodontic solution is extremely popular amongst patients who wish to reap all of the benefits of conventional orthodontic treatment, but who don’t want to draw attention to their teeth whilst they do. 

Whilst they aren’t actually invisible (since sadly technology has not evolved quite that much yet!), they are considerably more discreet than traditional braces. There are several options available to you. 

Inside/lingual braces

As you may have guessed from their name, these braces are located on the inside of your teeth rather than the outside. This means that both the brackets which are attached to each tooth and the wire that runs through them, are attached to the inner faces of the teeth rather than the outside. However, the treatment works in the same way as traditional braces, with the wire being tightened as necessary to pull teeth into the correct alignment. 

Just like traditional braces, lingual/inside braces are fixed permanently in place, meaning that they cannot be removed at mealtimes and you will still need to take care of choosing what you can eat so that you don’t damage them. However, you won’t have to remember to put them back in which is a definite advantage as it is something that many people who choose removable braces forget to do. 

Clear braces

Clear braces as exactly what their name suggests too. These traditional-style braces have clear or tooth-colored brackets that enable them to blend in with your natural teeth and appear almost invisible. Some clear braces even feature tooth-colored wires for even greater discretion. They work in exactly the same way as traditional braces and are just as effective. However, since they are clear, they afford patients far greater confidence in the appearance of their teeth whilst undergoing treatment. They are also particularly popular amongst adults who perhaps should have had orthodontic treatment as a teenager but didn’t, and now choose to get their misalignment issues sorted. 

Clear aligners

You may also have the option of clear aligners. These are a little different from traditional braces. Although they work in the same way, by applying gentle and consistent pressure to the teeth, they do so using a series of clear, plastic aligners that are worn over the teeth. They can be removed for mealtimes and cleaning, but otherwise must be worn for a minimum of 22 hours each day. The longer you wear them, the shorter your treatment time is likely to be. 

The design of clear aligners has a number of benefits over traditional braces, the main one being their removability which means that patients can eat what they want to do without worrying about damaging their brace. However, they do have to remember to put them back in immediately after. They are also incredibly discreet, comfortable to wear and don’t require you to attend as many appointments since you can simply move onto the next aligner in the series at the prescribed time. 

As you can see, invisible braces offer patients considerably greater options and benefits when it comes to their orthodontic treatment. For more information on any of these solutions, please contact our offices.