Reasons straight wire braces are often the top choice.

Straight wire braces and clear aligners are two of the most commonly used orthodontic treatment options used today. While they both have their uses, the American Orthodontic Society (AOS) recommends the use of traditional braces in many applications. Here’s what you need to know about the key benefits this option offers.

Better Control for Complex Cases

There are many reasons to go with straight wire braces over clear aligners when it comes to choosing your next orthodontic continuing education opportunity. The improved control this treatment option offers is one of the most prominent benefits.

Straight wire braces provide more precise control over tooth movement. You can better plan and execute treatment, ensuring teeth are accurately guided to their final positions. This is particularly important when it comes to severe misalignment, which clear aligners may not be able to handle.

Braces are effective in treating a wide range of complex orthodontic cases, including overbite, underbite, crossbite, crowding, and other issues. This also includes complex misalignment issues affecting the molars, which clear aligners are generally not suitable for.

Clear aligners can be an effective option for some minor types of misalignment. However, your patients will have a wide range of needs when it comes to orthodontic treatment. Straight wire treatment covers the broadest range of orthodontic issues to let you treat more patients.

Faster Treatment Time for Some Patients

Some people believe that clear aligners offer faster treatment than traditional braces. However, this simply isn’t the case. This misconception arises because clear aligners are only suitable for more basic cases, so they’re never used for patients who require longer treatment timelines.

When dealing with comparable cases, traditional braces often deliver faster treatment timelines. This is particularly true for patients with significant issues. The ability to adjust tension and guide treatment more closely is highly effective in speeding along these more advanced treatment plans.

Fixed braces apply continuous pressure, which can reduce overall treatment duration. Clear aligners only apply full pressure when changing to a new set, gradually decreasing their impact until it’s time to change them again. The mechanism that creates tension in braces provides persistent pressure instead, maximizing tooth movement speed.

No Compliance Issues

The convenience that leads many patients to choose clear aligners is also the treatment option’s biggest weakness. Being able to remove the aligners means many patients will leave them off longer than instructed, leading to ineffective treatment.

Patients must wear their clear aligners for 22 hours each day. They’re only supposed to take them off to eat and brush their teeth. However, having the option to leave them off for a bit in social situations is very tempting. Failing to wear them consistently could mean delaying or even having to restart their treatment.

While this issue affects patients of all ages, it is particularly pressing in younger patients. Parents choosing orthodontic treatment options for their children should carefully consider the potential effects of noncompliance.

Once traditional braces are on, there’s no removing them until the dentist does so. This eliminates the temptation toward noncompliance. While, ideally, patients would follow all instructions all the time, it’s often better to go with treatment options that simply don’t allow for any patient error.

Cost-Effectiveness

Cost is another important consideration for orthodontic treatment. When considering whether to pursue clear aligner or comprehensive orthodontic courses focused on straight wire treatment, understanding the financial concerns is essential to improve the care you provide for your patients and the revenue you can secure for your practice.

The finances of clear aligners and straight wire treatment depend heavily on the individual case. However, straight wire braces are often the more cost-effective solution. This is true for long-term orthodontic treatments and complex cases.

The potential price of unexpected issues is also often higher for clear aligners. Losing or damaging a single set of aligners can carry a disproportionately high cost, as they are typically ordered as a complete series. Repairs and adjustments to straight-wire appliances are comparatively much less expensive.

You should also consider the potential impact of adoption by insurance providers. Traditional braces are more likely to be covered, in part or in full, by insurance plans. This opens the door to a wider potential patient base for your practice, along with letting you provide quality care for as many of your patients as possible.

Register for a Straight Wire Ortho Course

While there are cases where clear aligners can be effective, straight wire braces are the tried and true option for just about any orthodontic issue. You can better equip your practice to serve your patients by pursuing hands-on orthodontic courses in straight-wire treatment. Browse our upcoming courses to find the right opportunity for you.