Invisalign Vs Braces

Orthodontic Treatment – Braces

Modern orthodontics have created a decision for many patients…..Invisalign vs braces! With advances in orthodontic materials and techniques we have moved forward to a more cosmetically pleasing way of creating a straighter smile. The decision of invisalign vs braces will be between you and your dentist or orthodontist. An informed, educated patient is the best kind. Below you will learn the pros and cons of each technology to make an informed decsion in invisalign vs braces.

Traditional orthodontic braces are made of metal and attach to the outer surfaces of your teeth. They can also be made of a ceramic material and placed behind the teeth (called lingual braces). Metal wires and rubber bands are attached to the brackets to slowly give directional forces to your teeth to correct orthodontic issues.

Invisalign treatment uses clear, plastic orthodontic aligners. These aligners are personalized for each patient by making a 3-dimensional scan of their mouth. Personalized aligners are then made to move the teeth in small graduated steps until the correct position is reached for a perfect smile.

Invisalign Vs Braces

Advantages Of Invisalign Vs Braces

–Cosmetics. The greatest benefit especially for orthodontics for adults is that the invisalign aligners are clear and virtually invisible. Most people will not even notice you are undergoing orthodontic treatment. This is a huge plus in discussion of Invisalign vs braces.

–Removable. Invisalign retainers should be worn about 20-22 hours per day this allows you time to take them out for eating. This allows you not to make any changes in the types of foods you eat. With traditional braces, this can be a real issue.

–Improved Dental Hygiene. The ability to remove the clear invisalign aligners to brush, floss, and rinse your teeth is a huge plus in invisalign vs braces discussion.

–Fewer and Quicker Orthodontist Visits. Again a real plus especially for adult orthodontics. There are no need for simple adjustments just changing retainers as teeth move. Also there is nothing to break.

–Comfort. With a plastic retainer, you will still feel the occasional discomfort as teeth shift however, there will not be any metal to pinch your cheeks and gums. Another big advantge in argument of invisalign vs braces.

Disadvantages Of Invisalign Vs Braces

–Increased Patient Responsibility. Since patients can remove the retainers at will, they need to be responsible and wear them for the required time for them to be effective. Your orthodontic results will not be as good or as timely if not worn as prescribed. Any deviation from this can add time to your orthodontic treatment. One the major failures of Invisalign is in fact patient compliance when it comes to wearing retainers as required by your orthodontist. The success or failure of Invisalign is up to the patient.

–Inconvenience. Constantly removing retainers to eat can be a nuisance for some. Not to mention an increased risk of losing retainers is possible.

–Increased Cost. For some patients invisalign alone cannot fix all smile alignment issues. There may be a need for a final phase that includes some form of traditional braces. This will be an added expense in money and time.

–Effectiveness Of Invisalign. As mentioned above, invisalign treatment may not be able to tackle some more difficult smile alignment cases. Your dentist or orthodontist will be able to discuss these options with you prior to beginning treatment.

Advantages Of Traditional Braces Vs Invisalign

–Ability To Handle All Patients. This is a proven technology that can work in any situation to handle multiple dental and facial issues. Traditional braces are the most powerful all around tool an orthodontist can use to move teeth into their final desired position.

–Ability To Achieve A Better Final Result. Traditional orthodontic braces have the ability to achieve a better final result than Invisalign clear retainers. Braces can create more force to move teeth into the desired position. Invisalign is limited by force and how much movement can occur at a given time.

–Options. As mentioned above, traditional braces offer attachments to the outside of teeth, to the inside of the teeth, as well as tooth colored ceramic brackets. The last two can make traditional braces more cosmetic than ever before.

–Faster, More Efficient Treatment Time. Due to increased power and tweaking by your orthodontist, traditional braces tend to complete the job faster and more efficiently vs Invisalign, This is important for both kids and adults.

Disadvantages Of Traditional Braces Vs Invisalign

–Cosmetics. Traditional braces have a tendency to make people feel self conscious about their smiles. A definite negative in the argument of invisalign vs braces.

–Dental Hygiene. Maintaining good dental hygiene can extremely difficult with traditional braces. If you do not maintain good dental hygiene during orthodontic treatment you might end up developing tooth decay as well as periodontal disease. It is extremely important to be diligent with dental hygiene when undergoing orthodontic treatment.

–Food Choices. You need to watch what you eat while undergoing traditional orthodontics with braces. Hard or sticky foods can cause damage to the brackets on your teeth or even the wires attached to the brackets. If brackets break they will delay treatment and prolong the overall treatment time for your new smile.

–Regular Visits. Generally you will be on a schedule of 1x per month at minimum. This will be to check progress as well as to make changes to the movement of your teeth. For Invisalign patients it might be every other month.

Invisalign Vs Braces Conclusion

Making the choice of Invisalign Vs Braces should not be a difficult one. Examine the positives and the negatives and make the choice that is right for you and your smile. Invisalign vs braces should not be a difficult decision. Whichever way you choose you will enjoy your new smile for years to come. Invisalign vs braces the choice is yours!

If you are ready for a smile makeover, contact Marielaina Perrone DDS at (702) 458-2929 to schedule a no cost cosmetic consultation appointment. We cannot wait to help you with your smile makeover to create the smile of your dreams in Summerlin, Henderson, and Las Vegas, NV.