Braces Vs. Invisalign

At Blooming Smiles family dentistry in Northridge & Woodland Hills, CA, our expert orthodontists and staff are proud to offer state-of-the-art orthodontic appliances - such as traditional metal braces and Invisalign clear aligners - to all of our patients who are in need of a straighter smile! Having crooked or misaligned teeth not only has a negative effect on your self-esteem, but it also makes taking care of your teeth properly much more difficult. With years of in-depth experience providing patients of all ages with their dream smile, our dental team only utilizes the most advanced orthodontic procedures for your individual needs; creating a treatment plan that’s perfectly tailored to you!

While wearing traditional metal braces has been the most common way to straighten teeth for years, metal braces tend to be clunky, slightly uncomfortable, and sometimes downright painful to wear. As some people need braces to fix crooked teeth later in life, wearing highly-noticeable metal braces is not always the best treatment plan to best suit a teenage or adult lifestyle. Thankfully, modern technology has given us a barely noticeable alternative: Invisalign! Below, our dental professionals weigh in on the pros and cons of Invisalign vs. traditional metal braces, allowing you to make a more informed decision for your orthodontic treatment plan here at Blooming Smiles!

Physical Appearance

While traditional metal braces are a more economical choice, they tend to cause the cosmetic appearance of your mouth to look noticeably abnormal. As metal or ceramic brackets cover a large portion of the surface area of your teeth, they allow food particles to get stuck in between the braces and the teeth; sometimes without even noticing! Using a great deal of force to straighten the teeth, these types of braces can easily cause bacteria build-up that leads to demineralization and cavities.

With Invisalign clear aligners, those problems are non-existent. Choosing Invisalign lets the wearer feel more confident in their braces, as they oftentimes aren’t noticeable at all. Made with 3D printed thermoplastic material, Invisalign braces are virtually invisible.

Comfort

Once traditional metal braces are glued into place, they cannot be removed until the recommended duration of time has been completed. Also, it takes a separate appointment and one of our professional dentists to remove the glued-in metal braces from the teeth and mouth. Invisalign braces are completely removable by the wearer, making it easier to eat or drink without them for short periods of time.

Additionally, metal or ceramic braces contain wire and protruding bits of metal that can puncture or scratch the insides of the mouth. On the contrary, Invisalign braces are soft and smooth trays made of 3D printed thermoplastics. With the ability to remove them at any time, Invisalign wearers can ensure that their teeth are kept healthy and clean at all times. As a whole, Invisalign clear aligners are less impactful on the mouth and teeth.

Duration Of Treatment Period

Some wearers of traditional metal braces have to keep them glued in for nearly five years for proper straightening to occur. Invisalign treatments can hit their targeted straightening goal in as little as one year.

Knowing What To Expect

Getting metal braces can sometimes be a trial and error process with no discernible date that they can be removed. With Invisalign, that’s a thing of the past! Beginning with a smile scan, Invisalign patients know exactly what to expect from the moment their scan is complete. Invisalign’s iTeroElement® Scanner provides immediate, comprehensive knowledge of the condition of their mouth, and how long the treatment plan will take to straighten their teeth.

Pros Of Invisalign

• Clear aligners make Invisalign a virtually invisible orthodontic treatment.
• You have the ability to easily remove your aligners.
• Invisalign allows for seamless brushing and flossing.
• You can eat whatever you want.
  

Cons Of Invisalign

• Aligners need to be frequently cleaned to prevent food or anything acidic from getting trapped inside.
• Treatment won’t work unless you wear your aligners for 22 hours a day.
• Invisalign doesn’t always work on more complicated orthodontic problems.
  

Pros Of Traditional Metal or Ceramic Braces

• Metal braces are an effective and proven treatment method.
• Several different types of braces, such as ceramic braces, lingual braces, and metal braces.
• You never have to worry about losing your braces, or not wearing them enough.
• Metal braces are the optimal choice for more complicated orthodontic problems.
  

Cons Of Traditional Metal or Ceramic Braces

• There are foods you should avoid, specifically hard and sticky foods.
• Food can easily get trapped or stuck in between your brackets and teeth.
• Brushing and flossing will take longer than normal.
• Metal braces can be clunky and uncomfortable.
• Metal components of these types of braces can be painful.
  

Call Your Northridge & Woodland Hills, CA Family Dentist For Invisalign Today!

Overall, Invisalign offers many modern advantages over traditional metal braces. With removable trays, no sharp or protruding edges, and accurate treatment time, Invisalign is a great alternative to metal braces if more complicated orthodontic problems aren’t present. Get in touch with Blooming Smiles family dentistry and orthodontics in Northridge or Woodland Hills, LA, today for all of your Invisalign questions or concerns! Regardless of which orthodontic treatment plan you are eligible for, our staff at Blooming Smiles can’t wait to help you achieve the brilliant smile you’ve always dreamed of!