If you want straighter teeth and a more beautiful smile, you might be familiar with two popular teeth-straightening options: Invisalign and traditional braces. While both solutions can effectively move your teeth to an ideal alignment, there are notable differences.
Your dentist will help you decide which alignment treatment is best for you. However, here is a guide outlining the differences between Invisalign and braces so you have a better understanding of your options.
Maintenance
With traditional metal braces, your dentist or orthodontist will permanently attach them to your teeth. You’ll receive adjustments over frequent appointments so you can achieve the smile you desire.
Alternatively, when you use Invisalign, you’ll get a new aligner every week or two, and you can simply replace it yourself. Each aligner is slightly different than the one before, gently moving your teeth toward a more beautiful smile.
Visibility
If you wear braces for straightening and alignment, the metal pieces and wires on your teeth will be visible to others when you smile and speak.
However, with Invisalign, the clear trays will be nearly invisible on your teeth. When you smile, others might be able to tell that you are using a clear aligner, but because it is transparent, it is much less visible.
Care
Traditional metal braces are attached to your teeth. You cannot take them off to eat, brush, or floss. It’s common for food to get stuck in braces, and you have to brush and floss carefully to clean every area of your teeth and around the braces and wires.
Invisalign aligners can be removed when you eat and when it’s time to clean your teeth. When you brush your teeth, you simply need to clean and rinse your aligners. Overall, oral hygiene is much easier to maintain when using Invisalign.
Comfort
The metal wires and rubber bands that go along with traditional braces are more effective at fixing severely misaligned teeth, but they can be painful in the process. Additionally, the metal braces and wires themselves can rub against and irritate soft tissue like your cheeks.
While you might still feel some discomfort with Invisalign, it should be easier to get used to. And you won’t have metal pieces in your mouth causing pain.
Learn More at Bliss Dental
Schedule a consultation at Bliss Dental to learn more about Invisalign as an option for straightening your teeth and achieving a beautiful smile. We can answer teeth-alignment questions and help you explore your options.