Invisalign and braces are two popular methods used to straighten teeth. Both methods are effective and if adopted properly will be able to get your teeth straightened and thereby improve your smile and oral health. But which method is better? Which of the two methods should you adopt to straighten your teeth? This article gives you a detailed analysis.
Braces have been used for a long time while Invisalign is relatively new, having been introduced back in 2000. Braces straighten the teeth using metal brackets which are glued to the teeth, then wires are used to tie the brackets together. With braces, they are clearly visible to others. Although nowadays there are some braces which resemble your enamel color, making the braces more discrete, although still not completely invisible.
Invisalign has aligner trays which are designed to be invisible. It is very difficult to spot them. The aligners are made of plastic which is BPA free and not harmful to your oral health. They are comfortable and work very effectively. The aligner trays are configured using the x-rays of the teeth so that they are precise.
Comparing Invisalign and Braces
The most evident difference between Invisalign and Braces is that the former is nearly invisible while the latter is very visible. This sometimes embarrasses the user by causing them to become self conscious. The patient using braces may start avoiding smiling or talking and he or she may also lose confidence. The results can be lasting and may continue even when the braces are removed.
Some people consider braces better since you can’t take them off and you do not have to worry about putting them back on. Some discipline is required when using Invisalign because it is up to the user when to put the aligners on and when to take them off.
Braces use metals which can irritate the gums. Invisalign on the other hand uses comfortable plastic which is safe to use.
You can remove the aligners whenever you want but the same is unfortunately not true for Getting braces involves a process and you can’t remove them at your leisure. You do not need to take extra care while bruising or flossing if you use Invisalign aligners since you can remove them while doing so. If you are using braces you need to be careful while brushing or flossing.
When wearing braces, you need to carefully watch your eating habits – especially avoiding sticky foods. Invisalign users won’t face this problem as they can just take the aligners off while eating.
As far as the cost issue is concerned, it depends significantly on your dentist but usually both cost nearly the same.
Invisalign is clearly the better choice as compared to braces and unless your issue is very specific you should pick Invisalign.