Clear Braces at Matthew Jones Orthodontics in Gilbert AZ

Welcome to Matthew Jones Orthodontics in Gilbert, AZ where we specialize in advanced treatments for straighter, healthier smiles without sacrificing aesthetics. Dr. Matthew Jones provides individualized care, ensuring each treatment plan is tailored to gently and effectively position your teeth.

Our clear braces offer a discreet, effective solution that combines traditional orthodontics with modern aesthetics, perfect for those seeking comprehensive correction without the visibility of conventional braces. At Matthew Jones Orthodontics, we believe that a well-informed patient is an empowered patient. We are committed to ensuring you understand all your options so you can feel completely confident in the treatment plan you choose with Dr. Jones and our dedicated staff.

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Understanding Clear Braces: A Modern Approach to Orthodontics

Clear braces represent a significant advancement in orthodontic technology. They function on the same time-tested principles as traditional metal braces but are crafted from translucent or tooth-colored ceramic materials, allowing them to blend seamlessly with your natural smile.

Each tooth is bonded with a small ceramic bracket, which acts as an anchor. A thin, tooth-colored archwire is then threaded through these brackets. This system works together to apply gentle, continuous pressure, gradually nudging the teeth toward their desired positions. Unlike clear, removable aligners, clear braces are a fixed appliance that remains in place throughout your treatment. This ensures a consistent, uninterrupted force is applied to the teeth, leading to highly precise movements and reliable results, especially for more complex orthodontic cases.

These advanced ceramic brackets are engineered for both strength and beauty. They are highly durable, stain-resistant to everyday foods and drinks, and designed to provide consistent, predictable results with minimal visibility. This makes them a preferred choice for adults and teens who want the powerful, corrective capabilities of traditional braces without the metallic appearance.

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Why Choose Clear Braces? The Clear Advantage

Clear braces have become a leading choice in orthodontics because they deliver effective, reliable results without being visually prominent. Patients who select this option enjoy numerous benefits that enhance their treatment experience.

1. Discreet and Aesthetic Appearance: The primary advantage is their subtlety. The translucent or tooth-colored ceramic brackets blend in with the natural shade of your teeth, making them far less noticeable than metal braces. This allows you to smile, speak, and go about your daily life with greater confidence, knowing your orthodontic appliance isn't the first thing people see.
2. Effective for Complex Cases: Clear braces are not just for minor adjustments. They are a powerful orthodontic tool capable of correcting a wide range of complex issues, including severe crowding, significant spacing, and complicated bite problems (such as overbites, underbites, and crossbites). Their fixed nature provides Dr. Jones with the precise control needed to achieve even the most difficult tooth movements.
3. Enhanced Comfort: The ceramic material used for the brackets is exceptionally smooth and has rounded edges. This design minimizes irritation to the soft tissues of your mouth, such as your gums and the insides of your cheeks, providing a more comfortable experience than traditional metal brackets.
4. Predictable and Consistent Results: Because clear braces are fixed to your teeth, they work around the clock—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This constant, gentle guidance eliminates the risk of treatment delays that can occur with removable aligners due to patient non-compliance. The result is a highly predictable and efficient path to your ideal smile.
5. Suitable for All Age Groups: While particularly popular with adults and professionals, the aesthetic appeal and powerful functionality of clear braces make them an excellent choice for teenagers as well. They offer an effective solution for anyone who needs comprehensive orthodontic correction but desires a more discreet look.

At our practice, Dr. Matthew Jones leverages the latest in digital imaging and diagnostic planning to create a fully customized treatment plan, ensuring your clear braces are optimized to deliver the most effective and efficient results for your unique needs.

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Clear Braces Compared to Other Orthodontic Options

When considering orthodontic treatment, it is essential to understand the differences between the available options. Clear braces occupy a unique space, offering a blend of the best features from other systems.

Clear Braces vs. Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces are the classic workhorse of orthodontics, known for their strength and effectiveness in treating even the most severe misalignments. However, their primary drawback is their high visibility. Clear braces offer the same level of orthodontic power and control but with a significantly improved aesthetic. Both systems use a similar bracket-and-wire mechanism to achieve precise tooth movement, but the ceramic brackets and tooth-colored wires of clear braces make them far less conspicuous. While clear braces may represent a slightly higher investment, for many patients, the boost in confidence during treatment is well worth it.

Clear Braces vs. Invisalign®
Invisalign uses a series of custom-made, removable clear aligners to straighten teeth. These aligners are nearly invisible and allow you to eat, drink, brush, and floss without any hardware in the way. However, their effectiveness is entirely dependent on patient compliance—the aligners must be worn for 20-22 hours per day to work correctly. Forgetting to wear them can lead to treatment delays. Clear braces, being fixed to the teeth, eliminate this variable entirely, ensuring constant progress. Furthermore, for certain complex tooth movements, such as rotating cylindrical teeth or vertically extruding teeth, the direct force applied by fixed braces can yield more predictable and efficient results.

Clear Braces vs. Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are another aesthetic option where the brackets and wires are placed on the back (tongue side) of the teeth, making them completely invisible from the front. While this offers ultimate discretion, it also comes with unique challenges. Lingual braces can cause initial irritation to the tongue and may temporarily affect speech. They are also more difficult to clean, as the hardware is harder to see and reach. Clear braces provide a comparable level of aesthetic appeal for most social situations without these specific drawbacks, making them a more comfortable and practical choice for many patients.

Ultimately, clear braces represent the best of both worlds: the clinical precision and power of traditional braces combined with a discreet appearance that fits seamlessly into your life.

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How Clear Braces Work: The Science of a Smile

Clear braces operate on the same biomechanical principles as traditional orthodontics, using gentle, sustained pressure to stimulate a natural biological process that allows teeth to move.

