Invisalign and other clear aligners are attractive and comfortable strategies for straightening teeth. But for people who require severe correction or for children who do not have the self-discipline to wear an aligner for more than 20 hours a day, traditional braces are the best option. Treatment with braces can be much faster because, unlike Invisalign, which depends on the patient's needs, metal braces are immovable. Braces are very efficient when it comes to solving complex dental problems, and they can align teeth and close gaps much faster than Invisalign.
Although it varies, usually patients wear braces from 18 months to 3 years. After a relatively short period of time, you will notice the movement of the misaligned teeth, which can greatly contribute to increasing your confidence. With Invisalign, your treatment can last 6 to 18 months if you wear aligners 22 to 24 hours a day. However, Invisalign tends to be more comfortable than traditional braces because it applies less pressure to the teeth overall.
Braces can also have sharp edges that can cut into the inner lip and tongue. Fortunately, braces have developed a lot over the years, and research has helped make braces a reliable, effective and comfortable treatment method to achieve straight teeth, a healthy bite and a beautiful smile for millions of people around the world. Orthodontic appliances move teeth safely and effectively, using brackets attached to each tooth, connected by a metal wire. Each bracket is positioned to carefully move each tooth to its correct position, closely monitored by the orthodontist.
Are braces right for you? There are many reasons why people choose braces. Thanks to the robust and effective design of the braces, they can create beautiful and long-lasting results even in the most severe cases of tooth misalignment. While treatment with Invisalign may be less effective for particular conditions, such as impacted teeth or severe crowding, braces use many specialized methods to align problem teeth. While Invisalign aligners may not have enough grip to pull out teeth that have grown in the wrong place, the tension on the braces when the brace wire is pulled is extremely effective in moving those teeth.
Braces offer maximum grip that can realign even severely misaligned teeth. This makes them an obvious choice for complex and severe cases, where treatment with Invisalign may require the intervention of complementary braces to be fully effective. For that reason, some patients prefer braces because they don't require you to keep track of the aligners when they are not in your mouth. Compliance is still important; brushing and flossing regularly, visiting the dentist, etc.; but you don't have to worry about losing the appliance.
Because braces have been around for a long time, researchers and engineers have spent a great deal of time, resources and experience perfecting their use. A licensed and experienced orthodontist will have been treating patients with braces since they started training, so you are sure to receive treatment from a real expert. This means that when the orthodontist uses braces to straighten teeth, he can predict with maximum precision where each tooth will need to be moved for the best results, the straightest teeth and the healthiest smile. Using cutting-edge technology and medical-grade biocompatible materials, orthodontists use orthopedic appliances to achieve safe, effective and long-lasting results for young and older patients.
Insurance can also make a difference in costs. While some insurance plans cover both braces and Invisalign treatments, many state-subsidized plans offer coverage only for braces. Each state's insurance plan varies in its coverage options, but in certain states, younger patients can get full coverage for brace treatment. See your state's insurance options for more information.
They may also be the most cost-effective treatment option and, for cases that qualify, may be fully covered by insurance. Be sure to check with your insurance provider about coverage for braces. Ceramic braces use a technology similar to that of metal braces, but instead of metal braces, they use a much more subtle transparent or tooth-colored resin for braces, so they blend perfectly with the teeth and provide an inconspicuous appearance. Ceramic braces offer all the effectiveness of metal braces, but with a less noticeable look that many patients prefer, especially older teens and adults.
Because braces are clear or teeth-colored, they are more likely to be stained with dark-colored foods or drinks (such as dark soda, red wine, or coffee), so they may not be the best option for younger patients or those who don't want to give up those items. Because of their placement, lingual orthodontic appliances may be less effective in treating certain conditions or more serious cases. Your orthodontist will evaluate your diagnosis and determine if lingual braces are appropriate for your treatment. Because of their less common use and the necessary experience, lingual braces can be considerably more expensive than metal braces.
Another disadvantage of orthopedic appliances is the possible discomfort, especially at the beginning of treatment, when the teeth are sensitive to the pressure of the brackets. During treatment, wires or braces may puncture or irritate the mouth. Orthodontic appliances may require more office visits than Invisalign aligners, since adjustments are needed throughout treatment and emergencies, such as puncturing a wire, are more common. Finally, orthotics are also quite remarkable; while ceramic braces provide a more discreet look than metal braces, they are not entirely invisible.
