Clear Aligners vs Braces - Weighing up your options
27/09/2019
We can often offer you different options for your orthodontic treatment, depending on the complexity of treatment you need.
Each of these options has its benefits and disadvantages.
We can often offer you different options for your orthodontic treatment, depending on the complexity of treatment you need.
Clear Aligners (such as Invisalign)
Constant improvements in digital technology and 3D scanning mean that we can now treat a much wider range of cases with this option.
Benefits include:
- The appliances are barely perceptible. Once in place, your aligners can only be seen under very close scrutiny and are usually undetectable even in selfies!
- Your aligners are removed for eating. This means you can basically eat and drink what you like without worrying about damage to appliances or the teeth.
- Your aligners are removed for cleaning, so it’s much easier for you to brush and floss. This means less risk of tooth staining or gum issues, but it’s still best to commit to good oral hygiene to ensure the best outcome.
- Comfort. Although there is some minor discomfort when the teeth start moving, aligners are contoured closely to your teeth which means less irritation to the soft tissues of the mouth.
Disadvantages:
- You need to wear them consistently for your treatment to progress effectively. We are talking 22 hours per day, removing them only for eating and cleaning throughout your treatment to achieve the desired results.
- It can be a little inconvenient to take your Aligners out for eating when you are out and about.
- Some complex movements may be limited in this style of treatment
Braces
Benefits:
- They are always attached to your teeth so there’s no risk of you losing them or forgetting to wear them.
- They can carry out the full range of complex treatment movements efficiently, which might be the only way to achieve a perfect result in some cases.
Disadvantages:
- Aesthetically braces are noticeable on the teeth, although clear braces can improve this. Many people like to add colours for fun!
- You do need to be careful what you eat during treatment, avoiding chewy and hard foods which can damage your appliances. You should also really cut down on sugary foods and drinks to avoid staining your teeth.
- Cleaning can be more challenging. You will need to spend more time on brushing and flossing to remove food and plaque. Without this there would be increased risks of gum disease and enamel staining.
Treatment Time
How long your treatment will take can be a big factor in your decisions about Orthodontics. However, neither Braces or Clear Aligners are necessarily faster than the other. Each appliance has efficiencies in certain areas. Your Doctor may be able to advise which one would work fastest for you.
Which Option is Best for You?
During your consultation your Orthodontist will discuss appropriate alternatives for your particular case. It’s then up to you decide which treatment type will fit best with your (or your child’s) lifestyle.
Cost
The cost of your treatment will depend on several things including type of treatment and the length of time it would take to achieve. Costs for braces and aligners are usually fairly similar. Following your discussions with your Orthodontist we will provide a quotation that outlines the treatment options available to you and the costs of each.
