Invisalign braces and traditional braces differ in many ways. If you are considering orthodontic treatment, you might be unsure of which treatment type is most suitable for you. To ensure you choose what works best for you, it helps to understand the main differences between the two treatments first.
1. Invisalign Is Removable
Once traditional braces are in place, you can't remove them. But you can remove an Invisalign aligner whenever you need to. But bear in mind that removing an aligner for too long will set back your treatment time.
2. Invisalign Is Discreet
Traditional braces are clearly visible. Invisalign aligners are difficult to spot while you are wearing them because they are made of clear, medical-grade plastic.
3. Invisalign Is Best for Mild to Moderate Cases
If you have severely crooked teeth, Invisalign might not work for you. Metal braces are more effective at moving teeth through bone to their desired positions.
4. Invisalign Is Easy to Clean
Traditional braces require time and patience to clean thoroughly because food lodges in them. You can remove your Invisalign braces whenever you eat or whenever you need to clean them.
5. Invisalign Doesn't Interfere With Oral Hygiene
You can remove your Invisalign aligners before you brush your teeth. This means your oral hygiene sessions won't be affected in any way by your treatment. Traditional braces will make brushing and flossing your teeth a more time consuming and difficult process.
6. Invisalign Is Gentler on Oral Tissues
At first, the soft tissues of your mouth, such as your gums, cheeks and lips, may suffer while you get used to your traditional braces. This is due to the metal of the braces rubbing against your oral tissues as you speak and eat. Invisalign is softer and if you feel discomfort, you can remove an aligner to give your mouth a break.
7. Invisalign Requires Fewer Dental Visits
With Invisalign, your dentist will send your aligners to you for each stage of the treatment process. But with traditional braces, you'll need to visit your orthodontist regularly to have your braces readjusted for each stage. This means that with traditional braces, you'll spend more time visiting your dentist.
8. Invisalign Aligners Can Stain
Traditional braces won't stain very easily. But Invisalign aligners will stain if you drink and eat with them in your mouth.
These are the main differences between traditional braces and Invisalign. Be sure to keep them in mind when choosing an appropriate orthodontic treatment for your teeth.
