Over the years, invisible braces have become the optimum solution for all dental alignment issues. Their biggest strength is the convenience that they provide. Even though conventional metal braces are in place for decades, there is an issue with long treatment time and poor aesthetics of traditional braces. On the contrary, invisible aligners have easily fixed these challenges. This has improved life of dental patients all over the world.
In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of invisible braces. This will help you to decide if it’s the most beneficial dental treatment for you.
Pros of Invisible Braces
Conventional braces are a highly popular choice for teeth straightening. However, there is a new and relatively better option available in the form of Invisalign braces. Clear aligners have been gaining popularity due to their advantage over conventional braces. Given below are some of the benefits of Invisalign that will make you rethink if you plan to get conventional metal braces.
Discreet appearance
The biggest advantage of Invisalign braces is their discreet appearance. The plastic aligners are invisible. As a result, it makes invisible braces for teeth an excellent choice for individuals that tend to be self-conscious for wearing braces. This is also true for adults as they might feel uncomfortable to wear conventional braces for attending social or professional events.
Low levels of discomfort and pain
Invisalign braces do not use wires or metal brackets like conventional braces. This means less discomfort because aligners are relatively less likely for causing sores or irritation in the mouth. Plastic aligners are comfortable as there is no wire poking from brackets. If you are looking for invisible braces for teeth, Invisalign can be the best choice.
Improvement for dental health
It is difficult to maintain oral hygiene with conventional braces. The wires and brackets tend to make it difficult for proper cleaning of teeth. Moreover, food gets easily trapped in them. With Invisalign aligners, it is much easier to remove trays. This makes it easy for the purpose of brushing and flossing. Moreover, it leads to improvement in oral health and also reduces the risk of cavities and gum disease.
Quicker and improved results
In comparison to conventional braces, Invisalign braces tend to work comparatively faster. The team of treatment with Invisalign braces is almost 18 months in comparison to conventional braces, which takes almost three years. Invisalign aligners focus on using a system of digital scanning for creating a treatment plan. The imaging technology illustrates exactly how a teeth moves during a dental treatment stage. This means the end result is highly predictable.
Cons of Invisible Braces
Similar to other forms of dental treatment, it is essential to consider limitations or disadvantages of Invisalign before deciding if they are an optimum choice for you. Switch to conventional braces if you are looking for best Invisalign alternative. Some of the cons of wearing Invisalign braces are as follows:
High cost of invisible braces
One of the biggest drawback of Invisalign is their high cost. Clear aligners treatment is highly expensive in comparison to conventional metal braces, specifically if you require adjustment. Even though several dental insurance plans do cover the cost, they are not affordable for everyone.
Compliance issues for patients
Clear aligners require significant level of compliance from patients. Clear aligners must be worn for at least 20 hours a day. Moreover, they should only be removed for eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing. Patients who do not wear aligners as directed do not see their desired results or may require additional time for treatment.
Temporary speech impediments
Many Invisalign patients tend to experience a minor speech impediment in the first few days of dental treatment. This is mainly because clear aligners tend to cover an extensive surface area in comparison to conventional braces and take time for adjustment. As a result, conventional braces are the best Invisalign alternative.
Discomfort at initial level
Invisalign can result in causing discomfort, specifically in the initial weeks of treatment. Patients can experience soreness as their gums and teeth take time adjusting to the aligners. However, this is a temporary challenge and it slows down in a few days or weeks. Moreover, clear aligners also require self-discipline from patients. While conventional metal braces also require appointments on a regular basis, patients wearing clear aligners have to change their braces every couple of weeks. Being unable to maintain track of aligner changes results in prolonged treatment or reduced effectiveness.
Key takeaways
While Invisalign braces offer some significant advantages over traditional metal braces, such as being removable and less visible, it’s important to consider the disadvantages before committing to the treatment. Like any orthodontic treatment, Invisalign requires a significant investment of time and money, and both require self-discipline and determination to achieve optimal results.