Clear Braces Bottom Teeth Only

Clear braces may be a desirable alternative to shiny metal brackets and wires. Clear braces are most often made of see-through or tooth-coloured ceramic, porcelain or polycarbonate. Despite their more discrete look, there are both pros and cons to clear braces. Depending on their makeup, clear braces are commonly a little more bulky (compared to metal braces). Some clear braces are also made of an extremely hard material – harder than tooth enamel. For this reason, there can be the potential for the brackets to wear down your teeth if they come in contact when you bite. Bottom teeth are usually more prone to this downside. More on this later.

1. Clear braces may be bulkier

Clear braces generally need to be a little bulkier to achieve the same job as their metal counterparts. For this reason, it may take slightly longer for you to get used to your new braces. You might be more aware of them, and feel like your lips are sticking out a little more. Most people do find the slight difference is worth it however. Some even enjoy the instant increased lip suppport you get from wearing braces!

2. Less wire span between each lower tooth

Another issue with clear braces is particularly relevant to clear braces on bottom teeth only. To explain, we will need to understand a little more about how braces actually work. Braces brackets (i.e. the square piece stuck to each tooth) are basically handles. Much of the required tooth movement is achieved by the gentle forces delivered by the wire which runs between each of the braces brackets. If a tooth is crooked, it will be pulled into line by the wire. In some cases, your orthodontist will place bends or even uses braces springs in the wire between teeth to achieve certain movements.

Now – if you look in the mirror you will notice your bottom front teeth are quite narrow. If you use your imagination to envisage large clear braces on each lower tooth, you may be able to appreciate the fact that this would leave less room for the wire to do the work of tooth movement. 

Metal braces on the other hand can usually be a little more petite, allowing more room for the wires, and any associated bends or springs, to do their work.

This doesn’t mean that you definitely won’t be able to have clear braces on your lower teeth. It does mean, however, that there is a good chance that treatment will take a little longer, and this needs to be factored into your decision.

3. The Dangers of Overbites

We mentioned before that some common types of clear braces have the potential to wear teeth down, due to their extreme, almost diamond-like hardness. Again, if you look in the mirror you will notice that (at least for most people) the braces most likely to be ‘bitten down’ upon are (in most people) those located on your lower front teeth.

Some people will be more prone than others to this. More specifically, your orthodontist may want to closely evaluate your overbite, if any exists, to see whether you are a candidate for clear braces on all of your teeth. As a general rule, the more significant the overbite, the more at risk you are for damaging your top teeth with clear braces when they are placed on the bottom row of your smile. In any case, it is important to listen to your orthodontist’s recommendation to ensure you are getting the treatment you need for a successful smile transformation.

If braces are the right treatment option for you, a good compromise may be to have metal braces on your lower teeth and clear on your upper. Your upper teeth do tend to be most noticeable, especially when smiling for photos.

These Products are not available for purchase by the general public. They are however available to Fine Orthodontist Sydney patients. Always follow the instructions for use.