Invisalign vs Braces

It’s not hard to understand the desire for a beautiful smile. Fortunately, there are more ways than ever to correct crooked teeth, gaps, overbite and underbite. Straight, perfectly-aligned teeth are the foundation of a perfect smile – but not everyone is thrilled with the prospect of wearing metal braces. The good news is that in recent years, the advanced technology of Invisalign aligners has made the process of correcting misaligned teeth far less stressful.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign utilizes invisible custom plastic trays to gently shift your teeth into the correct position. The trays, or “aligners” are created based on extensive evaluation of your mouth, including pictures, X-rays and impressions. During the Invisalign treatment, you will use a series of custom aligners that fit over your teeth that slowly and painlessly shift your teeth. The clear aligners are virtually invisible.

Braces or Invisalign?

No matter which method you choose to improve your smile, both braces and Invisalign are a commitment. Depending on the misalignment being corrected, an Invisalign treatment plan may take from six months to two years to achieve the results you are seeking.

There are significant differences between the day-to-day experience of Invisalign and your day-to-day routine if you have braces. Here are some things to consider when making a decision.

If you choose Invisalign, you’re going to need to carefully follow the directions provided to you by Dr. Molayem. You will remove the aligners to eat or drink anything other than water. You’ll need to brush your teeth after eating and before replacing the aligners. Your aligners must be worn for 22 hours a day. As they are custom-manufactured to fit your teeth and mouth, they are very comfortable. With braces, they will stay in place until the correction is achieved, at which point they are removed.

Invisalign aligners are easy to manage with the added benefit of straightening your teeth without others noticing, as the aligners are clear and almost invisible.

Speed of Correction

Note that braces produce faster results so if speed of correction is important to you, it is worth discussing the latest generation of braces as an option. Braces are also the right treatment if you need to correct a more complex alignment issues, such as closing a large gap or correcting a serious bite problem.

Advantages of Invisalign

• Eating – Because you take the aligners out to eat or drink, you do not have to deal with food restrictions with Invisalign. Patients with braces avoid foods that are particularly sticky, crunchy or hard.
• Dental hygiene – It’s easier to keep your teeth clean with Invisalign. You can brush and floss as usual, with full access to your teeth. Your dental hygiene can improve, as after every meal you’ll need to brush before you re-insert the aligner to avoid staining. Patients with braces clean their teeth, but it requires more work. Some foods tend to lodge in braces and removing it can be a task. If braces are what you need to fix your specific dental issues, a little more time spent cleaning your teeth is well worth the effort.
• Appearance – Perhaps the biggest day-to-day difference with Invisalign is that you won’t be worried about the appearance of braces. Whatever the reason may be, whether young or old, many patients find the prospect of wearing braces unpleasant. Invisalign was developed to address this issue and has the advantage of avoiding any effect on your speech, which can occur with metal braces.

Is Invisalign Right for Me?

You won’t know for certain if Invisalign is the right choice for you until we evaluate your teeth and bite. Patients that need a complex correction will require braces, but newer, better versions of braces are available, and far more comfortable than what was available in the past. If the straightening or realignment you need to achieve an ideal smile can only be achieved with braces, it is well worth the time and effort.

At Pasadena Smile Center, we work closely with our patients to help them have a perfect, brilliant smile. The first step is to meet with us, so we can evaluate your teeth and advise you of the most effective treatment plan to match your needs and lifestyle. If you wish to learn more, contact us today and schedule a consultation at your local Pasadena dentist.