While younger patients may not care about the appearance of braces, and many patients love the style accessory of braces, some patients may prefer the discreet look of clear aligners, which do not require any permanent mouth attachments. Invisalign treatment has several benefits compared to traditional braces. While worn, Invisalign aligners are subtle and barely noticeable, yet still provide effective treatment with predictable and long-lasting results. In fact, in some cases, treatment with Invisalign may be even more effective than braces, due to the total strength of the aligners throughout the tooth.
Before treatment with Invisalign, many adults settled for smiles that made them unhappy, because they didn't feel they could wear braces and maintain their professional appearance at work. While braces are also effective in treating a variety of conditions, in certain cases, the integral pressure exerted by Invisalign aligners may be even more effective than braces. For example, treatment with Invisalign may be a better tool for correcting open bites. In contracts, patients with braces visit the office every month or every two months to make regular adjustments, where the wire is tightened to maintain treatment progress.
Some complex conditions may require a combination of braces and Invisalign aligners to correct themselves correctly. Extracting impacted teeth, for example, or aligning tall canines, can be difficult to do with Invisalign treatment alone and may require complementary treatment with braces. As you'll see below, Invisalign treatment can also be more expensive than traditional braces, although insurance often covers a significant portion of Invisalign treatment when used by a licensed orthodontist. Depending on qualifying conditions in certain states, state-sponsored insurance plans may cover the full cost of traditional braces for some patients.
As noted above, prices may vary considerably between offices. It is perfectly acceptable to visit a few different offices to compare prices and find out if your condition can be treated with braces or with Invisalign treatment. You'll also want to consider your orthodontist's expertise. Braces and Invisalign aligners are tools for correcting teeth; the expert doctor who uses the tool is your best resource for achieving a great smile.
Many offices offer a free initial consultation free of charge, to simply consult with an orthodontist. Your doctor can give you an estimate for treatment costs for Invisalign braces and aligners, and you can discuss payment options with staff. The length of treatment depends on your specific case, but treatment with Invisalign tends to be faster for most types of orthodontic diagnoses. Invisalign aligners provide full force on the teeth, rather than the individual tooth movement achieved with braces.
Whichever treatment you choose, remember that both braces & Invisalign aligners are tools used by your experienced doctor. The orthodontist you work with for your smile will be responsible for using any of the appliances to align your teeth and achieve the most optimal results. The duration of treatment will depend on how much work is needed to straighten your teeth. Treatment for an adult usually lasts between 6 and 15 months, but this really depends on your individual case.
When you receive Invisalign braces, clear plastic aligners will be placed over your upper and lower teeth. Aligners gradually move teeth to straighten them. Aligners differ from traditional braces because they must be removed before eating or before drinking any non-transparent liquid. Like other medical devices, treatment with Invisalign is as effective as the experience of the treating doctor.
Over time, people get used to braces or Invisalign and find that they may be relatively comfortable. There is a lot of information about Clear Correct versus Invisalign and how their clear aligners differ. Invisalign treatments are longer and can complete a mild to moderate malocclusion in as little as 6 months. Follow-up Invisalign visits should be done at the same time, but you will also need to change your splints every two weeks to keep up with the movement of your teeth.
The Invisalign treatment consists of a series of custom-made aligners; each set is worn for two weeks and then changed to the next set in the series. The fact is that in the debate between Invisalign vs braces, it all comes down to personal choice. The metal wires on braces are tightened every four to six weeks, unlike Invisalign aligners, which are adjusted every one or two weeks. While the science of orthodontics has been around for centuries, both metal braces and Invisalign have a decades-long history of effectively and affordably straightening teeth.
While treatment with Invisalign can move teeth without the same level of pain as other straightening methods, some people experience mild discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. That said, there is no evidence that the Smile Direct Club or Invisalign aligner material is more beneficial than the other. Most cases of Invisalign can be completed between 12 and 18 months, and some milder cases require only 6 months of treatment. Most health fund members with major dental coverage may be eligible to claim reimbursement for their Invisalign treatment.
Whether you choose Smile Direct Club or Invisalign, you choose a team of teeth straightening experts who will work on your smile. . .
