Typically, you associate braces with children. It’s not always the case. More than 4 million Americans wear braces, and a quarter of those people are adults. We’ve reached a point where fewer people are wearing dentures and have taken steps to keep their natural teeth well into their golden years.

As people get older, their teeth may shift. They might not have grown up in a family where their parents could afford braces. You’re ready, but you’re not sure which way to go. Your choices are Invisalign and braces. How do Hermitage, Tennessee residents pick the best option for straightening their teeth?

What Are Braces, and How Do They Straighten Teeth?

Braces are the traditional way Hermitage, TN, orthodontists have been straightening their patients’ teeth for decades. Traditional braces have metal brackets that are affixed to the surface of the tooth. Wires are threaded through each bracket and tightened over time to straighten teeth and align them.

Because there are metal brackets and wires, braces can be difficult to clean around. Post-brace stains are common with people who wear braces as plaque and food particles build up around the brackets and are hard to thoroughly clean due to the wires being in the way.

Additionally, the brackets on braces can rub the inside of the cheeks. That can make them painful and unappealing to someone in need of braces. If a wire snaps or a bracket comes loose, you have to find time to get to the orthodontist’s office in a rush. Meanwhile, that loose wire or bracket can cut the gums and inner cheek and cause painful sores.

Braces do require regular visits to the orthodontist to adjust them. These dental visits require time away from school or work, unless you’re able to get an appointment on a weekend or before or after work or school.

That may seem like a lot of negative aspects to braces, but there are also positives.

They can be less expensive.
Braces have more force and can do a better job of straightening teeth.
Braces are more likely to straighten teeth to the desired positioning by the target date.
Braces come in multiple formats now, including clear brackets that are harder to see.

What Is Invisalign, and How Do Those Trays Straighten Teeth?

Braces are visible, and it can be very difficult to get food out from behind the wires and brackets. Invisalign is invisible. You get a clear tray that fits over your teeth to start straightening them in stages. Each customized tray is designed via computer software to slowly move teeth until they are correctly aligned. When one tray starts to feel loose, you move to the next tray until you complete the entire series.

As Invisalign is crafted using computer technology and a 3D scan of your teeth before you even start, you don’t go to the orthodontist as often. You usually only need to go for a checkup a few times, which is easier on your work or school schedule.

Over time, your teeth are straight. As this process has happened, you can take the trays out to eat and when brushing your teeth. Your hygienist cleans your teeth without brackets and wires getting in the way. That’s one of the biggest benefits, but it’s not the only one. Other benefits include:

No brackets to come loose.
No wires to snap.
Less pain and irritation on the inside of the cheek.
No restrictions on foods you must avoid.

There are things to remember. When you take out a plate, you need to put it back in. If you’re the type of person who will forget, Invisalign isn’t ideal.

A Comparison of Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces

Achieving your dream smile with straight teeth boosts your confidence and self-esteem. Key factors do make one better than the other for the person seeking straight teeth. Here’s a breakdown of the main points to consider when comparing Invisalign and traditional braces.

Comfort

Most patients find that Invisalign is far more comfortable than traditional braces. Brace’s brackets and wires can irritate the inside of the cheeks and lips. That doesn’t happen with Invisalign. Any discomfort people complain about with Invisalign is with the movement of the teeth as they slowly shift. The same pain occurs with traditional braces. Shifting teeth can feel uncomfortable.

Cost

For most patients, the cost difference between Invisalign and traditional braces isn’t too different. Insurances are getting better about covering some of the cost of Invisalign, but it’s important to ask. Because Invisalign requires fewer return visits to have your braces adjusted, the cost of follow-up care is less.

How They Look:

Most people think of braces as being the devices that led to school insults like “brace face” or “metal mouth.” Braces have come a long way. They can be affixed behind the teeth sometimes, and there are clear brackets that make them less noticeable.

Invisalign is harder to see. The aligners are clear.

Personal Habits

Your personal habits are also important. If you’re going to forget to put the aligners back in after taking them out to have a meal or brush your teeth, Invisalign isn’t the best option.

Do you love chewing gum or regularly have hard, sticky foods? You have to avoid foods like that when you’re wearing braces.

How much time and care do you put into brushing and flossing your teeth? You have to be very careful and have attention to detail when cleaning around brace brackets and wires. You can’t remove them to brush and floss your teeth like you can with Invisalign.

Schedule

How much time do you have in your schedule? With Invisalign, you might only have to go to the orthodontist a couple of times after wearing the first aligner. Braces require regular adjustments and checking. Plus, brackets might come loose and wires may snap, which means you need to go for an emergency dental visit.

Suitability

Invisalign can straighten teeth, correct an over or underbite, and fill gaps. If you have severe issues with crooked teeth, such as a tooth that has slid behind another or twisted around, traditional braces are better.

Treatment Time

The amount of time needed to straighten your teeth depends on the severity of the issue. Invisalign is fast for minimal to mid-range crowding. It also depends on how long you wear a tray each day. The longer they’re in place, the faster they can work. Braces are faster for complex teeth-straightening cases.

How Do You Choose Between the Two?

The best way to choose between the two is to talk to a specialist. It comes down to your needs, budget, and preferences. Arrange a consultation with an orthodontist.

It’s not a decision you should make on your own. Braces and Invisalign are both an expense, and you don’t want to get it wrong. Work with an orthodontist to get expert advice. Invisalign isn’t the right choice for everyone, so you need to be sure it will straighten your teeth in the way you expect.

Dr. Jody Jones & Celebrity Smiles specializes in both braces and Invisalign. The dentists and hygienists work with you to come up with a plan to straighten your teeth and keep them clean and sparkling. Whether you want to fix crowded teeth, fill in unsightly gaps, or ensure your upper and lower teeth mesh correctly and no longer have an annoying overbite or underbite, we can help.