Truly Clear Braces Vs. Braces With Clear Brackets: How To Make Your Decision Between The Two

Teenagers and adults have one thing in common--they are both concerned with their appearances. Teens do not want others to make fun of them, while adults do not want others to see that they are wearing anything out of the ordinary. Braces affect teens and adults by making them more self-conscious than usual. To ease that awkward feeling, dental products now include invisible braces. However, there are two kinds of invisible braces for you to choose from. How do you make the choice? Follow some easy steps to the best decision for correcting your teeth and maintaining a secure sense of self-worth and attractiveness.

Pop-in, Pop-out Clear Braces

You probably have considered the pop-in, pop-out clear braces for some time now. While these seem like they would be easy to care for and easy to use, there are some drawbacks. For starters, most insurance companies will not cover these invisible braces as they are considered more "cosmetic" in nature than corrective. Also, they can break or get lost, which is not the best option for any irresponsible teen. Because they are more expensive and you will have to pay more out-of-pocket for them, you must first consider how carefully these braces will be cared for.

Braces with Clear Brackets

Although you or your teen will still have wires running through the brackets, it will not be as noticeable with clear brackets. There are also two kinds of clear brackets--the traditional kind and the self-ligating kind found in orthodontic systems like the Damon system braces. The traditional clear brackets are the same size as their metal counterparts, while the self-ligating clear brackets are significantly smaller. The former is more noticeable because of its size, while the latter almost blends into the surface of the teeth and all you see is a slender wire connecting the brackets. It looks more like a retainer when you smile, and a lot less like braces.

Additionally, clear bracket braces are covered by some dental insurance companies, but they are only covered for children and teens up to age 19. Almost no dental insurance companies cover braces for adults, unless there has been a serious accident and the patient requires braces to hold their teeth in place until everything has healed. However, your dentist or orthodontist undoubtedly has financing and payment plans to cover any portions of the cost of braces for you and supplement the cost of clear braces for your teens.

To learn more, contact a dental clinic like Leo R Cullinan DDS MS.