Braces vs Invisalign Orthodontic Treatment

The common question that is being asked by most of my patients is which treatment choice is better for straightening teeth Invisaligh or conventional braces?

The answer to this question is based on number of parameters that need discussion. First of all, I would like to give a brief overview of both treatment methods and then we will shed light on the pros and cons of each method. 

Braces consist of either visible metallic or less visible nonmetallic (polycrystalline, monocrystalline, polycarbonate, ceramic with metal slots etc.) brackets that are glued to your teeth individually and are secured together through arch wires and elastomeric bands. These are fixed and cannot be removed on patient's choice. 

On the other hand, Invisalign consists of series of aligners (plastic trays) which are removable and nearly invisible. On your initial visit to an orthodontist, impressions and pictures of your teeth and gums are taken and sent to the Align's dental laboratory. The Align laboratory uses CAD/CAM technology (computer aided design/computer aided manufacture) to fabricate the series of aligners. These trays are advised to be worn for 24 hours a day except for meal times to be effective. They will work by slowly and subtly moving the teeth with each new tray providing better results. 

Here are the few major differences between braces and Invisalign for straightening teeth:

Braces	vs	Invisalign
Fixed appliances, cannot removed by patient	Versatility	Clear/ nearly Invisible, can be removed by patient on sensitive occasions
24/7 for an average of 2 years  depending on patient’s severity of crooked teeth	Wearing time	22-24 hrs/day for 12-18 months
Metallic braces are comparatively cheaper	Cost	Comparatively expensive
Brushing brackets and wires by inter-dental tooth brush and superfloss is recommended; water pick may be helpful.	Oral hygiene maintenance	Brushing teeth without trays in mouth. Invisalign cleaning system or dipping trays in warm water.
Every three to four weeks	Follow up visits	Change aligner trays every two weeks; visits every four to six weeks
Retainer likely needed for minimum of 1 year depending on patient needs. Later, ongoing retainer wear  only at night	Retainer after treatment	Retainer likely needed for minimum of 1 year depending on patient needs. Later, ongoing retainer wear  only at night

Although, Invisalign attracts a lot of patients due to its less visible quality, it is not suited for every candidate. It is limited in terms of treating complex malocclusion cases where traditional braces are more effective. However, it is ideal for adults who have mild to moderate malocclusion. It also offers other advantages of being less invasive, easy to remove and wear, no issues with food getting caught between wires and brackets, less pain and easy to clean. Nowadays, Invisalign offers versatility in providing treatment to teenagers in whom teeth are in the process of eruption (Invisalign Teen). These aligners have eruption tabs that guide or allow the teeth to erupt as well as compliance buttons that determine the wearing time of teenager children. 

The traditional braces may look worse and non-attractive but they are more effective for complex and difficult cases. They are fixed appliances so chances of leaving them out is not possible and hence they give better results without patient's compliance. However, you may feel pain or discomfort from wires and brackets on initial visits that can be relieved by simple painkillers. Other disadvantages could be breakage of brackets on eating hard and sticky food stuff and hence particular attention has to be given on food items. In addition, there may be more chances of white spot lesions or tooth discoloration after braces removal if proper oral hygiene measures are not taken during the treatment.

The bottom line is: Whatever treatment is chosen for your teeth, it is important to strictly adhere to the guidelines or instructions provided by your orthodontist.

For any further questions or comments, you are most welcome!

Cheers,

Dr. Aisha Khoja