Clear Aligners vs Braces – What's Best for Your Teeth Straightening?

Contents hide

1 Clear Aligners Vs Braces: The Pros And Cons

1.1 Traditional Braces

2 Clear Aligners Vs Braces: What’s Best For You?

2.1 References

Straight teeth are important for you to be able to bite and chew your food, for facial harmony, for oral hygiene and of course, to contribute to a beautiful smile. And, if you’ve been told you need orthodontic treatment, you probably want to know about the pros and cons of braces and clear aligners like Invisalign. Let’s compare the pros and cons of clear aligners vs braces.

Clear Aligners Vs Braces: The Pros And Cons

Traditional Braces

For many decades, metal braces have provided orthodontic treatment and teeth straightening for millions of people. Traditional orthodontics are restrictive, in terms of the type of food you can eat, and the fact that they can’t be removed until the end of your treatment. Even though they have improved, many patients find them uncomfortable.

Pros

They straighten crooked teeth
They are suitable for complex straightening and bite correction
You can wear them while drinking beverages that could stain clear aligners

Cons

Your braces can’t come off until you have finished treatment
They cause discomfort in your mouth
You’ll have food restrictions during your treatment with braces
You will visit your orthodontist regularly to have your braces adjusted, and you can expect a period of discomfort after each adjustment
They can cause tooth discolouration, or a difference in tooth colour between the tooth surface that was exposed and the tooth surface below the metal bracket.

Clear Aligners

Aligners, under the brand name Invisalign, fit over the front of your teeth like a mouthguard. As the name ‘Invisalign’ suggests, the aligners are almost see-through and imperceptible to other people unless they are very close. They require strict discipline and maturity to be successful.

Pros

Aligners have a neat, almost invisible appearance. From a distance, they can’t really be seen
They are more comfortable than braces, which can cut gums and cheeks
They can be removed for brushing and flossing, which makes oral hygiene much easier
You don’t have food restrictions because you remove clear aligners for eating and drinking
You won’t need to visit your orthodontist as often, because instead of having adjustments, you swap your aligners for a new set every two weeks.

Cons

They don’t work for complex teeth straightening and bite correction. They are best suited for mild to moderate straightening
They require meticulous oral hygiene standards to keep them in good shape
You must make sure you wear them for at least 22 hours a day. If you don’t wear your aligners for long enough, you will not meet your teeth straightening milestones.

Clear Aligners Vs Braces: What’s Best For You?

Your dentist will perform a thorough consultation to assess how complex your orthodontic needs are. He’ll prepare a treatment plan and cost estimate, weighing up the pros and cons of clear aligners vs braces, according to your lifestyle needs. If you’d like a convenient, discreet solution like Invisalign, clear aligners could be the right choice for you.

The only way to find out if Invisalign can work for you is to make an appointment for a consultation. Please call us: (02) 8806 0578.