Improve your smile with Invisalign clear aligner therapy or traditional metal braces! In comparing Invisalign vs. braces, both treatment options offer specific benefits and drawbacks. From cost to comfort to maintenance, various factors will help you determine which treatment plan suits you best.
At Wince Family Dental Associates, We will explain your options in detail before suggesting the right plan for your specific dental issues.
In general, traditional braces cost less than Invisalign. However, potential patients who compare prices will discover significant overlap in the pricing.
Standard braces typically cost somewhere between $2,500 and $8,000, whereas the Invisalign cost runs between $3,000 and $5,000, depending on the severity of a patient’s crowded or gaped teeth. If a patient requires several sets of Invisalign trays, it will increase the price of Invisalign treatment.
Invisalign patients praise the overall comfort of clear aligner therapy over more traditional forms of orthodontic treatment, especially if they’ve had braces in the past. The smooth plastic of Invisalign trays doesn’t cause cuts and sores like metal brackets and rubber bands.
Also, Invisalign uses less force to straighten your teeth than braces. However, any time a dentist tries to move your teeth, you should expect some discomfort.
When it comes to aesthetics, Invisalign beats traditional braces rather handily. Most observers won’t even notice that you are wearing Invisalign trays. But, metal braces are noticeable whenever someone opens their mouth. While some children like the idea of wearing colorful rubber bands on brackets affixed to their teeth, for the most part, teens and adults much prefer the discreteness of Invisalign.
Ceramic and lingual braces do offer some aesthetic appeal over metal braces. Ceramic braces mimic the color of your natural teeth, making them appear less prominent. However, you will still see the archwire. Lingual braces go on the inside of your teeth and remain out of view unless someone takes a good look inside of your mouth.
When worn as directed, Invisalign works almost as well as standard braces. However, some patients fail to wear their Invisalign trays for the recommended 22 hours a day. These patients often experience longer treatment times because their teeth start to shift back to their original position. Even when worn correctly, Invisalign does work a little slower due to the lighter pressure applied. Invisalign does NOT take longer than brackets and wires, in fact, it is much faster. The typical bracket and wire treatment is, on average, 2 years. Most Invisalign cases are less than 12 months.
Another important thing to remember about Invisalign involves the type of dental issues it can fix. Invisalign only works for mild to moderate misalignments; but, standard braces can resolve almost any problem with your bite. Ask your orthodontist whether Invisalign can work for you.
Maintaining your oral health represents a main priority regardless of whether you wear braces or Invisalign. Patients who brush and floss their teeth after every meal will have a little more difficulty with their oral hygiene routine if they wear braces. Many patients find it hard to brush around the brackets and must use a floss threader between every pair of teeth.
Invisalign trays require maintenance, too, however. After eating and drinking, food particles can build up inside of the trays and require removal. So, Invisalign patients must brush their teeth and the trays themselves. Still, Invisalign requires less maintenance than braces.
The time investment for Invisalign and braces remains about the same. Braces require a monthly visit to the orthodontist for observation and adjustments. Invisalign patients need to pick up new trays once about every four to six weeks.
Most dentists maintain flexibility when it comes to Invisalign payment options for their clients. Our friendly staff at Wince Family Dental arrange flexible payment plans for our patients, which they can pay using various standard payment methods.
Trying to decide a winner in the battle of Invisalign vs. braces proves impossible. It depends entirely on your budget, expectations, diligence, and the type of dental issues you want to fix. Braces represent more of a foolproof solution because patients can’t take them off or lose them. Invisalign offers a lot more freedom and flexibility during treatment.
At Wince Family Dental, we will explore all possible solutions to your specific dental issues and allow you to choose between all viable treatment options.