Livermore orthodontist

1.    Call Us :(925) 443-3800 Email Us FREE Consultation  Blog - Latest News You are here: Home / Clear Braces vs Metal braces Clear Braces Vs Metal Braces Long before clear aligners like Invisalign were a “thing” there were companies looking to encourage older patients to engage in orthodontic treatment by ?nding ways to make the appliances less visible. One of the ?rst things they did was to look at the braces themselves and try to ?nd a material that was less visible than stainless steel. After all, what are braces but handles adhered to the teeth, really? And if those handles could be made out of a clear material then that would drastically reduce their appearance while still allowing control of the teeth and their position. And thus clear braces entered the marketplace. When they ?rst arrived they were pretty raw and doctors looked at them with a jaundiced eye because (as orthodontists are results driven people) we didn’t see much logic in making the appliances pretty if it meant negatively affecting the quality of the ?nal results. Fortunately, improvements in material science have brought clear braces light years forward since then. Not All Clear Braces Are Created Equal Metal braces are all pretty much made from the same metal: stainless steel. Steel is an alloy though and that means that there are many different ways to make it, some with less nickel to avoid allergies, some with gold laminate to make them stand out. But at the end of the day,

2. they are metal, period. Clear braces on the other hand can be made of a variety of material in a variety of ways. For example there are clear braces made of plastic, ?berglass and clear braces made of ceramic (aka porcelain). The plastic braces are pretty lousy; they tend to absorb water and then they pinch the wires and the teeth don’t move very easily. The ?berglass ones aren’t much better. Most doctors who use clear braces use ceramic ones (aka ceramic braces aka porcelain braces). And porcelain braces are not all created equal either. Some are monocrystalline (meaning crystal clear lie “Ice” brackets) and some are polycrystalline (a frosty white). Some tend to chip and crack easily, some are pretty durable. Under a microscope porcelain is more rough and porous than metal so that can mean friction as the teeth slide along the wires. To address this, some porcelain brackets have a metal slot. There are “self-ligating” brackets that have a little door that snaps closed over the wire (Damon braces, Innovation, SmartClip, Speed etc) and many other permutations. Of course, the more fancy the bracket the higher the cost and the higher the cost to the doctor the higher the cost to the patient (usually). It’s kind of like buying gold door knobs for your home. They don’t work any differently than less expensive door knobs but they are made of more costly materials and thus it requires more money to out?t your house with fancy, gold door knobs! That said, the last thing you want to do as a doctor is use cheap, clear brackets because they will hinder your ability to deliver a quality result and can cause frustration for both you and your patient. So it’s really a balancing act between spending enough to get quality equivalent to metal braces but at a cost that isn’t prohibitive. In fact, the greatest compliment you can pay a clear bracket system is “it works as well as metal braces” which should tell you something about appearance versus quality outcomes. Pragmatism isn’t always the most attractive option but if you’re more concerned with results than trying to hide the fact that you’re getting orthodontic treatment you can often save money and frustration with something less complex. Anyway, back to clear braces… Why Would You Use Clear Braces Instead Of Aligners? Good question. The fact of the matter is that aligners are de?nitely harder to spot but clear braces (the good quality ones anyway) can do things that aligners can’t. Or rather, they can often do things more effectively and predictably and without relying as much on the patient. For example, closing an extraction space is de?nitely easier with clear braces than with aligners. Or if you are the kind of person who doesn’t want to worry about taking the aligners in and out all the time but still want to reduce the appearance of the appliances on your teeth, clear braces are a nice go-between. In fact clear braces are a solid choice when you want to do something that is a little more expensive than metal braces but still has the predictability and convenience of a ?xed appliance system. Clear braces also tend to be a favorite of older teens and adults who don’t want to worry about losing aligners but still want something a little less visible than traditional metal braces. Clear Braces Cost

3. As I mentioned earlier, clear braces often cost more to purchase therefore there is often a surcharge to the patient for their use during treatment. The cost can range drastically but for most orthodontists the extra cost for their use is 10% or less more than regular braces. So for a $5500 case you can probably expect to pay an additional $500 or so, maybe less, maybe more. The most important thing to remember here is that you are paying extra for a prettier appliance, not necessarily for a better looking result. The same can be said for clear aligners. But there are always exceptions to these rules and some doctors so love certain appliances that they will waive the surcharge because they want to encourage patients to choose them. No matter what, make sure you understand the reasons for and against using each appliance. To learn more about what appliance may be right for you call us for a complimentary consultation or click on the link above to request an appointment through our site. The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of quali?ed health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. Contact Info 4200 East Ave., Suite 100 Livermore, CA 94550 Tel: 925.443.3800 Fax: 925.443.3832 E-mail: info@wildsmiles.org Follow Us

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