If you’re trying to achieve straighter teeth, you have two options: Invisalign or braces. We’ll break down the pros and cons of Invisalign vs braces to help you make the best choice.
The pros of Invisalign
Invisalign trays are nearly invisible. Since the trays are clear, they’re almost unnoticeable. This is an especially great option for adults, teens, and young adults who want to straighten their teeth without the obvious look of brackets and wires on their teeth during treatment.
Invisalign trays are significantly more comfortable than traditional metal braces. Unlike braces that may have sharp or extruding edges or pieces, the smooth plastic Invisalign trays are custom-made to fit your teeth and mouth.
Invisalign trays are removable and easy to clean. When it’s time to brush and floss your teeth, Invisalign trays pop right out. And even the trays themselves can be cleaned! When it comes to keeping your teeth and mouth clean during orthodontic treatment, Invisalign versus braces comes out as the clear winner. With braces, food particles can get stuck in the wiring and cause unpleasant tastes and odors. Yuck!
Invisalign saves time, as you will be able to spend less time at visits. Typically you will need to visit your provider every 6 weeks for Invisalign, whereas orthodontic visits for braces are more frequent. And when you choose a dentist like 19th Ave. Dental Care for your Invisalign, you’ll save even more time since you can continue to see your regular dentist without adding orthodontist visits to your busy schedule.
With Invisalign, you can eat whatever you want. On the contrary, if you have braces, you’ll likely have food restrictions so as not to damage the braces. With Invisalign, you can remove the trays, eat whatever you want, and then pop them back in.
Invisalign cons
Since are talking about Invisalign’s pros AND cons, we do need to share some potential downsides to this great treatment.
Patients must be disciplined. Being able to remove your aligners can be both a pro and a con. If you aren’t disciplined about putting your aligners back in your mouth after eating or brushing, you may not wear them the required 22 hours per day. In that case, your treatment may not produce the best results or could take longer than planned. The most common issue with Invisalign treatment is the lack of patient compliance with wearing the aligners.
Taking your aligner trays in and out can be inconvenient. You need to remove your aligner trays before eating and drinking anything other than water. And then before replacing your trays, you need to brush your teeth. That can make eating in public annoying, and you need to be careful not to lose your aligners in the process.
Invisalign is not always the best treatment method. Invisalign is not typically recommended for more complex orthodontic cases. Before deciding on which treatment you should use, ask your dentist if you can expect the same result from either method. Depending on your needs, Invisalign might not be the best choice.
Is Invisalign cheaper than braces?
Due to advances in 3D scanning technology and the material involved in making aligners, the cost of Invisalign is comparable to braces. When you go through a dentist for Invisalign treatment in Phoenix, you might even find it’s less expensive overall than seeing an orthodontist!To find out if Invisalign is right for you, Schedule your Invisalign Phoenix consult today.