Metal Braces vs Invisalign: How to Choose

Have you decided that straight teeth are the way to go? Not a bad decision! A perfectly aligned set of teeth will definitely give you a beautiful smile! But not only that – straightened teeth also restores optimal chewing and speech efficiency. Most importantly, optimally aligned teeth are easier to clean. Hence, minimising the chances of teeth cavities and gum issues. So now, you need to make a decision on how to achieve this goal. Braces or Invisalign. Both are great choices but it depends on your preferences!

Benefits of Traditional Metal Braces

• Better for more severe cases – Mild to moderate teeth alignment problems can be treated with other options other than the conventional metal choice. But aligners are not a good option for teeth that are rotated. It would not be easy for Invisalign braces to grip onto and align cylindrical or rounded bicuspids. But traditional braces have no problem with repositioning such teeth correctly, plus they can grip onto the tooth without slipping.
• Better patient compliance – Sometimes, people wearing braces complain that they can’t take them out. This presents a problem with cleaning the teeth. But if braces are removable, cleaning the teeth will be a lot more convenient. Taking into consideration the duration required to straighten teeth, removable braces will interrupt the process even with just a day or two of removal. This affects the final outcome of the treatment. Do you know that parents prefer traditional braces for straightening their children’s teeth since they cannot be removed? Adults who cannot wear Invisalign trays always find traditional braces to be more convenient.
• Traditional braces fix the whole tooth – Unlike Invisalign trays which put pressure on the tooth around the top part alone, traditional braces apply all-round pressure on the entire tooth. They reposition the tooth correctly from top to bottom from the root
• The metal option has stood the test of time – For centuries, braces have been good at treating several periodontal problems. Granted, they don’t have the appearance of modern-day metal braces, but they’ve been quite effective. A lot of people today who have crooked, twisted, or overlapped teeth still choose the traditional method.

What makes Invisalign great?

• A beautiful appearance – When it comes to traditional braces vs Invisalign, the former gives a rather metallic and not-so-pretty appearance to your smile. However, Invisalign trays are nearly invisible since they are designed with a clear, customised thermoplastic material. This makes them hardly noticeable. So, if you desire an inconspicuous teeth-straightening treatment, go for Invisalign
• Easy to remove – With traditional braces, teeth cleaning, especially food particles caught in the metal becomes difficult. But Invisalign eliminates this problem as you can simply remove them to brush and floss, and wear them again. Bear in mind that removing your Invisalign trays can slow down the teeth-straightening process; reducing the efficacy. So, be cautious of this fact.
• Freedom to eat anything – Certain kind of foods, including sticky, brittle, hard, and chewy foods cannot be eaten with traditional braces. This is because particles of food can get stuck in the metal. You may not be able to cope with the numerous meal restrictions that come with braces. So, you can go for Invisalign. All that is required of you is to remove them, eat whatever you want, clean your teeth thoroughly, and put them back on again.
• More comfort – Although these two teeth-straightening options have some discomfort, the one from Invisalign is lesser. How? In straightening your teeth, there is a constant exertion of pressure from either the braces or Invisalign aligners on your teeth while pushing them into the right position. Unlike the metal option, Invisalign aligners exert a more gentle pressure when pushing against your teeth. This makes it more comfortable and eliminates the risk of getting your gum cut as they impact smoothly against your gums.