How to Choose Between Invisalign and Traditional Braces
Straightening your teeth is often a key to enhancing your smile. These days, you have access to many orthodontic options, so how do you choose the best one? Comparing braces options and learning the difference between Invisalign vs. braces can help you choose the best option.
Invisalign is a clear appliance that fits tightly over your teeth. These trays are custom-designed to shift your teeth into the correct position over time. Treatment involves a series of trays, worn for about a week. Each new tray exerts force on your teeth, gently moving them in small increments.
Depending on your dental needs, your dentist may also use attachments to apply more force or pressure. Invisalign, or clear aligners, may be used alone to move teeth into position or after traditional braces to hold teeth in position.
Many people are drawn to Invisalign for a few key reasons, including comfort, convenience, esthetics, and easy hygiene.
Invisalign trays are made of durable but flexible medical-grade plastic and fit snugly over your teeth. Unlike traditional braces with metal brackets and wires, Invisalign trays are clear and virtually invisible. They’re much less noticeable, which may be more appealing to teens and adults who feel self-conscious or uncomfortable about how braces look.
Invisalign trays are smooth and custom-made for your teeth, making them comfortable for long-term wear. While you may feel some pressure as your teeth move, there are no metal brackets or wires to irritate your gums, lips, or cheeks.
Clear aligners are also removable, so you don’t need to change your diet or avoid certain foods. Instead, you pop them out before you eat or drink and enjoy your meal without worry. Simply brush and floss when you’re done and reinsert them.
Similarly, because aligners are removable, it's easier to brush and floss your teeth and maintain healthy gums and teeth during treatment. There are no brackets or wires for food to get stuck in, and you don’t need special orthodontic floss.
At the same time, Invisalign solutions have some limitations that may make them unappealing to some.
Removable Invisalign trays are convenient, but that also makes them easy to lose or forget. You must wear your aligners for a minimum of 22 hours every day for the best results. So, aligner treatment may take longer if you don’t wear them as prescribed. Additionally, losing your Invisalign leads to extra replacement costs.
Invisalign is best for uncomplicated or mild to moderate orthodontic issues. These aligners may not be strong enough for more complex concerns where:
Traditional braces are metal brackets fixed to your teeth and connected by wire. Your orthodontist tightens these wires every six to eight weeks, which applies force or pressure to shift your teeth into the correct position.
Depending on your dental needs, you may also wear elastic bands for extra force and help moving your teeth. Sometimes, headgear and palate expanders or tooth extractions and surgery are also necessary.
Traditional braces are tried and true orthodontic solutions with precise results, best for complex dental issues.
Traditional braces are stronger than Invisalign and can exert more force on your teeth. These orthodontic solutions are often better for more complex dental concerns, including:
Additionally, your orthodontist can create precise results with traditional braces. These solutions exert more force, but your orthodontist can also better control that force on your teeth. That controlled force provides better, more consistent correction for complicated misalignments.
While traditional braces have specific advantages, they have some limitations, too.
Brackets and wires often rub against your gums, cheeks, and lips and can cause sores, irritation, and bleeding. In addition, your teeth and mouth may be sore after each adjustment or wire tightening.
You may need to eat soft, cold foods for a few days, take pain relievers, and use dental wax to ease your symptoms. However, you’ll also need to make long-term changes and avoid sticky, crunchy, and hard foods that can break a wire or bracket.
Finally, it’s tough to clean around the brackets and wires, making oral hygiene challenging. Poor brushing and flossing can lead to plaque buildup around your brackets, causing staining and decay.
Choosing Invisalign involves weighing the pros and cons of each according to your goals and dental health and needs. Our team at Starbody Dental can assess your oral health and teeth using leading-edge technology and techniques and determine the best treatment plan. Book an appointment and discover your options.
Choosing between Invisalign and traditional braces is a personal decision that depends on your lifestyle, dental needs, and aesthetic goals. At Starbody Dental in Murfreesboro, we’re here to guide you through every step of your smile journey with expert care and state-of-the-art technology. Whether you’re leaning toward clear aligners or classic braces, our team will help you make the best choice for lasting results.
Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward a healthier, more confident smile—right here in Murfreesboro.
Call 615-896-1330 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.
