What Is the Difference Between Braces & Invisalign?
Hi I’m Dr. Caley Hoediono and I’m here to respond to a frequently asked question: what is the difference between traditional braces and Invisalign? As an orthodontist, it is my passion to help patients attain the smiles they’ve always dreamed of achieving, with both braces and Invisalign acting as powerful tools towards this end goal. Let’s examine their differences together from my point of view
Traditional Braces
Let’s begin with an age-old solution: traditional braces. Traditional braces consist of metal or ceramic brackets bonded directly onto your teeth connected by wires and rubber bands, providing a less discreet but equally effective means of straightening teeth and correcting bite issues.
Traditional braces offer many advantages over their modern equivalents, including their adaptability. From minor crowding to severe misalignments, traditional braces can address all manner of orthodontic issues. Furthermore, they’re an excellent solution for patients of all ages, from children to adults.
The Invisalign Advantage
Now let’s discuss Invisalign, an innovative alternative to traditional braces. Invisalign uses clear, removable aligners custom-made for each patient to gradually straighten teeth and correct bite issues, virtually unnoticeable when worn.
As an orthodontist, I have witnessed first-hand how transformative Invisalign can be. Patients appreciate its freedom and flexibility; they can eat whatever foods they please without worry, brush and floss regularly with ease, or remove their aligners for special events without worry.
Key Differences Between Braces & Invisalign
Appearance
Traditional braces can be easily identified on your teeth due to brackets and wires being visible. Invisalign aligners offer an alternative, more discreet option and have become popular among those seeking better orthodontic alignment.
Comfort
While both braces and Invisalign may cause some initial discomfort as your teeth adjust, many patients find Invisalign to be more comfortable overall due to its smooth plastic aligners which are less likely to irritate cheeks or gums than metal braces.
Lifestyle
Traditional braces still have their appeal because they’re more “hands off”. In other words, you don’t have to remember to wear them because they’re glued to your teeth. With Invisalign, they have to be worn 22 hours per day, otherwise the teeth won’t move properly.
The Treatment Process
Traditional Braces
With traditional braces, adjustments are performed regularly by an orthodontist while Invisalign requires you to switch out aligners every one to two weeks in your home – both methods require regular checkups with an orthodontist in order to assess progress and make any necessary changes or adjustments as required.
Treatment Time & Progress with Invisalign
On average, treatment times with Invisalign are comparable to traditional braces; however, this will depend on the complexity of your case and whether you comply with your orthodontist’s recommendations.
We take great pride in offering Invisalign as part of our commitment to providing innovative orthodontic technology. It makes your treatment journey as straightforward and effective as possible.
As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth will begin to gently shift into place over time. We typically recommend switching out each week and scheduling check-ups every twelve weeks or so to track your progress and make any necessary adjustments to ensure optimal results.
Care of Your New Smile
Once your Invisalign treatment has come to an end, it’s essential that you maintain your new smile. Ask us about Essix or Vivera retainers; these custom-made retainers use state-of-the-art technology like Invisalign clear aligners to provide comfortable fitting retainers with long-term results.
Schedule Your Appointment Now
To learn more about Invisalign and all your orthodontic treatment options, feel free to schedule a meeting at our office. We look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve a smile that’s built to move!
Dr. Caley Hoediono
Hours
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