Traditional Braces vs Invisalign Aligners
Orthodontic treatments provide both cosmetic and functional benefits to teenagers and adults. The alignment of a patient’s teeth can have serious impacts on not just their oral health but can also prevent issues with jaw pain. That said, many adults do not want to get traditional metal braces. Aesthetically, many patients feel that metal braces ruin their smile. Moreover, metal braces impact your ability to brush and floss and what you can eat. Fortunately, there are other options. Invisalign and other clear aligner treatments can help patients straighten their smiles while being less restrictive or interruptive to their day-to-day routines. In this article, we will cover some of the pros and cons of traditional and Invisalign. For orthodontics treatments in Massachusetts, please contact one of our offices in Peabody, Winthrop, or Newburyport.
Advantages of Invisalign Braces
The main pros of Invisalign are practically in the name. Invisalign aligners are designed to be less visible. For many patients, the fact that metal braces “ruin their smiles” is often one of the core reasons they might not want them. This is true for both adults and teenagers. And it makes sense. As dentists, we see thousands of patients whose main goal in seeing us is in improving how their smiles look. That said, Invisalign has other benefits. Most notably, Invisalign can be removed. That means there is no disruption to your oral care or to your diet. With traditional metal braces you might need to make a few internet searches a week about what you can and cannot eat while you have braces. Moreover, trying to floss around a metal wire can be difficult. With Invisalign aligners it easier to brush and floss daily.
Another great thing about Invisalign is that there are often fewer consultations required. For traditional braces, you have to visit the orthodontics office periodically to have your braces tightened and to get adjustments made. With Invisalign aligners you simple replace one set with the next set as you move through the orthodontic treatment period. This is great for adults who have busy work schedules and might have less available time to make appointments.
What Are The Drawbacks of Invisalign Aligners?
Invisalign aligners are not for everyone. First and foremost, patients need to be extremely disciplined if they are going to use Invisalign. It is important to make sure you are wearing them for 22 hours every single day. If you are constantly taking them off and not putting them back on it can cause the treatment to fail. In fact, the most common reason Invisalign treatments fail is because patients do not follow the recommendations. To that point, the process of taking out your aligners can also be a stumbling block for some people. Whenever you take out your aligners to eat you will need to brush your teeth before putting the aligners back in. Otherwise, food particles will be stuck between your Invisalign aligners and your teeth which can lead to cavities.
Another thing to consider is whether or not Invisalign is the right choice for your orthodontic needs. If you have a complex orthodontic case, your orthodontist might not recommend Invisalign in the first place. Invisalign is most effective in making small moderate changes to the alignment of your smile and is often not recommended for more complex issues.
Invisalign Treatments in Massachusetts
Varinos Dental Associates has three dental offices in Newburyport, Winthrop, and Peabody. If you are interested in setting up a consultation to discuss orthodontic treatments like Invisalign, please click below or give one of our offices a call.
