A beautiful smile adds a lot to your overall appearance but it becomes pretty bothersome when your teeth seem to have other plans. Well, there’s the Invisalign treatment, but is it the best option for you or your child when it comes to Invisalign vs braces?
Your teeth may be overcrowded, have gaps or be misaligned rather than straight. As such, if you’re thinking of straightening your teeth or fixing your teeth problems—great idea! You get to show those teeth who’s boss.
Now you may be wondering how to go about this much-desired perfect smile. “To brace or not to brace”, that’s the question. But if you choose “not to brace”, what other option is available?
This is where we come in. We’ve created this easy guide to help you come to a well-informed decision because how do you know if you need Invisalign treatment or braces!
Nonetheless, no matter your choice, your orthodontic treatment is the most important part of achieving a perfect smile. At Knight Street Dentists, we are here to ensure that you can wear your best smile like a crown fit for royalty.
What is Invisalign?
We’re familiar with braces as the common method for aligning teeth and here we will talk about Invisalign vs braces. So what exactly is Invisalign?
Invisalign treatment uses customised transparent plastic aligners to straighten your teeth. It’s the equivalent of saying “invisible alignment”. These aligners are made to move the teeth little by little until the correct position is achieved.
Invisalign Vs Braces
Now let’s compare Invisalign vs braces, looking at some of the pros and cons:
Appearance
Invisalign treatment is almost unnoticeable, while braces can be seen even a few steps away. Wouldn’t it be great to go through orthodontic treatment without everyone knowing about it?
So on that note, the Invisalign treatment is perfect for your self-conscious teenager. And it’s a great professional look for working grown-ups.
Nevertheless, some kids like picking out colourful rubber bands for their braces. This would be impossible with Invisalign treatment.
Comfort and Convenience
Invisalign is comfortable and easy to wear. It applies less pressure to your teeth than braces.
For convenience, braces are fixed permanently for the duration of the treatment. So you have to wear them all day, every day. This permanent bonding allows for consistent improvement.
Invisalign treatment, on the other hand, is removable. In fact, you’re supposed to take off the Invisalign when you want to eat or drink anything other than water. But you must ensure that your Invisalign stays on for 20-22 hours.
However, it’s easy to forget to put the Invisalign back on and to take it off before eating. Such mistakes can slow down your progress or cause cavities when food particles lodge inside the Invisalign.
Cleaning
With braces, you can brush or floss normally. But if food particles get stuck in-between metals, you need a smaller brush.
For Invisalign, you need to remove the tray and clean it separately, making sure no food particle remains. It helps to rinse with warm water, or you can use an Invisalign cleaning solution.
Length of time for treatment
Braces stay on longer as the treatment covers 1-3 years, depending on the case. Invisalign treatment, on the other hand, takes a shorter time covering a period of 6 months to 2 years, depending on the issue.
Orthodontist Visits
For braces, you have to see your orthodontist every month. But with Invisalign treatment, you can pay a visit to your Invisalign dentist once every 4 – 6 weeks.
Cost
Invisalign treatment can sometimes be costlier than braces, but they’re worth it. It typically costs between $2,500-$9,000, while braces cost between $1,700-$8,000.
Effectiveness
Both treatment types are very effective. But the downside to Invisalign is that it may not be suitable for certain kinds of issues. Braces, on the other hand, can be used for more severe or complex cases.
How to Know if You Need Invisalign
Invisalign treatment is perfect for you if:
- Your case is simple. Invisalign is used to treat simple cases of crooked teeth, overbite or underbite, teeth that stick out, and gaps between your teeth.
- You will remember to keep them on for the prescribed number of hours, and you’ll be careful to follow eating and cleaning instructions.
- You have, and maintain, good oral hygiene. This is because using Invisalign requires extra care for the trays.
- You don’t smoke. Generally, smoking is bad for your health. However, it will especially affect the effectiveness of the Invisalign treatment.
If you would like to know more about if you can use Invisalign, you can request an appointment with our Invisalign dentists. Our Invisalign dentists at Knight Street Dentists are highly qualified and open to answering your questions.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign works by using transparent braces called aligners. Your Invisalign dentist at Knight Street Dentists sculpts these aligners from computer-generated impressions of your mouth from time to time. They are then used to change the position of your teeth little by little. As a result, your teeth are gradually pushed into their new place.
The treatment might require as little as 12 trays to as many as 48 trays.
Drinking Whiskey With Invisalign
The answer to if you can drink whiskey with Invisalign is no. This is because most alcoholic beverages contain sugar which can stain or damage the Invisalign trays. If you really must drink alcohol, it’s better to take clear drinks like vodka or gin. Even at that, you must be careful to remove the trays before drinking them.
You can also use a straw to get the alcoholic drink straight into your mouth. However, it’s nearly impossible to altogether avoid contact with the teeth and aligners. You should also drink plenty of water to rinse out sugar and stains.
Generally, it is best to avoid alcohol during the duration of your treatment.
Can Invisalign Close Gaps?
Yes, Invisalign can close gaps within 6mm. Gap teeth create spaces between teeth and gums where food can hide, leading to gum-related problems. Invisalign can close the gap in your teeth depending on the cause and size of the gap. Any gap beyond 6mm cannot be fixed by Invisalign treatment and it may be best to talk to us about braces.
At Knight Street Dentists, we have Invisalign dentists that can help you achieve your desired result.
Can Invisalign Straighten Very Crooked Teeth?
Sadly, no, Invisalign cannot straighten really crooked teeth. It’s more suitable for moderate issues like teeth needing minor alignment or mild crowding. In comparing Invisalign vs braces, the latter is a better option for very crooked teeth.
Bottom Line - Contact the best Invisalign Dentist in Shepparton
Whatever option you prefer between Invisalign vs braces, Knight Street Dentists provides all kinds of top-notch Orthodontic treatments in Shepparton.
And with us, you never have to dread a visit to the dentist. Instead, we make every visit a personal experience that will put you right at home.
So let’s help you straighten your teeth, properly align your jaws or close the gaps between your teeth with treatments customised for you. Let’s help make your laughter freer, more open, and even more beautiful.
At Knight Street Dentists, finding your perfect smile wouldn’t be hard because laughing is all you do when you come here.
Go ahead and contact us today.
