Invisalign Vs
Braces
Invisalign vs braces. The all important battle to determine which method of teeth straightening is the best.
The big battle. Once and for all, these two heavyweights will step into the ring together, with one becoming victorious and being crowned the champion forever.
A dramatic intro for a not-so-dramatic comparison. I just wanted you to witness the great battle that’s unfolding in front of your eyes today. First, you’ll be educated on the background of braces and it’s pros and cons, and then we will switch over to Invisalign, which will do the same.
Finally, you will get a verdict and a personal opinion from myself, and one will be crowned champion once and for all. Let’s get ready to rumble!!
Braces
If you didn’t know already, braces are sometimes known as train tracks, and they can come in many different materials, such as metal and ceramic, for example. The main purpose of braces is to shift the teeth into a desired position overtime, this will help you achieve a straight smile.
So what are the pros of having braces?
Strengths
- Suitable For All Situations
No matter the severity of your crooked teeth, braces stand out from Invisalign in this aspect as they have no limits on the cases they can solve. Of course, Invisalign can fix most situations, but unlike braces, they have limits on what they can fix.
- Multiple Choices
No longer are the days of just metal braces, you can now choose from a multitude of different types, which include metal, lingual, and ceramic braces. The beauty of these choices is that you can go for a more discreet look with lingual and ceramic braces, or you can go the traditional route with metal braces. The choice is all yours.
- Easier To Achieve A Perfect Result
Braces are more robust and stronger, which can have an impact on their effectiveness across a wider range of complex cases. Braces have been a popular choice for good reason; they are effective in how they work. You’re able to achieve incredible results even when it seems nearly impossible.
Braces have made a strong start to the Invisalign vs. Braces battle, putting forward their own trump cards, but now let’s see where Invisalign can pull back the fight by looking at the cons of braces.
Weaknesses
- They Don’t Look As Good
This is where Invisalign starts fighting back; braces can stick out like a sore thumb and can therefore sway patients into going for Invisalign instead. It doesn’t bode well for the patient, as part of the reason they’re getting the treatment is due to their unhappiness with their smile.
- Brushing & Flossing
Because braces cannot be removed, it can become difficult to properly clean your teeth. This can become a problem as you have to ensure all the plaque has been removed from around the braces, as this can cause further issues such as decay and staining. If you do end up going with braces, you should ensure you’re following the techniques recommended by your dentist to use to prevent these issues from occurring.
- Diet Prep
You have to be extra careful with what you eat, as you cannot remove the braces like invisalign. Hard foods can cause a breakage in the braces, which can then lead to longer treatment times as you have to see your dentist in order to get them fixed.
- Frequent Visits
With braces, you have to go and see your dentist more often because they have to assess your progress and discuss any concerns you may have. These visits can occur once a month, so keep that in mind before making a decision about which path you want to take.
Braces have taken a hit here, with Invisalign exposing their weaknesses in comparison to themselves. Braces have risen up and are back on their feet. Now we get to see what trump cards Invisalign has in this battle for the top spot.
Invisalign
The newcomer is here, and now we will see what this young and upcoming star has to offer in this battle. We will also assess the aspects where braces have the upper hand. Let’s begin with Invisalign’s strengths…
Strengths
- Aesthetically Pleasing
Patients won’t have to worry about having train tracks in their mouth carrying out this process, as Invisalign is fully removable and almost invisible. This is a major trump card for Invisalign, as there’s simply nothing else that comes close to this level of discreetness.
- Eat What You Like
Another major strength of Invisalign is its ability to give the patient full freedom in what they eat, as you remove them when you eat. Of course, that doesn’t mean eating chocolate for 3 meals a day, as it won’t protect your oral health in that aspect. Therefore, eating harder foods is possible, but with precaution.
- Comfortable
Invisalign is designed to fit snug around your teeth structure throughout the whole treatment process, so you have the reassurance of having comfort with all the teeth straightening benefits.
- Fewer Trips To The Clinic
You can also expect to visit the dentist on fewer occasions, as your whole treatment plan is given to you through the post. This package will ensure you can complete the treatment without visiting the clinic at all. However, your dentist will want to know how you’re getting on, so you will still be asked to visit them during the treatment process.
- Easy Brushing & Flossing
Because they’re fully removable, it then becomes easy to brush your teeth. Therefore, it would be the regular routine of brushing and flossing as normal.
Some big trump cards played by Invisalign there; is there anyway back for braces in this Invisalign vs. Braces battle? Let’s see the fightback from braces…
Weaknesses
- Costly
Despite all the great things about Invisalign, it can be a more costly procedure than braces. This is because of all the technology used to create the perfect treatment plan for you. The 3D scanners, partnered with the flexible material from which these braces are made, make the cost very similar in most cases.
- Discipline Is Required
With braces, you just leave them in your mouth the whole time, unless you want more trips to the clinic. But in all seriousness, patients are required to wear their aligners for 22 hours a day, and with the removable aligners, for some patients, it can be too much.
- Limitations
Like I mentioned earlier, Invisalign has limitations in what it can and can’t fix, which is a reason why braces stand out in this situation. However, Invisalign has been proven to work its magic in severe situations, but braces soar ahead due to its no limitation capabilities.
- Removal Of The Aligners
What can be quite tedious for patients using Invisalign is that they have to remove their aligners whenever eating anything or drinking anything other than water. If you eat anything or drink something other than water, you must brush your teeth because you can end up damaging and staining your aligners if you don’t.
A big fightback at the end came from braces in the Invisalign vs. Braces battle. But who comes out victorious?
For me, it depends on the patient’s situation and what they feel most comfortable committing to. Furthermore, following everyone else won’t do you any good; you need to weigh up what you can and can’t do, as well as what you do and don’t like, and make a decision from there. Of course, you also have to factor in how severe your case is, but your dentist will be able to steer you in the right direction.
So in the battle on Invisalign vs. Braces, it’s gone to a unanimous decision, and it’s been declared a draw!
A great matchup that I’m sure will be talked about for decades to come.
If you’re torn about which one will work for you best, click the here to speak to me, and we can discuss what’s best for you!