If you have crooked teeth, you may feel self-conscious about your looks. There are two common treatments to reposition your teeth: Invisalign and dental braces. Both treatment options are suitable, but you need to know their differences.
Read on to find out the pros and cons of Invisalign and traditional dental braces.
Advantages of Invisalign
There are several advantages of going for Invisalign treatment.
Transparent Look
The most prominent advantage of going for an Invisalign treatment is that Invisalign retainers are transparent, and as such, people most likely won’t notice them. This is especially useful for patients who are self-conscious and don’t want people staring or commenting on their teeth.
Removable
Invisalign retainers can be taken out when you are eating, unlike dental braces. The standard procedure is that Invisalign retainers have to be used for 20-22 hours every day. Since this allows you to remove them for your meals, you don’t have to change or replace any of the food items that you normally consume.
Disadvantages of Invisalign
While Invisalign may sound better, there are some disadvantages of it as well.
Discipline
It is extremely important to remember how to use Invisalign correctly. Patients need to remember to put them back on when they have eaten or cleaned their teeth. The mandatory time for wearing retainers is 22 hours; hence, the patient must be vigilant for the best result.
Cost
While the cost of Invisalign retainers is almost the same as dental braces, there are cases where other steps have to be taken along with Invisalign. For example, the dentist may have to use props for setting tooth positions which can incur more charges.
Advantages of Dental Braces
There are some advantages of dental braces as well.
Universally Suitable
Regardless of whether you have dental or facial problems, braces can be used almost everywhere to reposition your teeth. The difficulty of your case doesn’t affect the effectiveness of braces.
Higher Efficiency
Braces use more force than Invisalign to reposition your teeth; hence a better result can be achieved in a shorter time.
Disadvantages of Dental Braces
The disadvantages of dental braces are:
Visual Appeal
People, especially teens, tend to avoid going for braces as they believe braces change their look when they smile.
Difficult to Clean Teeth
Braces are comprised of anchors and arch wires that force the teeth into position. As a result, it can be difficult to clean your teeth, leading to plaque building around the braces.
Conclusion
There is no fixed answer on whether Invisalign or dental braces are better. It mostly depends on what your dentist recommends after reviewing your case. There are pros and cons to both treatments.
If you are looking to have your teeth repositioned, visit our website to schedule an appointment with our dentist.
