Invisalign vs. Metal Braces

Invisalign and metal braces enter the orthodontics arena, but which one will arise as the best treatment method? Braces have come in many different forms and advancements over the years, eventually settling on the traditional wires and brackets we’ve come to tolerate. Invisalign, on the other hand, has worked hard to take all the negative attributes of braces and subvert them. Let’s compare Invisalign vs. traditional metal braces, and see who comes out as victor…

(Un)comfortable wearing

One of the most well-known attributes of braces is the pain and discomfort they cause. Because of their fixed nature, they relentlessly pull and tug on your teeth to drive them into a more aligned position. Through glued-down brackets and wires, they begin their rather harsh treatment of your treatment almost from day one. Even your mouth’s soft tissues suffer, with the wires and brackets brushing against them and irritating them. Comparatively, Invisalign is far more comfortable than traditional braces because they use very gradual forces to guide your teeth into position. Your Invisalign aligners are custom-made for your teeth and you get a new set every few weeks, ushering them into position at a pace to suit you rather than stubbornly pushing and pulling like braces.

Duration of treatment

Traditional braces notoriously take a few years to achieve their optimum results. These aren’t an uninterrupted few years, however, as readjustments will need to be carried out by your dentist. Teens are known to shy away from braces because they don’t want to still be receiving treatment during university, wanting straight teeth but not wanting years of uncomfortable commitment to achieve them. Invisalign, on the other hand, has an average treatment time of 9-15 months! A far shorter treatment time than most traditional brace cases, which a lot of patients tend to be very excited about.

Appearance and aesthetics

You obviously don’t need us to tell you what traditional braces look like. They’re metal, bulky, cumbersome, and just so there when you smile. A lot of patients feel self-conscious when they smile, and this feeling is doubled when worrying about wayward food debris becoming stuck in between wires and brackets. Invisalign side steps both of these worries first in its material, and then in its functionality. Invisalign is made of a clear and durable plastic that is virtually invisible when worn. They fit over your teeth like a more delicate and discrete and mouth guard, so your natural tooth colour shows through. This plastic is smooth and contoured and comes in one piece, so there are no uncomfortable surfaces to cause friction.

(Un)fixed solutions

Traditional braces are fused to your teeth using a strong dental adhesive and the brackets are strung together on a tough wire. Sounds uncomfortable, unsightly, and decidedly unflexible, right? Fixed braces limit a lot of lifestyle choices, including your freedom to pick whatever you like from the menu. Limiting your diet choices is not something you’d have to consider when undergoing treatment with Invisalign. Because Invisalign is removable, there’s no need to miss out on your favourite foods or ignore certain dishes on date night. Simply remove your aligner to eat and then, once you’re done, give your teeth a quick clean and pop it back in. Smiling with braces can feel a little unnatural, but because Invisalign is clear you can grin all you like (or simply take them out, its your call!)

What they treat

You’d be forgiven for doubting Invisalign’s treatment capabilities because of how many negatives they turn into positives about braces, but they’re actually quite effective! Braces address your bite and misalignment, but so do these clear aligners. In fact, Invisalign credit itself as being able to correct overcrowding, an open bite, a cross-bite, gapped teeth, a deep bite, and an underbite. They don’t just give you a great smile, they actually help the way your teeth and jaws fit together.

We think there’s a clear winner as to which brace system is superior, but why not find out for yourself? Enquire online or speak to a member of our staff on 0115 9200571 to find out about Invisalign in Nottingham today with Arnold Dental.