What is the Difference Between Aligners and Braces?
Need to straighten your teeth but not sure how? You’re not alone.
Crooked teeth can be a pain - physically and emotionally. The American Association of Orthodontists reports that up to 75% of the population needs orthodontic treatment.
Yet, most patients sit on the idea for months, even years, trying to choose between treatment options independently. With so many plans available on the market right now, how can you know which is best for you?
How do you choose between clear aligners or braces? As professionals, we’ve seen and heard it all. Cases vary from patient to patient, but the factors behind each plan remain the same.
Below, you’ll find our list of the most critical issues that come into play when choosing your orthodontic plan. If you’re tired of guessing around the condition of your smile, now’s the time to change that. Keep reading for more details.
7 Factors You Should Consider
1. Your Situation
There’s a misconception that all orthodontic appliances can fix the same types of oral conditions. Generally, your orthodontists will create a plan to correct;
issues with your jaw structure
overbites
underbites
misaligned teeth
overcrowded molars
However, while each technique has its way of treating these issues, they don’t work for the same cases. The truth is, braces are effective for any patient - no matter how severe. In some situations, orthodontists use braces to reveal teeth that are partly hidden in the gum.
Although clear aligners can also straighten teeth and close gaps, they may not be suitable for severe cases which need extensive repositioning of the jaw.
2. Appearance
Looks are undoubtedly one of the top priorities of many of our patients. It’s typical for you to worry about your appearance after you begin orthodontic treatment.
Traditional metal braces are apparent to spot from onlookers. It may surprise you, but metal braces are a trending fashion statement in countries like Indonesia and the Philippines. Children and adults get to accessorize their teeth with colorful rubber bands. Strange but true - some people want them to stand out.
But if you want a more discrete treatment plan, ceramic braces are another possibility. These tend to come in a similar shade to your tooth enamel, making them less visible when you smile.
The problem with ceramic braces, however, is that their rubber bands stain easily. You’ll notice they turn yellow whenever you eat foods with spices like Tumeric or curry. That’s not very appealing.
With clear aligners, you’ll never have to worry about people noticing the boxy metal accessories over your incisors—no more anxiety attacks. You get to wear them with privacy.
Aside from that, ceramic braces aren’t very strong. Even metal brackets pop off, especially with patients who grind their teeth or chew ice.
This brings us to the next point.
3. Freedom
From your first appointment - when you install your braces - your orthodontist will warn you about certain foods you’ll no longer be able to enjoy. Dentists use a special cement to secure brackets onto your teeth, but that doesn’t mean they’re indestructible.
If you have braces, you won’t be allowed to eat hard foods like carrots or apples. You can’t bite into fried chicken or club sandwiches. Well, it’s not that you can’t (you always can), but you shouldn’t. These are easy ways of damaging your braces, losing brackets, and, ultimately, prolonging your treatment.
The beauty of invisible aligners is that you can take them off whenever you need to eat - and you can eat whatever you want!
4. Comfort
How much do you value your comfort?
Movement from braces can cause your gums to get quite sore. Most adjustments apply bouts of pressure to your teeth so that they can continue moving into place. Sometimes, a single adjustment can cause a considerable gap to begin closing significantly.
Not to mention the discomfort patients experience when their wires get loose or begin sticking out at the pack of their mouth. Typically, you’ll get some orthodontic wax to go home with, but what happens when it runs out on the weekend and the office is closed?
As part of your plan, we use impressions and 3D images of your teeth to create removable appliances (a.k.a, clear aligners) that fit snug in your mouth. There are no wires, protruding metal, or elastic bands spanning from your upper to lower jaw.
5. Compliance
This is where the responsibility falls on you.
At best, braces take between 18 to 36 months to complete orthodontic treatment. But that’s only if you keep each of your appointments. Moreover, you setback your plan every time a bracket breaks. What could have taken a couple of years may end up taking four.
It’s no different with aligners. You may not need as many appointments or adjustments as someone with braces, but you’ll have to follow up. As your teeth move into place, your aligners may require minor changes or remodeling to fit your new position.
If you don’t commit to your visits, don’t expect your treatment to last six months.
6. Dental Hygiene
Let’s clear the air - you should always brush at least twice a day, preferably after meals.
Unlike removable aligners, braces can make oral hygiene complicated. You’ll need to brush around your brackets and behind your wires to get food out of those corners. And you’ll likely have to use floss threaders (not just regular floss) to clean between your teeth. If not, bacteria and plaque will accumulate around your molars. The cavities you get from poor braces hygiene can either be resolved by
a filling;
extraction; or
root canal.
The good news is that most times, cavities are treatable without extraction. The bad news is that your dentist may need to remove your bracket to treat the tooth. That’s another drawback to finishing on time.
You might want to rethink your brushing and flossing habits.
Cosmetic-wise, many professionals don’t take their time to remove the cement after they remove your braces. If you ever thought of bleaching, your hygienist may try to remove the residue during your appointment.
Otherwise, they won’t be able to whiten the areas under the old cement. Though it’s possible for them to miss a few spots.
7. Cost
Our clear aligners cost at least half the price of a traditional orthodontic treatments. Even after considering the charges for possible remakes or tooth repairs, clear aligners are by far more affordable than metal braces.
The Bottom Line
So, which is better - conventional braces or aligners?
It depends on your situation. Clear aligners are good as braces in treating typical cases of crooked teeth. Perhaps, they may be even better, given the pros and cons.
We'll admit, traditional braces have their place in the world of orthodontics. Some treatments won’t work without it. But if you’re in for a cheaper, more customizable solution, then yes - clear aligners are better than braces.
If you’re ready to get started with your new smile, then schedule a free e-consultation with one of our orthodontists at Straight Teeth Invisible. We’ll examine your case and walk you through the following steps (how it works).
Ever had braces or clear aligners? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
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