Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces: Which One is the Best for You?

Do you ever feel like it’s finally time for you to get your smile properly aligned? You are not the only one. Orthodontic dentistry exists so that it can cater to all the patients who have issues with the alignment of their teeth. Better yet, some different oral appliances and techniques can be used to ensure that your teeth are moved properly and that your preferences are still upheld throughout the treatment.

Comparing Invisalign Aligners to Traditional Braces

All types of dental braces are important in orthodontic treatments to impact a significant change in the appearance of teeth. Given as the goal of orthodontic treatment is teeth straightening, both Invisalign aligners and traditional braces are impactful in delivering such results.

The two types of braces rely on applying controlled pressure on teeth over a certain period to cause them to rotate, shift and move to the correct direction and position. As you begin your treatment, your dentist will create a treatment plan based on the type of oral appliance you are using to determine how your treatment will progress over the next couple of months.

Aside from that, several distinctive features between these two braces make them uniquely useful in orthodontic dentistry. Some of the differences do not include the following areas:

1. The material used to make them – Invisalign braces are made from a plastic-like material, usually transparent. This is why they are also well known as invisible or clear aligners. On the other hand, traditional braces feature metal brackets and wires that are placed on different surfaces of teeth.
2. Adjustment technique – if you seek Invisalign Treatment In North York, ON, you will quickly learn that they are adjusted differently from how traditional metal braces are adjusted. Forward metal braces require that you visit your dentist every couple of weeks so that the metal wires can be tightened and loosened accordingly to befit your treatment. However, when it comes to invisible braces, the adjustment requires a total change of the aligners. While you may have to visit your dentist every couple of weeks similar to the case with metal braces, the appointment will be to get a new set of aligners instead of having the initial ones adjusted. The new set of aligners are made with a tighter fit so that the shifting of teeth continues.
3. Flexibility – traditional metal braces are more or less permanent and can only be removed by a dentist, usually at the end of your treatment. However, invisible braces are very flexible so that they are removable without the intervention of a dentist. The removability of the braces allows you to eat and drink whatever you want even while you continue with your treatment. It also provides a perfect opportunity for you to keep up with excellent oral hygiene without the worry of damaging your braces.
4. Effectiveness based on the complexity of orthodontic problems – one of the things that make both traditional metal braces and clear aligners useful in orthodontics is that they are both beneficial for solving different issues. Technically, when your dentist realizes that you have a complex dental malpositioning issue, he/she will opt for traditional metal braces first because they are more effective for correcting complex cases than clear braces are. In that sense, clear braces are not for everyone. Instead, they are suitable for patients with mild and moderate orthodontic problems.

​Which of the two should you choose?

When choosing the best type of braces for your treatment, you do not have to make that decision alone. Your dentist will examine your mouth thoroughly before beginning their treatment hence coming up with the perfect and most befitting solution for your treatment. The type of braces you choose depends on different factors, including the following:

1. Aesthetic preferences – if you are conscious about your cosmetic appearance, then you will benefit from invisible aligners as opposed to metal braces.
2. Flexibility and convenience – this includes limitations on food, ease of maintenance, as well as convenience when it comes to keeping your oral cavity clean.
3. Budget – generally, Invisalign braces cost more than traditional braces. The technique used in adjusting them and preparing them over a certain. Through the treatment is what adds up to the entire cost of the clear braces.