1. Customized Treatment Planning: Your journey begins with a comprehensive examination by Dr. Jones. Using advanced digital imaging, X-rays, and diagnostic models, he will create a precise, custom treatment plan that maps out the exact movement of each tooth from its current position to its final, ideal alignment.
2. Application of Brackets and Wires: Dr. Jones will bond a clear ceramic bracket to the front surface of each tooth using a strong, safe dental adhesive. Once the brackets are in place, a thin, flexible archwire is threaded through them. These wires are often tooth-colored to further enhance the discreet appearance.
3. Gentle, Continuous Pressure and Bone Remodeling: The archwire is designed to naturally return to its original "U" shape, and as it does, it exerts a gentle, constant force on the brackets and, by extension, your teeth. This pressure stimulates a fascinating cellular response in the jawbone. On the side of the tooth in the direction of movement, specialized cells called osteoclasts break down bone tissue, clearing a path. On the other hand, cells called osteoblasts build new bone tissue, filling the gap. This incredible, natural process of bone remodeling is what allows your teeth to move safely and predictably.
4. Regular Adjustments for Steady Progress: Approximately every four to eight weeks, you will visit our office for an adjustment. During these appointments, Dr. Jones will assess your progress and may adjust or replace the archwire to continue guiding your teeth effectively. These minor changes ensure the right amount of pressure is consistently applied, maintaining steady progress toward your final goal.

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The Clear Braces Treatment Process at Our Gilbert AZ Office

We have refined our treatment process to be as clear, comfortable, and efficient as possible.

1. Step 1: Your Initial Consultation and Evaluation: The first step is a thorough consultation with Dr. Jones. He will examine your teeth, bite, and overall oral health, and you will discuss your goals and concerns. We will take digital X-rays and photographs to get a complete picture of your dental structure. Based on this information, Dr. Jones will develop your personalized treatment plan, including an estimated timeline.
2. Step 2: Placing Your Braces: At your next appointment, we will place your clear braces. The procedure is comfortable and involves bonding ceramic brackets to each tooth, then placing the archwire. We will ensure you are comfortable throughout the process and provide all the information you need to begin your journey.
3. Step 3: Regular Adjustment Visits: Throughout your treatment, you will visit us for periodic adjustments. These appointments are crucial for ensuring your treatment stays on track. Dr. Jones will make precise adjustments to the wires to continue tooth movement and will closely monitor your progress.
4. Step 4: The Big Reveal and Retention: Once your teeth have reached their ideal alignment, it is time to remove your braces! This is an exciting day for every patient. However, the journey isn't quite over. To protect your investment and maintain your beautiful new smile for a lifetime, you will enter the retention phase. Teeth have a natural tendency to shift back to their original positions, and a retainer prevents this. We will provide you with a custom-made retainer and instructions on how and when to wear it.

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Maintenance and Oral Care with Clear Braces

Proper oral hygiene is critical for a successful outcome. Our team will provide detailed guidance on how to care for your braces.

• Thorough Brushing: It is essential to brush after every meal using a soft-bristle toothbrush. Pay special attention to cleaning around the brackets and along the gumline to remove food particles and plaque.
• Daily Flossing: Flossing with braces requires a bit of extra effort but is non-negotiable. Using a floss threader, orthodontic floss, or a water flosser can help you effectively clean between teeth and under the archwire.
• Avoid Problematic Foods: To prevent damage to your brackets or wires, avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods. This includes things like hard candies, caramel, popcorn, and chewing on ice.
• Rinse for Extra Protection: Using an antibacterial mouthwash can help reduce plaque and keep your gums healthy.
• Continue Regular Dental Check-Ups: It is important to continue seeing your general dentist every six months for professional cleanings and check-ups throughout your orthodontic treatment.

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Who Is an Ideal Candidate for Clear Braces?

Clear braces are a versatile solution suitable for a wide range of patients. You may be an excellent candidate if you meet any of the following criteria:

• You are a teen or adult seeking a discreet orthodontic option.
• You have mild to moderate alignment issues, such as crooked teeth, gaps, or crowding.
• You have more complex orthodontic problems, such as significant bite irregularities, that require the precision of a fixed appliance.
• You prefer a "set-it-and-forget-it" treatment that works continuously without requiring daily compliance like removable aligners.
• You have good oral health, with healthy gums and no untreated cavities.

The best way to determine your eligibility is to consult with Dr. Jones. He will perform a comprehensive evaluation to decide if clear braces are the most effective and efficient path to achieving your dream smile.

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Meet Dr. Matthew Jones

Dr. Matthew Jones—or "Dr. Matt," as his patients fondly call him—is a highly qualified orthodontist dedicated to providing an exceptional treatment experience. He earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University, graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the prestigious UCLA School of Dentistry, and completed a two-year orthodontic residency at UCLA to receive his specialty training.

Dr. Jones is an active member of several professional organizations:

• The American Association of Orthodontists
• The American Dental Association
• The Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists
• The Arizona Dental Association

As a Tempe native, Dr. Jones is passionate about serving his local community and providing families in Gilbert and the East Valley with world-class orthodontic care.

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Financial Options and Insurance

At Matthew Jones Orthodontics, we are committed to making high-quality orthodontic treatment affordable. We accept most major insurance plans and offer flexible payment options to fit your budget. Our team will discuss all financial arrangements with you during your consultation so you can move forward with confidence.

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Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation Today

If you are ready to transform your smile with a subtle yet powerful orthodontic solution, clear braces at Matthew Jones Orthodontics may be the perfect choice for you. To schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Jones, please call us at (480) 812-1500 or visit our Gilbert, AZ office.