How important is your smile to you? According to the Academy of General Dentistry, 96% of people believe that a smile is important to a person’s appearance.
For a lot of us, a beautiful smile means having straight, aligned teeth. Unfortunately, most of us don’t naturally have straight smiles, which means braces or Invisalign aligners are usually great options to consider when trying to get a smile you love.
But how do you know which option is best for you or your child? Both Invisalign and braces will straighten your teeth, but offer different unique benefits that suit the needs of different patients.
We have outlined below everything you need to know about both options to help you make your decision on whether Invisalign or traditional braces are better for you or your child.
Appearance
We’re all familiar with the appearance of traditional braces. While we’ve come a long way from chunky train-track style braces of the past, many patients prefer the inconspicuous look of Invisalign aligners. Adult and teenage patients in particular love that their peers can’t see that they are undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Functionality
You do not have to wear Invisalign all the time and can remove them when you eat. This means you don’t have to change your diet or the way you eat certain foods. With traditional braces, many people struggle to eat certain foods as they can get caught in the wires and require additional cleaning.
Oral Hygiene
Invisalign can be removed when you brush your teeth, meaning you will not have to alter your oral hygiene routine too much. You can continue to brush and floss as you have always done. With braces, specialized floss threaders and routine dentist visits are required for optimum cleaning.
Comfort
Straightening your teeth can be a pretty uncomfortable experience as the process of shifting the position of teeth can be painful for some patients. However, Invisalign tends to be more comfortable as it applies less pressure to the teeth overall. Braces have sharp edges that can cut the inner lip and tongue, adding additional discomfort if you enjoy sports.
Effectiveness
Both methods are very effective treatments. Braces cannot be removed by patients and therefore are highly effective. Invisalign requires discipline from patients to ensure you wear the aligners for the recommended amount of time to ensure you get the desired effect as quickly as possible.
The Verdict
In short, it ultimately comes down to personal choice. Invisalign is a great option for those of us who want a discreet, efficient and comfortable solution to straightening teeth. If you’ve been considering straightening your smile, give us a call today to schedule a consultation to see which option would be best for you.