For years, people who were struggling with crooked teeth or teeth that have grown in with complications have felt self-conscious about their smile and their only option was traditional metal braces.
However, thanks to medical and dental advances, there are now many ways that modern dentistry can help fix these imperfections and make you more confident and your smile more radiant.
Realigning and straightening the teeth can be done for cosmetic and functional reasons, but straight teeth also are easier to clean, which can lead to improved oral health.
Currently, the leading two treatments designed to straighten teeth are dental braces and Invisalign. So what is the difference between Invisalign vs. braces?
What are dental braces?
Dental braces are composed of brackets that often run along a wire. A trained dental professional will be responsible for affixing the dental braces onto your teeth. The brackets and wires that make up the braces are pressed flush against your teeth.
This construction of the dental braces supports and allows for slight movements that can assist in proper straightening and alignment of your teeth. They are efficient at correcting complex orthodontic issues and can quickly close gaps in your smile.
Modern braces such as ceramic braces can be matched to the colour of your tooth enamel, or customised with coloured elastic bands to add style or personalisation.
Traditional braces can also be attached to the back of your teeth for more discretion.
What is Invisalign®?
Developed by the Align company, Invisalign is a system that uses custom-designed liner trays of BPA-free plastic to slowly move teeth towards the correct alignment.
Instead of creating a mould of the patient’s teeth from which to form the aligner, Invisalign uses an individualised 3-D scanning program to find the correct fit.
To start using Invisalign your dentist will take diagnostic photos and preliminary X-rays of the teeth. If needed, wisdom teeth or other crowded teeth may need to be extracted before this treatment can begin.
After the dentist creates clear plastic trays (or aligners), they are normally worn one after the other, in a specific order, for a specified amount of time.
The aligners are designed to train the teeth to move a specific way over a period of one to two years, depending on the severity of the initial misalignment.
Although you will switch your aligners for the next in the series approximately every two weeks, you will still need your progress monitored by your dentist every four weeks.
Invisalign vs. Braces: Which is Better?
It can be tough to decide whether Invisalign or dental braces fit your lifestyle better. To help you make an informed decision, here are some facts about both methods of realigning your dental pattern that might make the choice easier.
Discretion
While many children may be looking for colourful braces to straighten their smile, adults normally prefer to be more discreet about their dental realignment process.
When looking at dental braces vs. Invisalign, braces are much less discreet, and Invisalign is more likely to go unnoticed in an adult’s mouth.
Removability
The permanent attachment of braces to the teeth can make them more of a logistical hassle. Kids and teens with braces often complain about having to restrict their intake of certain foods because they’re worried that residue will get stuck in their braces.
When deciding on getting dental braces vs. Invisalign, one should know that Invisalign trays can be removed easily to allow consumption of food or drink and brushing or flossing, without worrying about anything getting stuck in the tray.
Comfort
Braces can often create sores in the mouth that occur because of the permanent nature of the dental braces.
When examining the differences between dental braces vs. Invisalign, the Invisalign trays are made from smooth plastic and are removable and therefore, will not create these sores. This makes for a more comfortable realignment process.
Oral hygiene
Brushing and flossing while wearing traditional braces, can be a time-consuming chore. It can also be uncomfortable after an adjustment when your teeth hurt, and your gums are tender.
Since the Invisalign aligners are removable, you simply brush and floss as normal.
Final thoughts
When deciding between braces vs. Invisalign, it’s important to take all of these benefits and drawbacks into account.
If you’d like to know more about braces vs. Invisalign and which option is best for your lifestyle, and your needs, please call Dental Spot on (02) 9158 6115.
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