health sectionhealth sectionMany orthodontists will give patients the option to have clear braces on their upper teeth. These braces are often made of porcelain and are a clear alternative to traditional metal braces. If you have clear braces, it's important to keep them clean. This process is typically thought of as whitening because the ceramic braces appear to be white in color. However, the white color is actually your teeth being seen through the clear material. The ceramic brackets blend in with the natural color of your teeth. If you don't keep these brackets clean, they will no longer be able to…
"The Clear Alternative to Braces" is the slogan of Invisalign, a relatively new teeth-straightening technology that can, in some cases, be used instead of braces. It was introduced in 1999 and has since been a popular alternative for people who don't want the look and feel of braces while straightening their teeth.
Clear braces are an alternative offered to orthodontic patients recently that was not widely available a few years ago. Although clear braces can help boost self confidence for patients wearing orthodontics, the braces are susceptible to stains and scratches and require some extra care while cleaning. The two types of clear braces offered are clear ceramic brackets and Invisalign (aligners for the entire upper and lower arches that you remove to clean).
Keeping clear braces clear requires getting the O-bands changed out once a month, brushing with hydrogen peroxide and brushing with a baking soda paste. Avoid a yellow tinge to clear braces by keeping them clean with tips from a licensed dental assistant in this free video on oral hygiene.
Clear braces were originally made from crystal sapphire. A ceramic clear bracket was developed shortly after, and this is the form that clear braces still appear in today. The goal of the clear brace is to create an aesthetic that mirrors that of a retainer instead of a mouth full of metal brackets, as with traditional braces. Although they are called "clear," there is still metal involved---the metal wire that works to shift the teeth into their correct position can still be seen running across the teeth.
