30 Jun Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces: Which One Is Right for You?
When it comes to straightening teeth, Invisalign and traditional braces are both very effective treatments. Invisalign involves wearing a series of clear, custom-fitting removable trays that gradually align your teeth. Traditional braces, on the other hand, are made of metal brackets and wires that are attached to your teeth and tightened to straighten them over time.
Invisalign is effective at treating minor cases of misaligned, crooked, and gapped teeth. Invisalign can also treat minor bite alignment issues, including overbite, underbite, crossbite, and open bite. Traditional metal braces can correct both minor and complex cases of these same problems.
So if you’re eligible for both orthodontic treatments, it can be difficult to make a choice. Today, we’re comparing Invisalign vs. traditional braces to help you decide which treatment is right for you.
Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces: Six Things to Consider
1: Appearance
The metal brackets and wires of traditional braces can make some people self-conscious when speaking and smiling. Many people choose Invisalign over traditional braces because they are less obvious. The clear trays fit perfectly over your teeth, so they look virtually invisible.
2: Cost
The cost of Invisalign vs. metal braces varies depending on the complexity of your dental issues and the length of treatment. But in general, traditional braces tend to cost a bit less than Invisalign. The average cost of traditional braces is $2,500 to $6,000, while Invisalign can cost $3,500 to $9,000.
3: Comfort
Traditional metal braces often cause more discomfort than Invisalign, especially after the wires have been tightened. Plus, the metal brackets can irritate the mouth or feel uncomfortable throughout treatment.
Invisalign clear aligners take a little time to get used to as well, but cause less discomfort overall. It’s normal to experience increased salivation, a little discomfort, and a lisp when first starting treatment. However, these side effects go away in a few weeks as long as you continuously wear your Invisalign trays.
4: Oral Hygiene
Whether you choose metal braces or Invisalign, keeping up with your oral hygiene routine is crucial. But care and cleaning take a little more effort with traditional braces. You need to use a floss threader or interdental brush to effectively clean between your teeth, which takes more time. It’s also easy for food to get caught in metal braces, so you’ll need to clean your teeth after every meal.
Because Invisalign trays are removable, it’s much easier to keep your teeth clean. You simply remove and rinse your trays before eating and when it’s time to brush. You’ll need to brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily, as usual, and also clean your Invisalign trays at least once a day with a special solution designed for your aligners.
5: Diet Restrictions
With traditional braces, you need to be careful with what you eat. Certain foods like popcorn kernels, gum, and nuts can damage your braces, so they need to be avoided.
With Invisalign, you can eat whatever you want because you remove the trays to eat. However, you cannot drink anything besides water while wearing your Invisalign trays. And because you must wear the trays for 22 hours a day, you’ll have to give up snacking.
6: Treatment Duration
The length of orthodontic treatment varies depending on the complexity of the case, but Invisalign is typically faster. Treatment time for metal braces takes about 18-24 months to complete, while Invisalign usually only takes 12 months.
However, failing to wear Invisalign aligners 22 hours a day, damaging your metal braces, or failing to practice good oral hygiene can make your treatment take longer than originally expected.
Invisalign Treatment in Prescott, Arizona
If you think Invisalign is right for you, come to Prescott Dentistry. We’ll determine whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign, and come up with a treatment plan to quickly and effectively straighten your teeth. We can also refer you to an orthodontist if you need traditional braces instead. Give us a call at 928-445-1660 today to schedule a consultation.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (6/30/2023). Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels