Does anyone have pictures of 3M SmartClips?

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#1 Post by **geekgirl** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:16 am

I've scoured this forum and the web, but I can't find pictures of anybody actually wearing 3M SmartClips...

Does anyone have any pictures they'd care to post or can point me to? These are the braces i'll be getting (top and bottom), and i'm really curious to see how big they are...

Thanks in advance!

#2 Post by **strugglebuggy** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:25 am

Not sure if this helps, but here's a link to their site.

http://www.3m.com/us/healthcare/unitek/ ... clip.jhtml

#3 Post by **Tin Man** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:55 am

Here are my smartclips up close and personal.

#4 Post by SW » Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:23 am

Hi geekgirl, I have the SmartClips too, I think that Tin Man and I are the only ones here so far that do. Sorry I don't have any pictures to share, I hate having my picture taken! (And don't have a digital camera...)

I can tell you this-- the brackets are not any bigger than conventional metal brackets. The difference I noticed though, is that they project or stick out slightly further than the metal brackets, but not further than the ceramic brackets (which are bigger is size overall). Does your ortho have one of those fake teeth models with the brackets attached that you could look at? Mine did for all three types and I found it helpful to study them and compare before I decided. I was also lucky enough to see someone wearing them before I got mine and ask her some questions. Overall, I am pleased that I chose the SmartClips. They are sharper on the surface than the other types, but you get used to it, and I really appreciate the ability to keep them clean (easier than conventional types) and changing out the wire only takes a minute.

#5 Post by **geekgirl** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:41 am

Thanks for the pic TinMan - that helps immensely! Stephanie, I appreciate the review. My ortho did show me one of those teeth models with the braces on them, but I wasn't able to do a comparison between types. And I know towards the end I'll end up slacking with my cleaning routine, so an easier-to-clean bracket is probably what I should be going for. I don't really have much of a choice with this particular orthodontist anyway; it's what he's offered me. If i want ceramics he'll do those as well on the uppers, but it'll increase treatment time.

I'm a little bit hesitant because it seems so few people have them, but i'm hoping that's because they're new. My ortho's been singing their praises for a while now, and he's one of those guys who is completely on top of the lastest and greatest things out there, so I guess he knows what he's talking about...

Thanks again!