Invisalign or braces which is better

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We specialize in orthodontic dental care. Delivering high quality professional oral health care. Our Foundation Meet Dr. Tooth Wisdom Blog. Braces vs Invisalign: Getting Straight to the Basics Both braces and Invisalign were designed to straighten teeth while improving your smile and oral health.

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.

Find a Location Near You. People with Invisalign generally wear the trays less than the recommended amount which can lengthen the total time it takes to complete treatment. Traditional braces are also more effective in cases where the teeth are severely misaligned. Invisalign cannot always straighten teeth that are rotated or overlapping.

If you are concerned about whether you could be a candidate for Invisalign, you can book a free consultation and see. Both braces and Invisalign have pros and cons in terms of convenience.

Invisalign is convenient when you want to eat your favorite hard or sticky foods, but remembering to take out the trays and store them securely is often overlooked. If you or your child are prone to misplacing things, Invisalign may not be the best option. It can also be challenging in social situations to excuse oneself to remove the Invisalign trays before eating and to put them back in after eating. Cleaning your teeth should be a priority regardless of whether you have braces or Invisalign.

Typically the cleaning process is easier with braces because you can brush and floss normally. However, if there is food stuck in the metal you may need to use a smaller brush to clean. With Invisalign brushing and flossing is the same, but there is some additional effort required to keep the trays clean.

Each time you eat you should clean the trays. You can use warm water to rinse and brush or a special Invisalign cleaning solution.

Cleaning the crevices of the Invisalign trays can be a hassle especially if you are away from home. And without proper cleaning there can be a build-up of bacteria or solid food. The biggest benefit of Invisalign is that the retainers are virtually invisible. Self-conscious teens do too. With braces people find some types of foods difficult or uncomfortable to eat. With nothing on your teeth to worry about, you can continue brushing and flossing as you did previously.

A 3D scan of your teeth is used for making all the customised retainers in a laboratory. There is no need to visit the orthodontics for adjustments so visits are kept to a minimum to check on progress.

Few visits to the orthodontist means less time off work. However, there are also fewer mouth and gum problems with Invisalign. Invisalign retainers are made of a special plastic and fitted to each patients mouth, so - unlike braces - there are typically no cuts on the inside cheeks or salt washes to deal with. Being able to remove your aligners is both a pro and a con. The major reason for Invisalign treatment failing primarily relates to lack of patient compliance with wearing the aligners.

Aligners need to be removed before eating and drinking anything other than water. When you are out in public, you need to remove your aligners discreetly and not lose them. Before replacing your aligners, you need to brush your teeth. Food particles can stop your teeth from moving and can stain your aligners. You are also at increased risk of cavities and bad breath. Depending on the specific problem, some treatment is difficult if not impossible to achieve with Invisalign alone so your Orthodontist may discuss the possibility of finalising tooth positions with braces which could result in a more expensive treatment.

Lingual inside braces are often compared to Invisalign because they both offer an almost invisible appearance. Like Invisalign, lingual braces are a fully custom option so they are more expensive than traditional braces. Choosing between the two can be a difficult decision as they each vary in cost, comfort, and appearance.

To help you decide which option is right for you, we spoke to two orthodontists about the differences between braces and Invisalign. Dental insurance usually covers some of these costs, however, the amount depends on the provider. Braces and Invisalign are equally effective at straightening teeth and both require checkups with your orthodontist every six to ten weeks.

However, for Invisalign to work, the aligners have to be worn at least 20 to 22 hours each day. Unlike braces — which can't come off without a dental procedure — Invisalign can be removed at any time.

If those with Invisalign don't wear the aligners as prescribed, their teeth can shift which means their treatment plan could change or be prolonged. However, we do have some patients that are honest with us and themselves and say they know they won't wear the aligner all the time and would rather just wear braces," says Vladimir Tabakman , DDS, MS, an orthodontist who practices at Houston Orthodontist Specialists in Houston, Texas.

How long you are using Invisalign or wire braces depends more on the original state of your teeth and your goals than which tool you use, says Mclendon. McLendon explains that short treatment plans usually mean only straightening a few front teeth, which can be accomplished in about six months or less with both braces and Invisalign. As issues become more extensive, treatment times increase and can run between one or two years. Invisalign tends to be more comfortable than braces because they aren't made of metal and it applies a gentler pressure onto your teeth to move them.