Invisalign vs. Braces

Convenience

Orthodontic appliances fall into two broad categories of fixed and removable. Invisalign is a removable orthodontic appliance. That simply means in contrast to braces, patients can remove their Invisalign whenever they want. As a result, aligners are typically more convenient.

For example, when you have braces, you should avoid certain foods to prevent damage to your braces and wires. (Sturdy bread, tough meat, or hard candies can cause the wires to bend or the brackets to pop out of their place.) However, when you have Invisalign, you can simply take your aligners off and eat whatever you crave for.

Another example is brushing with braces vs. Invisalign. With braces, you would need to have specific toothbrushes and dental floss threaders. You would also need to learn new brushing techniques to clean your teeth and braces properly. With clear aligners, you don’t need any of that, as you can simply remove your Invisalign aligners and brush and floss the way you usually do.

Compliance

Freedom always comes with responsibility. Invisalign Patients have total control over their aligner use. They can literally remove their aligners whenever they want. But they shouldn’t! Aligners need to be worn 22 hours per day to work correctly. Invisalign patients need to take this responsibility; otherwise, the treatment may not proceed as planned. A common mistake is to remove the aligners whenever the teeth get tender due to movement. Similarly, it is not very unusual to forget putting the aligners back on after you remove them. Overall, success with Invisalign depends highly on the compliance and discipline form the patient’s side. Braces, however, are affixed to the teeth and keep working consistently. Still, a patient’s compliance matters even with braces as patients need to keep their teeth and braces clean and in good shape.

Some believe clear aligners are not suitable for teenagers as they are generally not disciplined. This is not necessarily the case. Teenagers, when highly motivated for their treatment, can be very disciplined and compliant with their aligners. At Elara Orthodontics, we have found responsible and compliant patients in both age groups.

Frequency and Length of the Office Appointments

When you have braces, you need to be seen at the orthodontist office on a regular basis. The appointment intervals are most commonly set as 4 or 6 weeks. In contrast, when you have Invisalign, you do most of the work yourself at home by changing your aligners and moving forward with your aligners set. As such, you can see your orthodontist less frequently. It is still imperative to be under the care of the orthodontist to ensure everything is working correctly. Nevertheless, you can stretch the time between appointment to 3-4 months or even longer intervals that your orthodontist decides to be safe. Moreover, the time you need to sit on the dental chair for your adjustment appointments is usually shorter with Invisalign aligners.