Clear braces, also called clear aligners or invisible braces, are an alternative to traditional metal braces for people who want an inconspicuous option for teeth straightening.Â
Usually made of acrylic, a type of plastic, clear braces can help straighten crooked teeth, fill in gaps, and correct bite issues.Â
A discreet alternative to traditional braces, they donât have metal brackets, archwires, or elastic ties. Theyâre also more low-profile than porcelain or ceramic braces, which use clear or tooth-colored brackets and connecting wires that blend in with the teeth and decrease visibility.Â
Using a series of flexible, transparent, removable aligner trays that fit comfortably over teeth like a mouthguard, clear braces like Invisalign straighten teeth by making small adjustments to the position of teeth over time, much as traditional braces do. The aligner trays are replaced periodically, usually every two weeks, based on your customized treatment plan.Â
They're removed for eating, drinking hot liquids, brushing and flossing your teeth, and for special occasions. Other than that, you need to wear them at all timesâ20 to 22 hours each dayâthroughout your treatment.
While metal and porcelain braces are still a common choice for children and adolescents, adults generally prefer clear plastic aligners because they're a less visible option.
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Your price will depend on your location, your dentistâs experience, the extent of your orthodontic treatment needs, and the type of clear aligners you choose. See our Invisalign cost guide.
Some dental insurance companies cover the cost of clear braces the same way they cover traditional braces, and most companies also offer their own payment plans.Â
Depending on which brand you choose, your total cost may include your dental impressions, lab fees, the aligners themselves, and dental appointments to monitor your progress.
Your orthodontist or dentist starts by taking a mold of your mouth and teeth. Most Invisalign providers offer a digital experience with an intraoral scanner for the mold-taking process, while other companies, such as SmileDirectClub, send you an impression kit in the mail so you can make a mold from home. With this option, you receive the majority of your treatment, including the aligners, by mail.Â
If youâre working directly with your dentist or orthodontist, they will likely create a digital visualization of your post-treatment smile and develop a treatment plan for reaching your goal.Â
Pittsburgh cosmetic dentist Dr. Andy Shieh urges anyone considering treatment by mail to ask themselves one question: "Do you want a licensed dentist or orthodontist guiding and supporting your treatment journey?â Â
Experts agree that even if youâre going with a mail-order solution, you should still have your dental health evaluated beforehand, and then have regular orthodontic or dental appointments, to monitor your progress.
Each set of aligners applies a small amount of pressure to the teeth, creating gradual tooth movement. For the first few days after you switch to a new set (usually every two weeks), they may feel uncomfortable, like your teeth are being squeezed.Â
Over time, the pressure lessens, meaning your mouth is ready for a new set. Changing trays is like tightening braces: It needs to be done to make sure your teeth keep moving.
Itâs important to wear your clear aligners as much as possible. Dentists recommend wearing them for at least 20 hours per dayâideally, 22 hours. You can take them out to eat, drink or brush your teeth, but the more you wear the aligners, the better and quicker results youâll see.Â
Light, continuous force is most effective when moving teeth, so an interruption in wear will disturb the natural progression in movement and cause your teeth to shift back to their original position. Dentists on RealSelf report that patients who tried to wear their aligners for just 10â15 hours a day experienced slow, unpredictable tooth movement.Â
Be careful not to wear them while eating or drinking anything other than water or other cool, clear liquids. Food and colored drinks can stain the aligners and may stain your teeth. Youâll also need to regularly clean your aligners, using a special cleanser and gentle toothbrush.
If you have several teeth that need repositioning, misalignment in your bite, or not enough space to move your teeth, you might need a longer treatment period, with arch widening or tooth filing to create more space.
Dr. Megan Shelton, a dentist in Carlsbad, California, explains that âsometimes, itâs necessary to âfileâ or slim a tooth or teeth to create space to rotate or align the teeth, which is called interproximal reduction [IPR]. The reason for doing this is that the teeth are larger than the space allotted for them, so space needs to be created by making the teeth slimmer or broadening your arch.â
If you have back tooth problems, require tooth rotation or vertical movement of teeth, or have existing bridgework, this may not even be an option.
Some people start noticing a difference within just two weeks of treatment, while others need up to six months to start seeing results.Â
The full treatment period for clear braces is 12â18 months on average, while treatment with metal braces typically takes two and a half years.
Every patient is different, and the length of your treatment will be determined by your provider. If you need a significant amount of work done, youâll probably require more extended treatment.Â
In cases that donât require tooth extraction, treatment with clear braces might be faster, but traditional braces are faster for more complex cases, according to one analysis. If youâve had braces in the past but your teeth have moved slightly, you may require as few as 10 weeks of treatment.Â
âWith the advancement of technology, all clear aligner companies use digital simulation to track patients' treatment progress and results. Some companyâs technology and outcome-simulation tools are more robust and reliable than others,â notes Dr. Shieh.
Once your teeth are straight, your dentist or orthodontist should provide you with a retainer to wear post-treatment. Your results will last as long as you wear your retainer every night, which should keep your teeth from moving back to their original position.
Youâre never too old to have straight teeth. As long as the gum and bone structure around your teeth are healthy enough to support tooth movement, thereâs no age limit for orthodontics, including clear braces.Â
Bonus: âWhen youâre finished with treatment and you have had the worn edges of your upper teeth smoothed and the corners rounded (which a good orthodontist will probably do as part of your treatment), your smileâand thus the lower half of your faceâwill look much younger," says Dr. John McDonald, an orthodontist in Salem, Oregon, in a RealSelf Q&A.
Some studies have been done on staining and discoloration. Depending on the composition of your aligners, drinking coffee will stain them, and thereâs also the concern that the heat could warp or degrade the plastic.Â
Thatâs why itâs best to remove clear aligners when youâre eating or drinking anything but water. Dr. Shieh warns his patients, âIf they eat or drink with their clear aligners in, the aligners will stain and patients will end up with a stained smile and bad breath.â
If you're not wearing them, you can eat or drink anything.
These are three of the most well-known clear braces brands out there today, but one 2015 study noted there were 27 different clear aligner systems on the market at that time.Â
Dr. Shieh explains that âboth ClearCorrect and Invisalign treatments are backed and supervised by a dentist or an orthodontist, while SmileDirectClub offers a more âDIYâ treatment philosophy.â Out of these options, RealSelf members give Invisalign the highest Worth It Rating by far.Â
Having a trained dental provider guiding you through the process and monitoring your progress is important to ensure the best result.Â
âThe number one disadvantage with any mail-order or online clear aligner treatments is the lack of a trained dental professional overseeing and supporting patientsâ treatments to ensure success,â says Dr. Shieh. In addition to the disappointment of having undesirable results, you may end up needing to pay a dental professional anyway, to fix errors.
Ceramic braces, which are also sometimes called invisible braces, are more similar to metal and self-ligating braces than clear braces. Theyâre the same size and shape as metal braces but offer a more discreet appearance due to their clear brackets. In some cases, they move teeth much faster than clear aligners.
Beyond traditional braces, you could consider these other options for straightening your teeth.Â
Updated August 16, 2023