If you’ve been researching orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth, you’ve probably already had an idea of a few different options.
Generally, most people choose one of the two most popular treatments; Invisalign or traditional braces.
So which treatment option is better? For some patients, the benefits of one may outweigh the benefits of the other. To help you decide if Invisalign is the right treatment for you, we’ve compiled a list of its most important benefits compared to traditional braces.
1) Comfort
One of the most important advantages of Invisalign over traditional braces is the level of comfort. Traditional braces use racquets and wires to straighten the teeth until your metal treatment is finished. These can feel sharp against the sides of the mouth, lips, and tongue.
It is common for people with metal braces to experience cuts and sores in their mouths due to their braces. There is significantly more comfort with Invisalign. Smooth plaques instead of sharp metal resting on the cheeks. Clear plastic aligners do not cause any irritation or discomfort like traditional braces.
2) Appearance
Some patients may find it uncomfortable to wear metal braces as they are painfully palpable, especially if they are an adult seeking orthodontic treatment. If you prefer a more discreet treatment that not everyone knows about, invisalign is a better option. You will wear clear plastic aligners that are almost invisible.
3) Convenience
One of the best advantages of Invisalign is how convenient it is. The aligners are completely removable and you can take them off for up to two hours a day to eat, brush your teeth, take pictures or do whatever you want. With traditional braces, the brackets are attached to your teeth and do not come out.
4) Speed
Another key difference between traditional braces and Invisalign is that Invisalign tends to work a little faster.
This is because Invisalign moves teeth in smaller increments. Instead of making big moves every six weeks with traditional braces, you replace the aligners every two weeks. This allows treatment to progress faster.
5) You Clean Your Teeth Easier
You don’t need to invest in any special tools to clean your teeth effectively as you can remove clear aligners. Instead, remove the aligners and use a brush and floss as you normally would. It’s also easy to visit the dentist for regular cleanings because instead of removing the wire first, you just need to remove your plaque.
6) Fewer and Shorter Office Visits
When you have traditional braces, you usually need to visit your dentist every four to six weeks to tighten your braces. These appointments can sometimes take a long time. With Invisalign, you will have all the plaques you need at home to move on to the next set before you come to the clinic. Instead, you will visit your dentist approximately every 6 weeks so you can quickly check the progress of your treatment. Visits will be short so you can spend less time at the clinic.
7) Better Oral Hygiene
With traditional braces, it is difficult to maneuver between braces and wires to brush and floss effectively. This can lead to poor oral hygiene, tooth decay and gum disease. You can remove more plaque and bacteria from your mouth as you can easily remove your clear plaque for brushing and flossing. As a result, you will have better oral hygiene than someone with traditional braces.
8) Eat What You Want
Metal brackets and wires are easily damaged by conventional brackets as well. Therefore, when you use traditional braces, you are given a list of foods you should not eat, such as chewy or sticky foods, hard foods, or foods that you bite into. If you eat the wrong foods, you may break your bracket or wire and have to go to your dentist to have it fixed. With Invisalign, you can eat whatever you want during your treatment, as the plates are removable.
9) Beautiful Results
Invisalign can handle most mild to moderate cases alongside traditional braces. You may not be a good candidate for Invisalign only if you have severe misalignment or bite issues. From six months to two years, you can have beautiful, straight teeth.
10) No Emergency
You won’t have to worry about breaking the bracket or messing with a wire, so you won’t have to worry about dental emergencies and extra visits to the dentist. The only emergency that can happen with Invisalign would be to lose your aligner.
