Traditional Braces or Invisalign?

If you want properly aligned teeth, you may have to wear braces, regardless of your age. Yes, even adults can improve the alignment of their teeth. But, that is not a prospect a lot of adults welcome, despite their wanting to improve their smile. While a number of factors including esthetics, costs, treatment, results and maintenance come into play in this decision, most adults are bothered about wearing regular braces because it simply is not “an adult thing” in their minds. No one looking for a job, has a new job or has to earn credibility with clients, peers and superiors wants to be seen wearing braces as if they were in their teens.

This factor appears to be the key preference for Invisalign braces, a series of clear plastic braces that need to be worn for 20 to 22 hours a day during the treatment period. Depending on the type of correction needed, treatment period can vary between six months to two and half or three years.

Here are the pros and cons of Invisalign compared to regular metal wire braces:

Pros:

• Invisible or near invisible Invisalign braces are similar to trays used in teeth whitening.

• Cleaning teeth is easier, because you have to remove the Invisalign braces to clean teeth. Soap and water or specialized cleaning crystals can be used to keep the Invisalign clean.

• Better oral health overall because you will be cleaning your mouth and brushing teeth after each meal, a very good thing.

• There are no wires that can make for discomfort.

• If you have an accident, there is little chance of the plastic creating flesh wounds; a real possibility with regular braces.

• Will not cause tooth stains like some metal braces do.

Cons:

• Have to be worn at least 20 to 22 hours a day. This requires extreme levels of commitment to treatment.

• Needs to be removed during meals. If not, food can get in the Invisalign and make it look ten times uglier than having food stuck in your teeth. Chewing and biting, as well as hot drinks can damage the braces.

• Can lead to some awkward moments, when you need to remove them before meals and then put them back after cleaning teeth, after meals.

• Transparent Invisalign braces are rather prone to getting lost, just like contact lenses. One huge disadvantage over regular braces, which you cannot lose, even if you want to!

• Skipping days can mess up your treatment plan because each set of Invisalign in the series have to be worn for about 400 hours; and any days you miss can disrupt that. And if you skip for a long period, your braces may not fit you because your teeth may have moved out of the aligned path. You may have to go back to a previous stage or get a correction, which can be costly.

From an orthodontist’s perspective both treatments are fine, says Florida Invisalign orthodontist Dr. Michael Hess, quoted in Cosmetic Dentists News.

Costs can be comparative as well, as long as you stick to the routines and do not extend your treatment periods by skipping to wear the trays.

You can now use FreeDentistFinder.com to find a local dentist who offers the type of dental care you seek. You can read more about dental care and dental treatments on the FreeDentistFinder.com article archive.