Uses

• Braces are used to correct an array of dental issues like crowded or crooked teeth, overbites and teeth that have grown in the wrong place. One misconception about braces is that they no longer require the individual to care for their teeth, which leads to more problems like tartar buildup, bacterial issues and rotten teeth. Braces close gaps and straighten the alignment and placement of teeth by pulling them into place with either wires or wireless aligning retainers specifically fit to the individual's mouth.
  
  

Types

• Most people envision headgear or metal dental appliances when the term braces is brought up. However, due to advances in the orthodontic field, braces now come in many different forms and treat various dental issues from mild to severe. The two main forms of braces are metal and invisible braces. Invisible braces like Invisalign are ideal for patients with mild dental issues such as gaps and overlapped teeth. However, for patients with several teeth that have either grown in the wrong place or are severely crooked, traditional braces are ideal to use.
  
  

Advantages

• Clear or invisible braces like Invisalign allow the patient to correct their dental problems without showcasing metal appliances. Many individuals with metal braces become highly self conscious due to the change in their appearance, and try to hide the braces. With invisible braces, this problem is usually avoided. Invisible braces are also worn for a shorter length of time than traditional metal braces. Since clear braces are tailored to deal with mild dental problems, the length of time needed to properly re-align the teeth is usually much shorter than that of metal braces.
  
  

Disadvantages

• One major disadvantage to braces like Invisalign is that they don't correct advanced dental issues, and are only effective on mild issues that can easily be corrected without the use of other dental appliances like brackets and wires. While most people would like to forgo the option of metal braces, the choice to use clear braces really depends on the severity of the patient's teeth. While metal braces are highly effective at correcting dental problems, pain and cuts can be caused from the wires and brackets. Although this is normal, patients with a low tolerance for pain may find the brackets and wires to be extremely bothersome. Dental bands can also be painful as they are very tight and pull the teeth during wear.
  
  

Costs

• Invisible braces can cost more than traditional metal braces due to the lab work needed to construct the clear braces. With metal braces, no lab work is needed since metal appliances are already fashioned and ready to apply to the patient's mouth. With insurance plans, costs for both invisible and metal braces can be reduced. Click the reference link below for more cost and payment information for metal and clear braces.