Incorrect bite, unevenly growing teeth, malocclusion - all these are pathological factors that require medical intervention. Orthodontic correction allows not only to eliminate defects in the development of the jaw, but also to avoid the development of more serious health problems. The most popular solution is the installation of braces, the wearing of which, although it imposes certain restrictions on patients, ultimately fully pays off all the efforts made. Among the variety of models and manufacturers presented on the market today, Clarity braces, developed by the American concern 3M Unitek, deserve special mention.
The mechanism of action of the bracket system
The incorrect position of individual teeth and the dental system as a whole is corrected by moving the dental elements. One of the most effective ways to force them to move in a given direction is orthodontic braces. The design of braces is as follows:
- brackets that are fixed to tooth enamel;
- a power arc attached to the plates using miniature clips or ligatures (plastic rings or metal wires).
The arc is made of a metal alloy and bent according to precisely calculated parameters. Possessing “shape memory”, it strives to straighten up, and, as if in tow, carries with it the teeth to which it is attached. This process is very slow, the patient should be patient.
Important: the duration of the correction course is individual, depending on the level of complexity of the clinical case and the age of the patient. In older people, the process is slower than in adolescents.
All the benefits of Clarity braces
Strength
Aesthetics and creating maximum comfort for the patient became the main principles that guided 3M Unitek. Clarity ceramic braces are made from finely divided ceramics with the addition of aluminum oxide. This material is almost as strong as metal, so 3M Unitek was able to overcome the main disadvantage of other ceramic structures - fragility. The strength of Clarity braces has made it possible to significantly reduce the size of the plates themselves: they are more than 20% smaller than classic braces.
Compactness
Due to its compactness and aesthetics, the Clarity system is classified as a mini-braces: this type of orthodontic structures emerged relatively recently due to the appearance on the market of low-profile models made of ceramics and medical sapphire.
Aesthetics
Like other designs from this manufacturer, 3M Unitek Clarity braces are almost invisible in the mouth: the plates have the color of natural tooth enamel, do not stain over time and do not shine in the sun.
Easy to get used to
Getting used to the system is as smooth and painless as possible. When wearing Clarity braces, diction does not suffer and the oral hygiene procedure is noticeably easier.
Comfortable treatment
In such designs, the arch is fixed using special locks, but is not blocked, as is the case with conventional braces: the process of correcting the bite goes more smoothly, the friction force is reduced and the risk of damage to soft tissues is reduced. In addition, these braces have a built-in mechanism that allows you to make the removal process as fast as possible and completely eliminate damage to the enamel.
Safety
The risk of injury to the oral mucosa is significantly reduced due to the smooth surface, namely, the rounded edges of the brace system. In addition, the design has an anti-allergenic coating and is ideal for people with allergic reactions to metal.
Versatility
For each case (any type of malocclusion or different age groups), you can choose a suitable brace system.
Rare doctor visits
In this case, you need to visit a doctor 2–3 times less often than when wearing classical systems.
Quick results
It is believed that ligature structures reduce the duration of orthodontic treatment. However, it is not. They only speed up the process in the initial stages, so the first results become noticeable after a couple of months of wearing. However, in general, treatment periods remain standard.
Do Clarity braces have pitfalls? Most experts note that the Clarity bracket system does not have any serious technological flaws.
Clarity Advanced Design Features
This orthodontic system belongs to the vestibular (fixed to the outside of the dentition) ligature structures. Transparent or colored hypoallergenic plastic rings are used as ligatures. The material used to make bracket pads is a finely dispersed polycrystalline ceramic composition with the addition of aluminum dioxide. Translucent plates are practically invisible on the surface of the teeth; their color is adjusted to the color of the patient’s enamel. The subala space of the braces allows for both single and double ligation (with two ligatures). The traditional procedure for installing braces involves applying adhesive to each tooth unit one at a time. The developers of the Clarity brand offer a faster and more accurate fixation method - pre-application of the APC Flash-Free adhesive mixture. The uniqueness of this method is that the manufacturer impregnates the non-woven substrate of the platform with an adhesive composition under production conditions. The absence of excess glue promotes a tighter fit of the braces to the tooth surface, which reduces the risk of spontaneous peeling off and penetration of pathogenic microflora under the area. This, in turn, significantly reduces the likelihood of developing caries.
Clarity braces - price in Moscow
As for the disadvantages, Clarity has only one - its high cost. The average price of Clarity SL braces is 160 - 180 thousand rubles for both jaws. The cost of Clarity Advanced is slightly less, but the difference in the final amount will be insignificant. Be that as it may, treatment with this system is usually as comfortable and aesthetically pleasing as possible, so this manufacturer deserves its money.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of Clarity Advanced:
- High aesthetics of the material used
- The ability to correct even serious pathologies
- Resistant to coloring by food dyes and tobacco tars
- Increased strength
- Miniature design
- Minimum adaptation period
- Low profile, smooth shape, resulting in comfortable wearing and no risk of injury
- The presence of washable marker lines for precise positioning during installation
- Easy fixation due to adhesive already applied to the platforms by the manufacturer
- Easy to remove
- Protecting enamel from destruction
- The absence of nickel in the design allows the use of braces for patients with allergies to this metal
Flaws:
- High price
- Difficulty in hygiene care
Improved technology Clarity SL Advanced
As is already clear from the name, Clarity SL Advanced is an improved version of Clarity braces with a self-ligating function. Special clips that hold the arches open easily and snap into place without any problems. This significantly saves the orthodontist’s time, simplifying the process of changing the arch, and it will be more pleasant for the patient to be freed from the treatment procedure as soon as possible.
