Invisalign VS Traditional Braces : Pros and Cons
Deciding about a dental treatment that could work for you is not something you leave up to your dentist wholly. Technically, a dentist near me can only guide you and make necessary recommendations for your treatment. It is especially the case when you have to choose between two different oral appliances that can both help you achieve your dental expectations. When it comes to getting Invisalign® near me, for example, you have to make a calculated and informed decision before getting them. The first question to ask is whether they are fit for you, based on your reason for getting them.
What Is Invisalign?
It is a type of teeth aligner used in orthodontic dentistry to straighten and properly align teeth. The use of Invisalign in Vancouver, BC, has been for many years but is quickly amassing popularity today where everyone is concerned about their aesthetic appearance.
Invisalign braces feature a tray of transparent teeth aligners, which is where they get the name from. Ideally, they are virtually invisible when you wear them. The aligners are worn over teeth and can help realign malpositioned teeth. Depending on your underlying orthodontic problem, your dentist will let you in on your options regarding the use of teeth aligners for your treatment.
Invisalign VS Traditional Braces
When people compare Invisalign aligners to braces, they often refer to traditional metal braces. These are the most common types of teeth aligners used in dentistry, featuring metal brackets and wires that are attached to teeth for straightening. For many years, people only understood orthodontic treatment to translate to wearing metal braces. Even to date, metal braces are relevant for shifting and rotating teeth.
However, in this era of cosmetic appeal, Invisalign dentist in Vancouver, BC, have to lean to other alternatives for shifting and rotating teeth. This is where Invisalign comes into play. From the way they are made, there are already many distinctions between Invisalign clear aligners and metal braces. The differences can be identified in the following areas:
- Metal and wires – Invisalign braces do not use metals or wires. Instead, the entire teeth aligner features a plastic-like tray. They are usually made from impressions of your teeth, which ensure that they fit snugly over your teeth to shift and rotate them accordingly.
- Removability – did you know that Invisalign teeth aligners are removable? They are not like traditional metal braces that are only removed once you complete your treatment. The tray of invisible aligners you get for your treatment can be removed, even without the intervention of your dentist v5v 3c1. The removability, therefore, ensures that you can keep the aligners clean and eat without any restrictions.
- Adjustability – for traditional metal braces, you need to visit your dentist to have the wires holding your brackets adjusted. This way, your dentist can control the direction of movement for your teeth. With Invisalign, however, the case is different. While you still must visit your dentist every few weeks, the method of adjusting your clear braces is different. The dentist will have prepared a new tray of aligners to replace the initial ones. As such, the clear aligners you begin your treatment with will not be the same ones you wear as you complete your treatment. Usually, for an entire treatment, you may have to wear up to 30 Invisalign aligners to straighten your teeth.
- Degree of malpositioning of your teeth – in many cases, Invisalign aligners are used to correct mild and moderate malocclusions in orthodontics. As such, if you have a complex orthodontic problem, your dentist will have you on traditional metal braces to mitigate the complexity of your dental problem. With time, should you insist on getting Invisalign braces, your dentist may shift your treatment.
While metal braces and Invisalign teeth aligners may be different, they work similarly. Both teeth aligners rely on applying controlled pressure on teeth over a certain period to shift teeth. They also require the frequent intervention of a dental expert to monitor the progress of your treatment and regulate the direction of movement for your teeth. For Invisalign braces, your orthodontist will create a treatment plan that will guide your treatment over the next couple of months. This plan will dictate the frequency for which you need to change your teeth aligners.