Clear aligners have become an attractive option for people who want straight teeth but do not want to live with the look of metal braces for one to two years (or more). Clear aligners such as Invisalign provide the teeth-straightening benefit of traditional metal braces but slide invisibly over the patients natural teeth. While clear aligners are not for every orthodontic case, adults and many teens are choosing invisible braces over more traditional metal types.
How clear aligners work
A clear aligner works by moving teeth a short distance. Treatment consists of having a new clear aligner placed every three to six weeks to move the teeth a little more. The entire orthodontic treatment may consist of 20 to 30 clear aligners to move each tooth to the desired position.
The advantages of clear aligners
There are several obvious advantages of clear aligners. Clear aligners are actually clear braces (not to be confused with ceramic and composite braces which are sometimes called clear braces). Clear aligners are made of rigid plastic and are transparent so the person’s natural teeth show through. Clear aligners like Invisalign are barely visible and have earned them the name invisible braces.
Another advantage to clear aligners is that they are removable braces. In other words, they can be completely taken out during meals and for teeth cleaning. Unlike metal braces which are fixed dental appliances, these removable appliances make oral hygiene much easier and in many cases more effective. When being discreet is important, as it is to most wearers of clear aligners, they can be removed before an important meeting or presentation.
The disadvantages of clear aligners
The major disadvantage of clear aligners is that they are not available to all people. Serious malocclusions, overbites, large diastemas (gapped teeth) and exceedingly crooked teeth cannot be treated with a simple clear aligner. These cases usually require more complex treatment and the forces derived from metal braces. Unfortunately it is not always possible to determine who can be helped by invisible braces and who cannot. The worst case scenario is to begin treatment with a clear aligner only to need more traditional orthodontic treatment later.
The other big disadvantage to clear aligners is the cost. The cost of Invisalign is a bit higher than metal braces, on average. While the cost of Invisalign is increased by advertising costs and associated marketing fees, even the cost of clear braces from less well known manufacturers is still a bit higher than traditional metal braces. For adults that wish to have braces that remain a secret, though, the cost of braces is not the primary concern. However the cost of Invisalign may be too great for parents of teen patients that want their kids to have straight teeth at the most affordable price.