More than 9 million people receive orthodontic treatment each year in the United States. Braces and Invisalign® both work great, but they go about straightening your teeth differently. One’s all metal, while the other is clear and discreet.
Kenn Kakosian, DDS, PhD, and the specialists at DentAlign NYC in Midtown East, Manhattan, New York, work with you to determine which orthodontics treatment is right for you. To give you some things to consider as you determine whether Invisalign or braces would best fit your needs and preferences, we break down some important differences here.
Both Invisalign and traditional metal braces straighten crooked teeth, improve bite alignment, and improve the look and function of your smile. However, despite these similarities, there are some clear-cut differences between Invisalign and braces.
These are some of the key differences when undergoing orthodontic treatment using Invisalign or traditional metal braces:
The most obvious way Invisalign and braces differ involves the materials they’re made of. Traditional braces use metal brackets and wires that put pressure on your teeth to shift them into a desirable alignment. Invisalign uses a series of clear plastic aligners that gradually shift your teeth to their optimal position.
While metal braces are visible to other people when you smile, Invisalign's clear plastic aligners are transparent, making them barely noticeable to other people — especially from a distance. If your goal is discreetness, Invisalign is the way to go.
The length of orthodontic treatments varies by the severity of tooth misalignment you struggle with. However, Invisalign treatment is generally a faster treatment, taking an average of 12-18 months vs. 18-36 months for braces. This may partly be due to severe orthodontic cases not always being eligible for Invisalign treatment.
Braces are fixed in place, as your orthodontist bonds the brackets to your teeth until treatment is complete. On the other hand, Invisalign aligners are removable; you can take them out when you eat and while you brush and floss your teeth, but you wear them the rest of the day and throughout the night.
While traditional braces contain raised metal brackets with edges that have a potential to irritate soft tissues in your mouth, Invisalign is made of smooth plastic, which many patients describe as more comfortable.
Your teeth are typically more difficult to keep clean with at-home brushing and flossing when you wear braces vs. Invisalign. Why? You can simply remove Invisalign clear aligner trays to brush and floss your teeth as usual instead of having to clean around brackets and under wires.
Invisalign may cost slightly more than traditional braces. DentAlign NYC works with you to determine which option best matches your budget and long-term goals.
To determine which method is the most appropriate for straightening your teeth, Dr. Kakosian discusses your oral health history, reviews your goals, and asks about your treatment preferences. He examines your teeth and bite and takes dental X-rays to tailor a plan that optimally improves the look and function of your smile.
Schedule an orthodontics evaluation with Dr. Kakosian to determine if Invisalign or braces are best suited for you. Contact us today at DentAlign NYC by phone or online to get started.