The polycrystalline material used to make miniature products is almost invisible on the teeth. For this reason, patients do not hesitate to take photographs, because Clarity braces will be invisible in the photo.
The shape of ceramic locks has also undergone some changes - it has become flatter with rounded corners. It is much more convenient to use this model for children, since it does not cause much inconvenience and shortens the period of adaptation. During wear, the ceramics retain its color unchanged and remain white throughout the entire period.
Treatment regimen
The treatment algorithm using the Clarity Advanced bracket system is similar to that for all other ligature braces.
The scheme is step-by-step:
- inspection, identification of indications, hardware diagnostics;
- preparation – sanitization and professional cleaning of the oral cavity, ordering equipment;
- installation of a correction system in the patient’s mouth;
- wearing braces with periodic adjustments during a visit to the orthodontist;
- retention stage when achieving the treatment goal.
Attention: the duration of the retention period (consolidation of the result) is determined by the orthodontist in each specific case. Failure to comply with the instructions threatens the return of displaced teeth to their previous position.
What's included in the price?
To straighten your teeth, it is not enough to buy the system itself. You need to go through several stages, each of which takes place under the careful attention of a specialist.
All these expended material and time resources are paid. Therefore, of installation and treatment services
- Diagnostics and examination by a specialist.
- X-ray of the bones of the skull and jaw.
- Sanitation of the oral cavity, including treatment of carious teeth, if necessary, and professional hygiene.
- Drawing up a treatment plan.
- Taking the necessary impressions and modeling the jaw in order to diagnose the problem and determine the result to be achieved.
- The cost of the bracket systems themselves, which may vary depending on the quality and technology.
- Installation of the structure.
How the fixation process occurs, watch the video:
Initially, the patient will need to visit the doctor 2-3 times, the further schedule is determined by the specialist. On average, installation of such braces will cost from 200,000 to 250,000 rubles.
Indications and contraindications for treatment
Indications
- Abnormal tooth positioning
- Displacement of the jaws relative to each other
- Crowded arrangement of dental elements
- Large interdental spaces
Absolute contraindications:
- Blood and bone diseases
- Any disease in the acute phase
- AIDS, HIV
- Tuberculosis
- Diabetes
- Severe cardiovascular diseases
- Dental and periodontal diseases (after treatment, correction can begin)
Advice from a specialist: contraindications are identified only from the patient’s words; the presence of the listed conditions should not be concealed. Carrying out a course of correction for existing problems can significantly worsen the patient’s health.
What happens if the occlusion is not corrected?
Significant occlusion defects negatively affect a person’s appearance: facial asymmetry, violation of its proportions. And this is only the visible part of the iceberg. The most dangerous consequences are not visually visible:
- greatly increased abrasion of tooth enamel;
- rapid aggressive development of caries and other stomas. diseases;
- injury to the mucous membrane and soft tissues of the gums, cheeks and lips;
- poor chewing of food and, as a result, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- development of pathologies of the temporomandibular joint;
- regular headaches.
Having analyzed the listed consequences, we can conclude: orthodontic treatment for existing occlusal defects is not a whim, but an urgent need.
Hygienic care rules
It should be remembered that maintaining a clean oral cavity and orthodontic structure is the key to ensuring that teeth remain healthy after a long period of treatment. Basic recommendations:
- You should brush your teeth with a brush and toothpaste in the morning and evening, as well as after each meal. If this cannot be done, then after eating your mouth should be rinsed very well;
- When cleaning braces, you should use special devices: a toothbrush with V-shaped bristles, floss, brushes of various configurations and, if possible, an irrigator. This is a device for cleaning hard-to-reach places in the mouth using a jet of water directed under pressure.
Note: dentists recommend adhering to certain dietary rules. Do not drink excessively hot drinks - this can cause the formation of microcracks in the ceramics of the product. You should not chew seeds and nuts. All hard food must be thoroughly chopped.
The network of dental clinics “Smile” offers services for correcting malocclusion pathologies in adolescents and adult patients using Clarity Advanced ceramic braces. We provide installment payment for the correction course without interest. We issue documents for processing personal income tax deductions. Our orthodontists have a high level of qualifications, and regularly improve their professionalism in leading Russian and European dental centers. The quality of our services meets international standards.
The clinic's branches are located in Moscow within walking distance from the metro:
- Art. Alekseevskaya (VDNKh district, etc. Mira), address: st. 3rd Mytishchiskaya house 3, building 2;
- Art. Shelepikha, address: Shelepikhinskaya embankment, address: building 34, building 1.
A beautiful smile without discomfort is real. Come to our clinic and see for yourself!
Care instructions for Clarity 3M Unitek braces
As with all braces, it is necessary to exclude hard, viscous and sticky foods (for example, tough meat, nuts, crackers, caramel, nougat, toffee, chewing gum). You should also be careful with drinks that are too hot or ice-cold. But, since the Clarity ceramic base is not only durable, but also resistant to staining, there is no need to exclude foods such as fruits, berries, juices, tea and coffee.
Proper oral hygiene is extremely important and should consist of:
- brushing your teeth (special toothpastes, rinses) and using dental floss every time after eating;
- the use of brushes to combat plaque and better clean the orthodontic system;
- use an irrigator to clean hard-to-reach places, including interdental spaces.
