TRADITIONAL BRACES vs INVISALIGN

Braces vs Invisalign > From an Orthodontist That Uses Both

If you are considering braces vs Invisalign to straighten your teeth, or your kid’s teeth, you may have lots of questions. Which is more effective? Which is more affordable? Ultimately, you want to choose the treatment that will do the job, even it it’s slightly more expensive. In the long run, you don’t want to have to fix your teeth again! So are braces or Invisalign the better choice for you or your kid?

Braces vs Invisalign: Getting Straight to the Basics

Both braces and Invisalign were designed to straighten teeth while improving your smile and oral health. Customers first began using Invisalign in 2000, so this treatment does not yet have the same history as braces.
Braces consist of metal brackets being glued to your teeth, and tied together by wires and tiny rubber bands. Nowadays, you can get brackets to more closely match your enamel color (making them more discrete), or you can get them in color to make a fashion statement with your mouth!
Invisalign, on the other hand, is designed to be invisible. Aligner trays made of smooth, comfortable, BPA-free clear plastic are worn over your teeth to subtly and gently move your teeth. Your specialist will use X-rays, pictures, and impressions to create a precise 3-D image of your teeth and to configure your aligner trays accordingly.

In 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 some tooth discoloration or breakage 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

Clearly, in comparing braces vs Invisalign, it’s a tight race. If you’re an adult, or have a teen, who tends to be self-conscious, Invisalign may appeal to you. And the fact that it’s removable so you can eat, drink, brush and floss more naturally, may sound desirable. But if the idea of having to remove your trays for meals or while drinking anything but water seems inconvenent, Invisalign may not be the best solution for you. Plus remember, you should brush after each meal before putting your trays back in, to avoid staining.
Exact success rates for braces vs Invisalign are difficult to find, especially since Invisalign has not been around long enough to gather long-term data. Plus, Invisalign’s success depends almost entirely on the beholder. If you don’t wear them, they won’t work. With braces, you don’t have any choice in the matter!
Lastly, if you need to address issues with your back teeth, need to rotate teeth or move teeth vertically, Invisalign may not even be an option.
Straightening your teeth to improve your smile and overall oral health should not be taken lightly. If you need help deciding whether braces or Invisalign makes more sense for you or your child, consult an experienced specialist