In today’s society, many people consider straight teeth to be essential for a beautiful and confident smile. But if you have a misaligned bite or a crooked tooth, it can be hard not to feel self-conscious about how you look. Fortunately, there are quite a number of affordable and effective options available to solve those kinds of dental issues. Braces have been around for ages, and while they’re effective, they do come with their own set of problems. However, in recent years, many patients have started getting Invisalign treatments in Highgate Hill as a less painful and more convenient alternative. That said, how do you decide which option to go for? In this article, we’ll outline the pros and cons of both orthodontic devices.
How Do Braces Work?
Braces are usually made up of brackets, orthodontic bands, spacers, and archwires. They are installed on a patient’s teeth in order to slowly move them in the desired direction. This happens because the braces apply continuous pressure on the patient’s teeth for a long period of time. As the braces apply pressure to the teeth, the bone also changes shape until the desired alignment is achieved. To keep your teeth from shifting back to their original positions, you may need to wear retainers after your treatment is complete.
The Benefits of Braces
- Since you can’t remove them, you won’t be tempted to leave them out like you would with Invisalign options. This makes braces a great option for those who feel that they don’t have enough self-discipline to maintain their dental care habits.
- Though you could use a water pick for better cleaning, you only need to maintain your current brushing and flossing habits to keep braces clean.
- Braces are still better suited for more complicated issues such as rotating cylindrical teeth, vertical movements and fixing common bite problems.
The Drawbacks of Braces
- Braces can feel quite uncomfortable, which makes wearing them 24/7 almost unbearable for some people. There is also a chance that the wires or brackets can come loose and hurt your cheek, gums, or tongue.
- You won’t be able to eat all of the food that you want. In particular, you’ll have to avoid anything that’s hard or sticky. Otherwise, bits of food may get caught in your brace’s wires and brackets.
- Most patients need to wear braces for an average of two years. Those with more complex alignment issues may need to wear them for longer than that.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign makes use of custom-made plastic aligners to gradually straighten your teeth. To make aligners, orthodontists create a three-dimensional image of your teeth by taking several impressions, pictures, and x-rays. Based on this data, they will come up with a treatment plan outlining exactly how your teeth will move at each stage of treatment. Unlike braces, which cannot be removed and are tightened regularly, you’ll use a new set of aligners every two weeks until you finish the treatment. As with braces, you may need to wear retainers to maintain your straightened teeth.
The Benefits of Invisalign
- You can eat whatever you want. All you have to do is remove the aligners before you eat or drink anything. Thus, there’s no way that bits of food can get caught in your aligners, which makes cleaning them so much easier.
- They’re practically invisible, so you won’t have to worry about other people knowing that you’re undergoing tooth correction. This is great for people who feel self-conscious about the way their teeth look.
- You can also remove your aligners whenever you want. This means that you won’t have to deal with constant pain from the pressure on your teeth.
The Drawbacks of Invisalign
- While wearing your aligners, you need to be careful not to drink or eat anything hot. Otherwise, your aligners may end up warped because of the heat. You’ll also need to avoid any liquids that could stain your aligners.
- Because you can take your aligners out, you may end up misplacing them, especially if you’re out eating at a restaurant.
- Invisalign is not suitable for all types of teeth alignment issues. While they are effective with many common cases, more severe problems are better treated with braces. Make sure to consult with your orthodontist about whether you qualify for this treatment or not.
Pick the Option That Feels Right for You
Each person’s dental needs are vastly different. What may work for one person may not necessarily be as effective for you. Do your research and ask people you know for their personal experiences with these orthodontic devices. Shop around with different dental clinics and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Both braces and Invisalign are hefty investments, so take your time to choose the best choice for your specific dental needs. Though it seems like a lot of effort at first, you’ll be sure to get the great smile and straight teeth you’ve always wanted.