Navigating Adult Treatments – Clear Aligners vs. Braces in Dental Practice

Although various new alternatives have popped off the market, including clear aligners and world-renowned brands such as Invisalign, some might still prefer the more traditional treatment intervention, which is the braces. With this new age of modernity and the fast-paced life for living, many patients would prefer a cleaner cut and faster alternative than the old braces.

In this article we’re going to be discussing why braces, although it is a staple in the field of orthodontics, might not be the best and the most suitable treatment intervention for everyone.

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What is braces?

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Braces is a treatment modality that has been a staple in the field of orthodontics ever since its beginning. It is essentially defined as a device that is used for this alignment and straightening of the teeth, helping them return to their natural position.

The mechanics of this intervention include the application of force and pressure on the teeth, and this will help them to gradually and over time return to their natural position. This treatment modality includes 4 basic components: the brackets, the bonding material, the archwire, and the ligature elastic. This will essentially produce the traditional and the well-known look of the braces, which can be quite a hindrance to the patient’s acceptance due to the poor aesthetic.

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What are the types of braces?

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Metal braces

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These are the well-known types that come to everyone’s mind when the word braces comes up. Traditional braces use stainless steel bands brackets and wires, and this will help gently move your teeth to its bizarre position. The initial step includes bonding the racket onto the teeth and then attaching the thin flexible arch wire over the brackets luggages are then connected between the bonds to keep the wire firmly in place.

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Ceramic braces

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This essentially is similar to the traditional metal braces, with all four components being available. However, the difference is the bracket wires, like each other, are all tooth covered. This will allow better-blending indent in the teeth and thus improve the aspect of aesthetics.

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Lingual braces

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The four components similar to the metal braces are also present. However, they are inserted on the back of the teeth rather than on the front, thus concealing the appearance of the braces.

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Self-ligating braces

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This is a newer and more improved form of these traditional metal braces. Instead of using luggage, the self-ligating braces use a built-in system, and this will aid in holding the archwire in place

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Uses of braces

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Braces can be used for a wide range of orthodontic problems, including open bites where both the upper and lower dentitions are not touching. Crossbites where there is an inadequate transverse relationship of the maxillary and the mandibular teeth, overcrowding and dental spacing.

Many people might wonder why the new and improved clear aligners should be picked over braces. With the exponential advancements in the dental field, various new treatment modalities spring up. These treatment modalities, with proper knowledge and use, can easily replace traditional options, which have long caused a subpar experience for the patient. Aligners, with more demand-driven advancements, provide the ultimate combination of comfort, functionality, and aesthetics. It also possesses better psychosocial acceptability for the patient. This deems them to be an excellent treatment option to be considered.

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Are aligners better than braces?

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Braces vs aligners pros and cons is a wide topic with many factors to be considered. Below will be discussed a couple of them, which can help in deciding what’s better braces or aligners.

The initial thing to be discussed is the short-term oral impact of both devices.

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Speech delivery and pronunciation

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Multiple people question, ‘Is it easier to talk with braces or Invisalign?’. And the short answer is long-term; it doesn’t affect speech. However, short-term impact shows that removable braces can cause speech difficulty and change the way of speech. This is an initial impediment that is soon resolved; however, it should be considered, and the patient should be warned about the possibility of difficulty in pronunciation and speech delivery.

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Eating and dietary restriction

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Another pro for invisible aligners is the better chewing ability and absence of any dietary restrictions. It is easier to perform the chewing and grinding function of the teeth, with no worry about food being stuck between the bracket or poor health after the meal. Not worrying about a life-impacting aspect, such as the dietary restrictions, can better improve a patient’s compliance with treatment.

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Braces vs Invisalign pain

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It was found that the initial pain of both modalities is similar, with Invisalign and clear aligners having more pressure-like pain while traditional braces have more throbbing pain.

Another aspect to be considered is the periodontal health. Fixed devices provide poorer outcomes when it comes to periodontal health. Traditional braces are notorious for the arduous cleaning routine. Initially, each bracket has to be brushed and flossed around the wire to remove food traces. Conventional cleaning also carries a risk of demineralization. The uncomfortable cleaning hampers oral hygiene with poor breath. In addition, plaque buildup will produce white spot lesions, caries, and periodontitis, all of which have deleterious effects on the gum. In addition, multiple studies showed changes in the oral microbiota associated with braces, which can make the oral environment more prone to infection.

On the other hand, Invisalign and other temporary devices made oral hygiene much easier. The devices are transparent and thus easier to clean. They are also removable, which will encourage the patient to take care of their cleanliness. Brushing and flossing of the teeth are normal, with no precautionary steps required. The removal of the device during the consumption of foods and beverages will prevent the build-up of food debris.

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Bottom line

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Overall, the previously mentioned points elucidate the argument of why clear aligners are much more better interventions to be picked over the braces. While braces were once the pioneer in the orthodontics field, clear aligners have now replaced them greatly. Although in some cases, braces can be picked over clear aligners due to durability and better mechanical force applied to the teeth. However, clear aligners are usually preferred by both the provider and the patient and the majority of the cases.

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