The Benefits of Clear Braces in Boulder, CO

If you are looking for a minimally invasive and aesthetically pleasing way to straighten your teeth, clear aligners might be the best choice for you. Clear braces (ClearCorrect or Invisalign) are just as effective as metal braces when it comes to fixing most orthodontic issues.

Advantages of clear braces are:

Esthetics: they are nearly invisible compared to traditional metal braces.
Efficiency: the treatment time is usually shorter than with metal braces. Most treatments last around 12 months or less.
Ease of Use: the easy removal of the aligners means you are able to eat without braces in your mouth.
Convenience: usually you would come in every 6-8 weeks for a quick appointment to pick up the next set of retainers.
Improved Hygiene: you can brush and floss without having to deal with wires and metal brackets.
Less Ortho Emergency Visits: no broken wires or chipped brackets.
Safety: for patients allergic to nickel, metal braces may present a concern. Clear braces eliminate that risk. The material used for clear aligners is BPA and carcinogen free.
Better Gum Health: oftentimes traditional braces increase the risk of gingivitis or gingival hyperplasia (when the gums are growing over the brackets) due to the fact that is nearly impossible to clean all the plaque building up around the brackets and wires.

Also, your aligners can act as bleaching trays or a temporary splint to relieve TMJ issues. You can take a short break from braces every day! The recommended wear time is 20-22 hours each day. Another consideration is that frequently after removal of the metal braces (especially if the treatment was prolonged) one can see permanent visible discolored de-mineralized spots where the brackets used to be. Lastly, if you are an athlete or actively participate in sports, clear aligners offer a reduces risk of injury or trauma.

Clear braces are also a great solution for patients with the following issues:

Crowding of the teeth. Crowding occurs when there is not enough space for the teeth to properly fit into the space the jaw provides. It leads to difficulties in oral hygiene and can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
Open bite. Open bite occurs when there is no contact between the upper and lower front teeth. This makes it difficult to bite food. Besides the obvious esthetic issues, open bite can interfere with speech, proper eating and digestion, and will lead to premature tooth wear and fractures.
Airway issues. One of the causes for airway issues is a narrow and vaulted palate. Braces can widen the narrow palate increasing the breathing space which improves overall breathing and quality of life.
Gaps between the teeth. Large gaps between teeth happen because of improper jaw development and/or missing teeth. Gaps can lead to food being lodged between teeth which then leads to increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
Crossbite. A crossbite is a type of malocclusion where upper teeth fit inside of lower teeth most commonly due to improper development of the palate. As a consequence, uneven wear can lead to teeth fractures, bone loss, TMJ issues, and gum disease.
Overbite (aka “buck teeth”). This malalignment occurs when the upper teeth significantly or completely cover the lower teeth. Slight overbite is normal. A more severe overbite may lead to bite issues, tooth decay, gum disease and jaw pain.
Underbite (aka class III bite). Underbite occurs when the lower teeth extend further than the upper teeth potentially leading to tooth enamel damage, increased risk of fractures of the front teeth and jaw pain.

Your first appointment with us would be a consultation to evaluate the situation and decide whether or not clear braces are a good solution for you. There should be no gum disease or any tooth decay prior to starting orthodontic treatment. If we decide to proceed with treatment, on the following appointment we will take impressions of your teeth and bite as well as intra- and extra oral photos. Once the lab evaluates your case, we will look together at the proposed treatment plan (video presentation), discussing in detail the length of the treatment and the necessary steps. If we decide to proceed with the suggested treatment, we will arrange a payment plan at that point.

Call our office at (303) 499-0367 to schedule a consultation for clear braces.