Invisalign Vs. Braces

Are braces better than Invisalign?

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While both Invisalign and braces will straighten your teeth, there are benefits to choosing Invisalign. Unlike traditional braces you will never have to worry about hiding your smile because you are embarrassed for people to see your brackets and wires! Invisalign is also removable so you can enjoy a nice meal, a social event, and also maintain the ease of brushing and flossing without maneuvering around braces.

 

As many of us remember our childhood years with braces, we do not want to experience the poking and scratching of our cheeks and lips, the food caught in every tooth, and the painful monthly orthodontic appointments for a second time, and for those who never experienced braces we definitely do not want to experience them! Invisalign clear aligners are smooth to the touch, easy to apply and remove, easy to clean, and also does not require any food restrictions!

 

So, after reading all these benefits you may wonder how Invisalign works so effectively. Invisalign aligners are worn at least 22 hours of the day. Each aligner gradually moves or rotates the necessary teeth until proper alignment is achieved! Invisalign aligners work best when worn for 22 hours per day, but are removed for enjoyment of all meals, beverages other than water, and also to brush, floss, and clean the aligners.

In the weeks to come we will be discussing all the things you should know before you start Invisalign treatment!! Make sure you stop by to read about all the tips and tricks to make your Invisalign experience successful!! 

Braces vs Invisalign, Which Will Work Best for You?

While both braces and Invisalign can help straighten teeth, they each have pros and cons.

Take a look at the detailed braces vs Invisalign comparison chart below.

Braces (irremovable)	vs	Invisalign (removable)
Metal-typically silver; can pay extra for color or enamel color	Color	Clear/invisible
24/7 for an average of 2 years, depending on patient needs	Treatment time	22-24 hrs/day for 6 to 18 months, depending on patient needs
$1,800-$5,500	Cost	Average of $5,000
Brush brackets and wires regularly while brushing teeth; water pick may be helpful.	Maintenance	Invisalign Cleaning system, or brushing and rinsing trays in luke warm water
About every month	Follow up visits	Change aligner trays every 2 weeks; visits every 4 to 6 weeks
Positioner or retainer likely needed ongoing, maybe only at night	Follow up to treatment	Positioner or retainer likely needed ongoing, maybe only at night
More effective for more complex issues No temptation to leave them out, so less self-discipline is needed for success No extra cleaning steps required besides regular brushing and flossing	Pros	Invisible Removable No issues with food getting caught No difficulty eating No discomfort from wires
May have some pain, sores or discomfort from wires, brackets or tooth movement May have tooth discoloration due to difficult hygiene, bracket breakage and tooth wear May have difficulty eating sticky, hard foods	Cons	May have discomfort from tooth movement Must remove before eating or drinking anything but water Must brush after each meal to avoid staining
Patients playing rough contact sports regularly	NOT ideal for	Patients with: bridgework back tooth bite issues the need to rotate canines or premolars the need to move teeth vertically lack of discipline to keep trays in for at least 22 hours daily