Unlike braces, there are fewer restrictions to your oral hygiene routine with Invisalign aligners. Also, you should avoid whitening products, like strips, mouthwashes, or even some kinds of toothpaste, while wearing metal braces because it can cause uneven coloration. The metal wire on braces can make it difficult to floss normally. "Most adults never seek out orthodontic treatment even if they have very crooked teeth, which tells us that the appearance might be enough to deter them from seeking treatment," says McLendon. "Wearing clear aligners looks essentially the same as when you're wearing nothing on your teeth," says McLendon. Invisalign aligners are also less noticeable than braces. Invisalign aligners are made of a clear plastic mold that fits directly over your teeth. With braces, a wire runs across the center of your teeth and is held up by metal brackets on each of your teeth. "Because clear aligners are changed each week, it's a more gradual process and tooth movement is very small, you don't feel as much pressure from wearing them," he says. "Every time you get wires tightened it adds a lot of pressure to the teeth that gradually goes away in 48 hours," says Tabakman. The metal wires on braces are tightened every four to six weeks, unlike Invisalign aligners, which are adjusted every one to two weeks. "With Invisalign, forces are applied from the aligner on the outside of the tooth through the plastic, whereas with braces the forces on the teeth come from a wire that runs through small brackets that are glued to the individual teeth during the treatment," McLendon explains. "Most patients have never experienced having metal in their mouth before wearing braces and sometimes people experience poking or discomfort that is generally avoided with Invisalign aligners," says Tabakman.īraces and Invisalign both work by applying pressure onto the teeth to straighten them. Invisalign tends to be more comfortable than braces because they aren't made of metal and it applies a gentler pressure onto your teeth to move them. "Orthodontists don't just deal with tooth alignment, we also deal with skeletal or jaw misalignment issues that require a lot of adjustment and time," says Tabakman. As issues become more extensive, treatment times increase and can run between one or two years. McLendon explains that short treatment plans usually mean only straightening a few front teeth, which can be accomplished in about six months or less with both braces and Invisalign.
How long you are using Invisalign or wire braces depends more on the original state of your teeth and your goals than which tool you use, says Mclendon.
They both last about the same amount of time However, we do have some patients that are honest with us and themselves and say they know they won't wear the aligner all the time and would rather just wear braces," says Vladimir Tabakman, DDS, MS, an orthodontist who practices at Houston Orthodontist Specialists in Houston, Texas. "Invisalign is more convenient for many people. If those with Invisalign don't wear the aligners as prescribed, their teeth can shift which means their treatment plan could change or be prolonged.įor this reason, the choice really comes down to lifestyle and compliance. Unlike braces – which can't come off without a dental procedure - Invisalign can be removed at any time. However, for Invisalign to work, the aligners have to be worn at least 20 to 22 hours each day.
Both are effective, but Invisalign requires more effortīraces and Invisalign are equally effective at straightening teeth and both require checkups with your orthodontist every six to ten weeks.
"Insurance plans tend to provide some helpful coverage, but rarely pay the largest part of the total pricing," says Ray McLendon, DDS, the founder of Clear Choice Orthodontic Associates in Houston, Texas. Meanwhile, braces tend to cost between $2500 to $6000.ĭental insurance usually covers some of these costs, however, the amount depends on the provider. The cost of Invisalign ranges from $3500 to $9000. To help you decide which option is right for you, we spoke to two orthodontists about the differences between braces and Invisalign.
INVISIBLE ALIGNERS VS BRACES SERIES
Meanwhile, Invisalign straightens your teeth through a series of clear aligners that slowly shift your teeth into the correct position.Ĭhoosing between the two can be a difficult decision as they each vary in cost, comfort, and appearance. Braces work by pulling your teeth in a straight line using a metal wire over time. Wire braces and Invisalign are two treatment options to straighten crooked or misaligned teeth.
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