Dr. Lawrence Wu DDS, Top Dentist for Braces in San Jose, CA

Clear braces work just like traditional metal braces. Because of this, the process is the same and you should expect the length of time to complete the treatment to be the same. The difference is that clear braces are made of porcelain instead of metal and will be tinted to match the color of your teeth. This helps to make the clear braces almost invisible. The elastics that are used are clear and can discolor over time, but will be replaced at each adjustment.
 
Clear braces allow the most difficult cases to be treated. They can treat underbites, severe overbites, and even crossbites. They can treat issues that clear aligners cannot.

Clear braces are permanently affixed to your teeth until the treatment is finalized. Invisalign braces can be removed when you eat and for dental hygiene. Invisalign requires your own self-discipline to ensure that they remain in your mouth for 20-22 hours a day. If you commit to this, it can work very well. If you don’t, the treatment time can become longer. If the Invisalign braces aren’t kept in for the recommended time, you may need to have them “refitted,” which creates an additional cost. Clear braces tend to be a better option for younger people because they don’t have to remember to put them back in.
 
Invisalign aligners can be removed to clean your teeth, so dental care is easier with Invisalign than with clear braces. Clear braces require a more stringent cleaning routine. Clear braces also have some food restrictions. You will need to avoid certain types of foods, and popcorn is off-limits. Invisalign has no food restrictions since you remove them before you eat.
 
Invisalign allows you to eat anything you want, but you shouldn’t drink anything but water when you have them in. Sugars and acids can get under the aligners, causing bacteria growth and bleeding. Invisalign aligners frequently get thrown out, accidentally, since they are removed when eating. This can add an extra expense. Invisalign aligners will require cleaning each time you take them out to eat.
 
Invisalign is less irritating than clear or traditional braces. They are usually more expensive than clear braces.

Clear braces will straighten your teeth the same way that metal braces do. The difference is that clear braces are much less noticeable. Metal and clear braces work by placing a bracket on each tooth. An elastic ligature is placed around each bracket. A metal wire is connected to all the brackets. At each visit to the orthodontist, the wire will be adjusted, which will gently move the teeth into the correct position.

There are three main types of invisible braces. These are inside braces, ceramic braces, and clear aligners. Ceramic braces are just like traditional braces and work the same way. Inside braces are fastened to the back of the teeth, so they cannot be seen. They require specialized design and are usually the most expensive of these types of braces. Inside braces and aligners make the treatment almost invisible.
 
NuSmile Dental & Orthodontics has a team of dental specialists who provide the best dental care, including cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, dental implants, braces, and orthodontics. Give us a call to learn about what we have to offer. We are conveniently located at 1319 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose, CA 95118. For more information, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from San Jose CA, Los Gatos CA, Campbell CA, Santa Clara CA, Cupertino CA, Sunnyvale CA, Saratoga CA, and Mountain View CA.