If you are considering braces vs Invisalign to straighten your teeth, you may have lots of questions. Which is more effective? Which is more affordable? Ultimately, you want to choose the treatment that will do the job, even it it’s slightly more expensive. In the long run, you don’t want to have to fix your teeth again! So are braces or Invisalign the better choice for you or your kid?
Braces vs Invisalign: Getting Straight to the Basics
Both braces and Invisalign were designed to straighten teeth while improving your smile and oral health. Customers first began using Invisalign in 2000, so this treatment does not yet have the same history as braces.
Braces consist of metal brackets being glued to your teeth, and tied together by wires and tiny rubber bands. Nowadays, you can get brackets to more closely match your enamel colour (making them more discrete), or you can get them in colour to make a fashion statement with your mouth!
Invisalign, on the other hand, is designed to be invisible. Aligner trays made of smooth, comfortable, BPA-free clear plastic are worn over your teeth to subtly and gently move your teeth. Your specialist will use X-rays, pictures, and impressions to create a precise 3-D image of your teeth and to configure your aligner trays accordingly.
Clearly, in comparing braces vs Invisalign, it’s a tight race. If you’re an adult, or have a teen, who tends to be self-conscious, Invisalign may appeal to you. And the fact that it’s removable so you can eat, drink, brush and floss more naturally, may sound desirable. But if the idea of having to remove your trays for meals or while drinking anything but water seems inconvenient, Invisalign may not be the best solution for you. Plus remember, you should brush after each meal before putting your trays back in, to avoid staining.
Exact success rates for braces vs Invisalign are difficult to find, especially since Invisalign has not been around long enough to gather long-term data. Plus, Invisalign’s success depends almost entirely on the beholder. If you don’t wear them, they won’t work. With braces, you don’t have any choice in the matter!
Lastly, Invisalign has been marketed towards the general dentist in recent years to provide a service that traditionally belongs to orthodontists. Essential Dental acknowledges this, so with all our Invisalign cases we do ask that you have a quick consultation with out referring orthodontist to ensure that Invisalign IS RIGHT for you. Certainly not all dentists offer this service, but it ensures that our Invisalign treatment is predictable from the beginning and you are not left disappointed.
Straightening your teeth to improve your smile and overall oral health should not be taken lightly. If you need help deciding whether braces or Invisalign makes more sense for you, consult an experienced specialist like Essential Dental today!
Contact us today on (08) 8251 7677 for further information about Invisalign or to book an appointment at Essential Dental… so you can clearly ‘discover the difference’.
