Almost everyone has had or seen the Traditional metal braces used widely by Orthodontists. Most people remember the horrible grade school nicknames like “metal-mouth” or “brace-face.” An adult with metal braces can receive odd looks or teasing comments as well. With today’s technology the dental community has welcomed Invisalign braces with open arms. Their almost complete invisibility has allowed teenagers to wear braces without the humiliating psychological and social effects. As well as provided adults the ability to wear braces in many social, business, and professional settings. The following are some simple pros and cons of Traditional braces versus Invisalign braces.
Oral Hygiene and Tooth Decay
Traditional braces are placed directly on the tooth and can have various attachments such as metal bars, small elastics, springs, and bands. These various pieces of traditional braces may catch or hold food and make flossing extremely difficult. Food caught in braces can also cause the patient to have bad breath and can require special cleaning tools that may add to the cost of the braces. People may also be limited to WHAT they can eat. Most are advised to avoid such things as corn on the cob or biting an apple to prevent a metal bracket coming off or bending the metal wire.
If the braces are not thoroughly cleaned on a daily basis, patients can experience decalcification and/or tooth decay. This is often a problem with patients due to the fact that both cause discoloration of tooth enamel and may require tooth whitening or dental fillings. These can be bothersome if they are on the front teeth and can range from mild to severe depending on the oral hygiene of the patient.
Invisalign aligners are removable and allow for normal eating, brushing, and flossing while in treatment. In our practice, we have seen a marked decrease in the amount of dental decay due to this simple feature. It is required that the aligners are worn for at least 20 hours per day, allowing 4 hours for regular eating and cleaning without the retainers. The aligners are not made to be worn while eating and thus will not cause a patient to avoid eating any type of food.
Comfort
Traditional braces can be painful due to the sharp or pointy edges of the brackets or wires. Bracket wax is often recommended to avoid sores or cuts on the inside of the cheeks or lips. These can decrease over time as the patient’s tissues “toughen up” or become accustomed to the metal braces.
Invisalign aligners have smooth, comfortable edges and do not cause tissue irritation in nearly all patients. Invisalign aligners also don’t require any extra materials or time when wearing them.
Length of Treatment
Traditional Braces treatment varies based on the severity of the case. Patients with severe crowding, rotated teeth, or teeth that cannot erupt into the mouth due to lack of space will have a much longer treatment time compared to those with minor to moderate crowding. Typical length of time is an average of 2 years.
Invisalign braces are slightly different. The length of treatment is based on the number of trays the patient will need to wear in order to achieve the straight smile they desire. Each tray is worn for 2 weeks and then replaced with the next set of trays worn for 2 weeks, and so forth. Depending on the type of tooth crowding, Invisalign will decide how many trays it will take to move the teeth, via computer technology. Simple cases are typically 4 to 6 months in length. Severe cases of crowding can extend up to 12 months or more. Average length of time is typically 10 to 12 months for Invisalign treatment.
Other Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign provides the dental office a computer simulation of the patient’s alignment that the patient is able to view, approve of, or change based on the desired final results. The visual progression of the treatment allows patients to see the before and after of their treatment, as well as educates the patient of the entire process. The ability to view the final result also increases the motivation of the patient to properly follow instructions and wear the aligners as recommended.
Invisalign aligners can also be used as whitening trays during treatment. This provides all our patient’s the ability to synchronize the whitening and straightening of their teeth for a perfect smile at the end of treatment. The cosmetic benefits Invisalign aligners offer are astounding!
Invisalign aligners can be used as a retainer at the end of treatment. The last aligner is used to perfect the treatment and is recommended to be kept and used as a retainer once treatment is completed. The clear aligner is much more user-friendly than the traditional retainer with a metal wire across the front of the teeth.
We are proud to offer Invisalign to all our patients and welcome new patients interested to schedule a FREE Invisalign Consultation. We offer various financing options based on each patient’s treatment and custom limitations. Please call our Salt Lake City Invisalign Office at 801-355-2202 and check out our website to learn more about our office and excellent staff. We look forward to meeting you!
Duke Dental 