Have you been considering aligning your teeth for a more beautiful smile? You can achieve this goal with traditional brackets and wires (braces) or with invisible aligner therapy.
There are some advantages to using clear aligner therapy over traditional brackets and wires. First, braces are made of metal or ceramic brackets that are glued to your teeth and then tied together using wires and rubber bands. Sometimes the wires can break and brackets can fall off which can cause some discomfort. It is very common for food to get stuck under the wires and around the brackets. Braces are challenging to keep clean and you will need to use special products to floss and brush around the brackets and wires.
Aligner therapy, on the other hand, consists of a series of comfortable, flexible clear plastic aligners that are changed every couple of weeks. A 3-D image is created to create a series of aligners. Aligners are worn all day and night, except for eating and cleaning your teeth.
How Are Invisalign Better Than Braces?
Does Invisalign really work better than braces? We believe so. Have a look at the top 5 advantages of Invisalign over traditional metal braces and decide for yourself:
1. No Color
Invisalign aligners are invisible and removable. Braces are typically silver in color, but you can pay extra to get them in gold or the same color as your tooth enamel.
2. More Comfort
Invisalign aligners are more comfortable and easy to wear. There is no discomfort due to wires and brackets, as is the case with traditional braces. Braces can cause pain, discomfort, and sores from brackets, wires, and tooth movement.
3. No Food Restrictions
With braces, you have to restrict yourself from eating certain foods. For example, you cannot eat foods that are either hard or sticky as these may damage the braces. Since Invisalign are removable, you can eat whatever you like. It is a more stress-free form of treatment.
4. Less Treatment Time
Invisalign is a faster form of treatment than metal braces. On average, metal braces require a period of 3 years. This can go up to 8 years in some cases. Invisalign, on the other hand, takes a maximum of 18 months to work
5. Fewer Follow-Up Visits
Traditional braces require more follow-up visits, and you have to go see your dentist at least once a month to have your brackets adjusted and tightened. With Invisalign, you’re provided with a set of trays. Every two weeks, you simply put in the next tray from the set. There are no regular follow-up visits required for you to get your next tray or get anything adjusted. You will only need to see your dentist on an occasional basis for them to monitor your progress.
Additionally, braces are NOT suitable for people who play rough contact sports on a regular basis. This can result in serious injury.
Conclusion
Invisalign and braces don’t work the same way. While some cases can only be treated with braces, a vast majority of patients have been noted to benefit more from Invisalign. Need more information? Click here to get an expert’s opinion!