Invisalign vs Braces
Overview
Choosing between braces and Invisalign is no easy task, as it involves making a list of pros and cons for each technique.
Before making the final decision, you need to do a lot of research and ask your orthodontist or dentist about what’s the best option for you; however, and since you are here, you don’t want someone to tell you how difficult it is to decide; you want someone to help you make the right decision, which is exactly what you’ll learn in this article.
Note that each orthodontic problem may indicate or contraindicate a certain technique; therefore, it is not always a personal decision.
Invisalign advantages
Invisalign treatment involves using plastic aligners that are custom-made for each patient by a 3D machine.
The design entails certain features that allow the teeth to get back into the correct position after a while. Here are the advantages of Invisalign:
Esthetics
Without a doubt, Invisalign look much better than braces due to their transparency, which may be crucial for young adults and teenagers since they are more self-conscious.
Using Invisalign allows you to feel more confident about your smile without always worrying about taking pictures with others.
Removability
Another major advantage of the invisible aligners from Invisalign is that you can take them off when you’re having a meal, which is not possible with braces.
Most orthodontists or dentists recommend wearing Invisalign for a period of 20-22 hours per day, giving you more freedom to take them off.
Convenience
Unlike braces, Invisalign treatment is mostly done before you wear the aligners. As a result, there is no need for frequent visits, as you only need to see your orthodontist a few times to make sure the treatment is giving positive results.
Additionally, Invisalign retainers’ plastic material makes them less likely to cause any gum or mouth cuts; however, moving your teeth while wearing the aligners might be uncomfortable –or even painful–, especially in the beginning.
Invisalign Disadvantages
Despite the advantages listed above, there are still some downsides to Invisalign, including:
Patient-dependency
One of the advantages of Invisalign can also be a con if patients are undisciplined. Being able to remove the aligners whenever you want is not always a good thing.
If you’re not strict with wearing the aligners most of the time, you won’t be able to meet the 20-22-hour minimal requirement, which will delay the results and might even indicate wearing braces.
Cost
While the cost of Invisalign and braces has become similar, some orthodontic problems may need further adjustment using braces after you finish the Invisalign treatment, which only adds up to the final budget.
Braces advantages
Braces are typically made of metal to be attached to the outside of the teeth. These devices help restore the teeth into the correct position; moreover, your dentist / orthodontist has a lot of space for manipulation before and during the treatment.
Here are some advantages of using braces:
Suitability for several conditions
Unlike Invisalign, braces can treat the vast majority of orthodontic cases regardless of the difficulty expected.
Whether you’re dealing with a dental or facial problem, braces recover optimal anatomical structure by putting back every piece in the right position.
Braces disadvantages
Unsurprisingly, there are also downsides to braces, which include:
Treatment duration
Invisalign often require less time to resolve the underlying issue compared to Braces. For this reason, a lot of people choose this technique since they want to end their orthodontic treatment as fast as possible.
Esthetics of Braces
As we mentioned earlier, traditional braces are not very good looking, which is especially damaging for younger age groups, as they’re often more self-conscious.
Brushing Your Teeth
When you first wear the braces, brushing and flossing your teeth will be more challenging, which may lead to plaques because of poor dental hygiene.
Consequently, dental decay might be the final result. To avoid this issue, make sure to ask your orthodontist or dentist about the proper way to brush and floss your teeth.
Takeaway message
Deciding between braces and Invisalign is not an easy task, but with the help of the pros and cons cited in this article, we hope you have a clearer idea about what each technique entails.
However, you should always contact your dentist /orthodontist and be sure you’re asking the right questions to make an objective decision based on your case and circumstances.
Hopefully, you found this article informative and helpful, but if you still have any questions about braces or Invisalign, feel free to ask us by phone.
