Traditional braces used to be the only way to address orthodontic concerns like crossbite, overbite, underbite, or crooked teeth. With the help of modern dentistry advancements, our dentists are now able to offer patients a discreet alternative to traditional braces. One of the main benefits patients enjoy when choosing clear braces is the ability to maintain their dietary preferences without taking additional oral hygiene precautions.
If you have orthodontic concerns and are looking for clear braces in Owings Mills, MD, learn more about why so many of our patients prefer clear braces compared to traditional metal braces.
Understanding Traditional Braces
With traditional braces, metal brackets and wires are securely attached to your dental structures for the entirety of your treatment plan. You cannot remove the braces for any reason and should take additional precautions to prevent damage to your orthodontic hardware. Patients are advised to avoid eating excessively crunchy or sticky foods that may easily get caught in the brackets and wires.
Additionally, patients with traditional braces should take additional time during their at-home oral hygiene routines to clean around and beneath their orthodontic hardware. Any damages to your orthodontic hardware could result in the prolonging of your treatment plan. It’s important to remember that orthodontic treatment of any kind can take many months or even years to complete.
While the lifestyle adjustments you will need to take with traditional braces are only temporary, you will need to abide by them for an extended amount of time to avoid prolonging your treatment plan.
How Do Clear Braces Work?
Clear braces are made of clear, plastic material that is designed to be worn over your teeth similar to a retainer. Patients are given all of their clear aligners sets upfront to avoid unnecessary additional trips to the dentist’s office. You will be instructed by your dentist when to change to a new set of aligners, usually every two weeks.
Over time, the aligners gradually apply pressure to your dental structures and encourage them to shift into a straighter position. Patients are encouraged to remove their aligners whenever they need to eat, drink, or brush their teeth. This allows patients to maintain their current dietary preferences without worrying about damaging and prolonging their orthodontic treatment plan.
Additionally, this makes it much easier for patients to maintain their oral health and wellness throughout their treatment time without worrying about food residue being caught in any orthodontic hardware. Patients love clear braces because as long as they wear their aligners on an average of 20-22 hours a day, their treatment plan will progress as intended and they may even remove their aligners for special occasions like first dates, job interviews, or weddings.
SureSmile in Owings Mills, MD
We offer SureSmile clear braces in our Owings Mills, MD dentist office. After a thorough consultation to determine if this treatment plan is right for you, we will take digital impressions of your teeth to produce high-resolution imagery that is used to evaluate dental positioning and will be used to design your unique set of aligners. Schedule an appointment with Cosmetic & Advanced Dentistry to learn more about SureSmile clear braces.