There are different types of braces available, among them, clear aligners have become very popular in recent years. They look natural, take less time to straighten teeth than traditional metal braces and are also removable. But, traditional braces haven’t been thrown away yet. Have you ever wondered why these are still used by many people?
Clear aligners such as Invisalign are preferred by most adults as they do not limit their diet or make them look weird. However, traditional orthodontics or metal braces are considered the gold standard for fixing bite issues or smiles. Although clear aligners are custom-made by using computer technology; the wires, elastics and brackets used in installing traditional braces allow the dentist to have absolute control on tooth movement. For complex issues like deep-bites or under-bites, metal braces work better than invisible braces.
In this writing, the advantages and drawbacks of both methods are discussed briefly.
Braces
Advantages:
Teeth with braces may not look good to you, but these are best to fix severe teeth crowding, underbites, crossbites and overbites. Braces can even move teeth vertically and treat open bites. For moving molars or premolars, no other treatment is yet invented. Also, to straighten the teeth of people below 13 years, metal braces are a must as their jaws grow and dental keeps changing.
Drawbacks:
To most people, braces feel discomforting and irritating. They also restrict diet as tough or sticky foods can get stuck in the brackets and damage them. Another con is, that maintaining oral hygiene becomes difficult with braces. Having metal or ceramic braces requires more frequent visits to the dental clinic. Young adults are wary of aesthetic reasons too.
Treatment Time:
Usually, braces take 18 months to 3 years to be completely done.
Clear Aligners
Advantages:
Clear aligners or Invisalign are clear plastics and not easily visible, that’s why they are mainly preferred. These are easily removable and do not affect diet or oral hygiene routine. They can fix moderate crowding and unusual gaps between teeth without bothering much. You can check out some overbite Invisalign before and after pictures online before finalising your decision on if you want to have this treatment done. Even fewer dental follow-ups are required.
Drawbacks:
Aligners need to be switched every two weeks. Such switching can cause discomfort. Also, to get the treatment successfully done, following the dentist’s instructions properly is mandatory. Not wearing aligners for too long, too frequently removing or not changing on time slow down the treatment. In case of complex aligning issues, braces work far better than Invisalign. Another drawback is, that aligners are not suitable for children as their jaws grow during the treatment but all the aligners are made at the very beginning of the treatment.
Treatment Time:
Typically, Invisalign takes 12 to 18 months for fixing teeth. But depending on how accurately the instructions are followed, this can take a longer period for some patients.
Conclusion
From the above discussion it is clear that, in the metal braces vs Invisalign comparison, none is the clear winner. Each treatment has its advantages and disadvantages. While traditional braces are best for complex bite alignment, Invisalign is considered better for aesthetic purpose and removable technology. Feel free to contact Next Generation Dental to learn more about these treatments. Our expert dentists do both and also conduct a consultation session first to help you make your decision on which treatment would be most suitable for your condition. Make sure to make an appointment before arriving.
