What Are Clear Braces?

Before clear braces became available in 1998, people undergoing orthodontic treatment had no choice but to wear metal brackets and wires to straighten their teeth. Clear braces in Glen Allen, VA, changed all that. If you have been putting off orthodontic work because you do not want to display a mouth full of metal when you smile, clear braces are the ideal alternative.

How Do Clear Braces Work?

Clear braces are plastic appliances that are not colored, so other people cannot always tell that you wear braces. Our dental laboratory creates a customized appliance for your top and bottom rows of teeth that fits like a mouth guard. Both clear and traditional metal braces apply pressure to the teeth to shift into a new position.

During your first orthodontic appointment, Dr. Frank Iuorno, Jr. takes several X-rays of your teeth and creates a plaster mold of how your teeth appear right now. When the laboratory notifies him that your appliances are ready, we contact you to come in for a fitting. If the clear braces do not fit just right, Dr. Iuorno adjusts them to ensure they remain snug and comfortable in your mouth.

You will receive a set of clear aligners, which confuses some patients at first. As Dr. Iuorno will explain, you need to wear the first aligner for about two weeks and then discard it and replace it with the next one in the set. When you get to the last aligner, Dr. Iuorno will determine if you are done with treatment or if you need to wear a retainer for a while.

Patients love the flexibility and discreetness of clear braces in Glen Allen, VA. We invite you to request an orthodontic consultation to find out why.