Invisible Braces & Aligners 

It’s a difficult decision, you want to straighten your teeth but can’t decide which way to go when weighing the pros and cons of braces vs Invisible aligners
Braces are traditionally made of metal and attached to the outside of the teeth, although there are now different options for braces including ceramic and lingual (behind the teeth) braces. Metal wires and rubber bands are attached to the brackets to manipulate your teeth to correct orthodontic problems.

Invisible aligner treatment uses clear, plastic aligners. The aligners are customised for each patient by making a 3d scan of their mouth. Customised aligners are then made to move the teeth in small steps until the correct position is reached.

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The Advantages of invisible aligners

Here are some of the advantages of Invisible aligners:

Invisalign Looks Better

The biggest benefit of Invisalign is that the retainers are virtually invisible. Adult patients love that colleagues and clients can’t see they are undergoing orthodontic treatment. Self-conscious teens do too.

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With Invisalign you don’t go through a period of people commenting on your new braces. You won’t be worried about your smile in photos - all you will see in photos is the progress of your ever-improving smile.

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You Can Take the Aligners Out to Eat

Patients often ask us “do you have to wear the aligner all the time?” For best results invisible aligners needs to be worn for 20 - 22 hours each day, which means you can take your aligners out when you are eating. This means you don’t have to change what you eat or how you eat it. With braces people find some types of foods difficult or uncomfortable to eat.

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It’s Easier to Brush and Floss Your Teeth

As well as when eating and drinking, you’ll also remove your Invisalign retainers to brush your teeth. With nothing on your teeth to worry about, you can continue brushing and flossing as you did previously.

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Fewer Consultations Required

With Invisible aligner treatment, much of the orthodontist’s work happens before you wear your aligners. A 3D scan of your teeth is used for making all the customised retainers in a laboratory. You should change the multiple sets of retainers on your orthodontist’s directions. There is no need to visit the orthodontics for adjustments so visits are kept to a minimum to check on progress. Few visits to the orthodontist means less time off work.

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Comfortable to Wear

You may be wondering “are braces or invisalign more painful?” Moving teeth around with Invisalign can be uncomfortable and painful, much like traditional braces. However, there are also fewer mouth and gum problems with Invisalign. Invisalign retainers are made of a special plastic and fitted to each patients mouth, so - unlike braces - there are typically no cuts on the inside cheeks or salt washes to deal with.
 

Invisible Disadvantages

There are several disadvantages of invisalign that you need to consider:

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Patients Need to be Disciplined

Being able to remove your aligners is both a pro and a con. If you aren’t someone who is disciplined about putting your aligners back in your mouth after eating or brushing, you aren’t going to wear them the required 22 hours per day. Your treatment may not produce the best results if the aligners aren’t worn as long. The major reason for Invisalign treatment failing primarily relates to lack of patient compliance with wearing the aligners.

Taking your Aligners In and Out Can be Inconvenient

Aligners need to be removed before eating and drinking anything other than water. When you are out in public, you need to remove your aligners discreetly and not lose them. Before replacing your aligners, you need to brush your teeth. Food particles can stop your teeth from moving and can stain your aligners. You are also at increased risk of cavities and bad breath.