Invisalign vs. Braces: Which is Best for You?

Deciding to straighten your smile is an important step, not only for your appearance but also for your oral health. For example, if you have crooked or crowded teeth, it can be difficult to brush each tooth properly, leading to cavities, decay, and gum disease. Fixing your teeth can also help with your overall health. An incorrectly aligned bite can be related to jaw aches, headaches, and digestive issues. No matter your reason for dental alterations, it’s time to weigh the pros and cons of Invisalign vs. braces. At Pennsylvania Center for Dental Excellence, Dr. Christine Han, DMD, and her staff can assist with this decision by conducting an examination and explaining your options to you.

Getting Started 

Similarity

At Pennsylvania Center for Dental Excellence, we can help you to determine how severe your case is, how long you will need to wear the Invisalign aligners, and how much treatment will cost. For both Invisalign and braces, you have follow-ups where you come back to the office so the dentist or orthodontist can review your progress. 

Difference

During the Invisalign consultation, your dentist will take impressions of your bite, creating a 3-D scan. With this, they will then create multiple sets of clear aligners. Getting traditional braces requires you to sit in the chair and have the dentist place one bracket at a time on each tooth before running the metal wire through them. With Invisalign you just pick up the trays and pop them in yourself!  Follow-ups for braces occur each month, so that the orthodontist can tighten the brackets on your teeth. With Invisalign you can change the trays yourself at home. This tends to result in much less time spent at appointments.

Oral Hygiene

Similarity

With proper oral hygiene, your teeth will remain in good condition. That includes brushing and flossing twice a day and maintaining semiannual cleanings with your regular dentist.

Difference

Brushing around braces can be a challenge. The metal wires can also prevent proper flossing since they bar the floss from going up the entire length of your teeth. Issues with oral hygiene can lead to tooth and gum infections, decay, and calcium deficiency under weakened tooth enamel. On the other hand, Invisalign trays are removable. You are able to brush your teeth as usual, not to mention enjoy all your favorite foods that are off-limits with braces, from hard candies to sticky gum. 

Treatment Time and Success Rate

Similarity

If you require minor tooth movements to get you to your desired look, both braces and Invisalign can get the job done. Both can straighten slightly twisted teeth, fix little gaps, and improve your confidence.

Difference

The complexity of your case may determine whether you need Invisalign or braces. It’s best to consult with your dentist about the progress you need to make. For instance, Invisalign may not work in the following cases:

• For younger children who still have baby teeth
• Adults or children who have more significant gaps from a pulled tooth or naturally excessive spacing
• Those who have intrusive teeth that are shorter than surrounding teeth
• Those with extrusive teeth that hang lower than the others

Dentists may not recommend clear aligners for those who need significantly more work done. Severe cases require braces with their irremovable bonding and sturdiness. The success rate of braces makes them the reliable choice between the two in these cases. However, treatment time for braces ranges between one to three years, while Invisalign treatment can last between six months and two years. Shorter treatment lengths usually encourage those with fewer complications to turn to Invisalign.

Pennsylvania Center for Dental Excellence

The road to understanding Invisalign vs. braces doesn’t stop here. To learn more about the differences between the two, whether dental insurance will cover your procedure, and which choice will get you the smile you desire, count on us. The Pennsylvania Center for Dental Excellence team will walk you through the pros and cons of Invisalign vs. braces. Begin by calling 215-969-4400 today!