26 Dec Invisalign Advantages vs Traditional Braces. What’s the Better Option?
Crooked teeth can leave you feeling self-conscious. They can also cause dental issues, including chewing difficulty and pain, excessive wear, and speech problems.
If you’re considering straightening your teeth, you’ve likely considered traditional braces and other alternatives, such as Invisalign.
You may know some of the Invisalign advantages, but having a complete understanding of how it compares to traditional braces can help you decide which is the best option for you.
Having straighter teeth to boost your confidence is the primary goal no matter which option you choose. But you may find the perks of Invisalign sway you in that direction.
Keep reading to see how Invisalign stacks up to traditional metal braces to help you make your decision.
Removal Option
Metal braces can’t come off until your orthodontist removes them. For tooth straightening, that’s a good thing. There’s no interruption in the tooth-straightening process because the braces are always on your teeth.
Some parents want their kids to have traditional braces, so there’s no option for them to take them off. It’s tough to police your kids all the time to ensure they’re wearing the Invisalign trays long enough.
Some adults may also be tempted to take the trays out more often than they should. If you’re concerned about being disciplined with leaving your Invisalign tray on your teeth, you may consider regular braces.
But for most people, being able to take out the Invisalign trays is a perk. It’s handy for eating and oral care. You just have to make sure you’re keeping the trays in for the required 20 to 22 hours daily.
Even though the aligners are virtually invisible, there may be some occasions when you don’t want to wear them. You can pop out the aligners and show off your natural teeth anytime you want.
Food Restrictions
With traditional braces, you’ll get a long list of foods you can’t eat. The list includes anything that’s sticky, chewy, hard, or sugary. Forget about popcorn, chewy bread, sticky candy, and anything else that fits those categories.
Sugary foods can increase your chances of cavities, especially if you have trouble brushing your teeth well with the braces on them.
Hard, sticky, and chewy foods can pull your braces off your teeth or cause damage to the brackets and wires.
For most people, there are at least a few favorite foods that get cut once the braces go on.
With Invisalign, you can eat any type of food you want. Since you can take out the aligners to eat, you don’t have any worries about damage to them.
Appearance
Invisalign wins hands-down in the appearance category. The clear trays essentially disappear on your teeth once you put them in your mouth.
The trays are custom made to fit you. That means they mold to your teeth, so they’re not as noticeable.
Invisalign is ideal if you’re self-conscious about wearing braces. Many adults choose this option for that reason.
Metal braces are impossible to hide. They’re visible every time you open your mouth.
Some people feel self-conscious about that and may avoid smiling. Even teens may hate wearing metal braces even if their peers wear them, too.
Comfort Level
Both systems apply pressure to your teeth to move their positioning. That pressure will likely cause some level of discomfort, no matter what method you use.
Metal braces tend to cause more discomfort than Invisalign. The pressure with Invisalign is usually a little lighter.
The other advantage of Invisalign is the smooth plastic material used for the trays. It’s gentler against the soft tissue in your mouth than metal. You don’t have to worry about a wire poking you, and you don’t have to worry about something hitting your face and pushing soft tissues into the braces.
Cleaning Your Teeth
Traditional braces are notorious for making oral care more difficult.
The brackets attach directly to your teeth and can’t come off. You have to clean around them very well, or food can collect around them.
The wires that connect the brackets also add a challenge to oral care, especially flossing. The wires can get in the way when you try to floss.
Invisalign doesn’t interfere with your regular brushing and flossing. You can easily remove the trays to handle those issues as you did before getting them.
You’ll also need to clean the aligners. But they’re simple to clean with lukewarm water. Rinse them morning and night as well as after eating or drinking to keep them clean.
A weekly deep cleaning with Invisalign cleaning crystals helps keep your aligners fresh and clean.
Required Visits and Length
You typically have to visit the dentist a little more frequently with traditional braces. Most orthodontists want to see you once a month to make adjustments to the braces if necessary.
With Invisalign, the appointments may only be every 6 weeks. You’ll switch out your trays every two weeks to keep your teeth moving in the right direction. But you’ll get several sets each time you go.
That means you don’t have to keep going back for adjustments or new trays.
Invisalign treatment usually takes an average of 12 to 18 months to complete. Traditional braces take an average of 24 months. That means you could have a straighter smile faster with Invisalign.
Athlete Considerations
Traditional braces aren’t always best for an athlete, especially in contact sports. If you get hit in the face while playing sports, the metal in the braces can cause injuries to the soft tissues in your mouth.
Invisalign allows you to take out the tray while you play to prevent injury. If you wear them during sports or other physical activity and get hit, they won’t cause the same kind of damage as metal braces.
Complex Dental Issues
Invisalign can treat a variety of dental problems, including gaps, crowding, overbites, and underbites. For most people, Invisalign is an option.
But some very complex cases may require traditional braces. Invisalign doesn’t use quite as much pressure as braces, so major problems may not work as well with it.
Invisalign can treat mild cases of many issues, but more severe cases may not work. It works for teeth that have rotated mildly to fit into the space, but more severe rotation may require braces.
Your dentist will evaluate your situation to determine if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign.
Explore Invisalign Advantages
Understanding the Invisalign advantages helps you decide if it’s the best treatment option for your situation. For many people, having the invisible, removable trays is worth it.
If Invisalign seems like the perfect treatment for you, learn more about our Invisalign services. Then, schedule your appointment to start your journey toward a straighter smile.