Invisalign has taken off in recent years as an alternative to traditional metal braces. The system promises to straighten your teeth without hiding your smile behind metal brackets, wires, and rubber bands. But does this promise and the explosion in popularity mean they’re the better choice?
In this article, we look at Invisalign and what it has to offer orthodontic patients and compare the system to traditional braces. You can use this information to decide for yourself if Invisalign is better than braces for your needs.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a brand of clear orthodontic liners that can help straighten teeth produced by Align Technology. There are other brands of clear orthodontic liners, but Invisalign is often used as a catchall term in the way that Kleenex is used to refer to tissues. The system first came on the market in 1998 after receiving FDA approval. To date, more than 12 million people have used Invisalign for orthodontic care.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign works by using a series of rigid molds to gradually straighten teeth. While traditional metal braces use wires to pull teeth into place, Invisalign molds apply steady, controlled force to move teeth into place.
How Often Do You Change Invisalign Liners?
Patients change to new liners every one to two weeks with Invisalign, provided they wear them for the recommended 20 to 22 hours per day. This is because Invisalign is a progressive, stepped system. Each liner is only a slight change from the previous one.
Braces vs. Invisalign
Despite the growing popularity of Invisalign and other tray systems, traditional metal braces are still widely in use. That is because they still offer a few advantages over the newer technology and may be a better fit for some patients’ preferences.
In the following section, we’ll compare the benefits and drawbacks of both systems to help you evaluate which is right for you.
Braces Pros & Cons
Metal braces are still the preferred choice of many due to the advantages they offer. However, they do come with some significant downsides worth considering.
Advantages of Braces
Traditional braces have a few noteworthy advantages over Invisalign. These include:
- More effective: Braces can achieve a better overall result than Invisalign because they can apply more force to teeth.
- Faster: Again due to the amount of torque they can apply, braces can achieve the desired result in less time than Invisalign can. This is especially true for teeth that need to move a lot.
- More widely applicable: Invisalign has a limited range in terms of the issues it can correct. Braces, on the other hand, can be used to fix issues beyond crooked teeth. For example, wires can be attached to pull impacted teeth into place, which isn’t possible with Invisalign.
- Aesthetic options: Patients now have the option to choose ceramic braces for a less noticeable look.
Disadvantages of Braces
Braces also have a few downsides compared to Invisalign, including:
- Disruptive aesthetic: Braces are still immediately noticeable on a person, even ceramic ones. Some people may not like the look or feel self-conscious while wearing them.
- Regular visits: Traditional braces need to be inspected and adjusted regularly. This means many trips to the orthodontist over the course of your treatment, which can be both expensive and time-consuming.
- More difficult tooth care: Brushing and flossing become much more difficult with braces. This can discourage some patients from taking care of their teeth and lead to other dental issues.
- Eating challenges: It’s easy for food to get stuck under wires and in brackets. And some foods, such as popcorn, need to be avoided while wearing them. This can be a major hassle for some.
Invisalign Pros & Cons
The popularity of Invisalign is a good indicator that they have a lot to offer orthodontic patients. But there are also some major disadvantages when compared to traditional braces.
Advantages of Invisalign
There are several significant benefits to using Invisalign over braces, including:
- Better aesthetic: One of the main reasons people choose Invisalign over braces is that they are barely noticeable while in. The clear liners keep your look mostly intact during treatment.
- More comfortable: Metal braces can leave your teeth and gums aching and sore after adjustments. In comparison, Invisalign trays don’t cause as much pain because they don’t apply as much force as braces do.
- Fewer visits: After your initial consultation and scans, your Invisalign liners will come to you, meaning you don’t need to go to the orthodontist for adjustments. Your orthodontist will still want to see you occasionally to check on progress, but those visits will be much fewer and less involved.
- No diet impact: You can take Invisalign trays out as needed, including when it’s time to eat. That means you don’t need to make any changes to your diet or worry about food getting stuck in them.
- Easier oral care: You can also remove your trays when you need to brush your teeth. This allows you to continue brushing and flossing as usual to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Disadvantages of Invisalign
There are also some drawbacks to the Invisalign system worth considering. These include:
- Less effective: Invisalign does work to straighten your teeth, but it can’t produce the same results that traditional braces do. Some people may be a little underwhelmed at the end of their treatment with Invisalign.
- More expensive: The cost difference between Invisalign and traditional braces has shrunk significantly. However, Invisalign may still end up being more expensive because you may need to finalize your orthodontic treatment with braces or another solution at an additional expense.
- Requires discipline: When you use Invisalign, it’s on you to keep up with your treatment. Forgetting or neglecting to wear your trays can delay your progress or limit your results. This is an important consideration for people who aren’t great at staying on top of things or who can be forgetful.
- Cavity risk: It’s very easy for food to get trapped between liners and teeth if you don’t get your teeth completely clean. This increases your risk of getting a cavity and having other dental issues.
Is Invisalign Better Than Braces? Conclusion
The question you ask shouldn’t be, “Is Invisalign better than braces?” Instead, you should ask which is better for you. The answer depends on your orthodontic needs, personal habits, and preferences.
Invisalign may be better for you if you are responsible about wearing them and cleaning your teeth thoroughly. They’re also a better choice if you don’t like the look of traditional braces or think you may feel self-conscious while wearing them.
If you want to get the best results and do so quickly, braces are the better choice. They’re also more hands-off than Invisalign, so they can be a better choice for people who aren’t as diligent about wearing them. If you have significant orthodontic issues, braces may be your only choice.
Speak to orthodontist to see what your options are and what they think might be the right decision for you. Then, consider your own goals, preferences, and habits to decide whether Invisalign is better than braces for you.
Invisalign Or Braces: FAQ
Is it better to get braces or Invisalign?
Whether braces or Invisalign is better for you depends on your orthodontic needs, your personal habits, and your preferences. Braces tend to be better for people who have more significant issues with their teeth and work faster than Invisalign. Invisalign is often better for people who don’t like the look of braces and responsible enough to manage their treatment on their own.
Is Invisalign faster than braces?
Invisalign typically is not faster than braces. Braces can apply more force to teeth and, as a result, can achieve the desired result much more quickly than Invisalign.
Do braces hurt more than Invisalign?
Braces typically cause more pain than Invisalign due to the amount of force they apply to teeth. Patients can experience significant aches and soreness in their teeth and gums after adjustments. Invisalign, on the other hand, doesn’t apply as much pressure and doesn’t cause as much pain.