Both clear braces and Invisalign can do a fantastic job when it comes to straightening your teeth but there are some differences that will have a major effect.
Did you know that crooked or misaligned teeth affect 74% of American adults? Left untreated, crooked teeth can lead to periodontal disease, which increases your risk for tooth loss, and more critically, heart disease, stroke, and other illnesses.
There’s no good excuse for you to continue living with such teeth. Now, more options than ever are available for you. In order to help you decide which choice is better for you, here we compare clear braces and Invisalign.
Comparison Between Clear Braces and Invisalign
1. Clear Braces Cannot be Removed
One strong benefit of Invisalign is that for feeding, drinking and brushing the teeth, they can be removed. This ensures that before putting the aligners back in, you can eat and drink the foods that you like, and easily brush your teeth. One downside is that each time you eat or drink something, you need to remember to brush your teeth.
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For their children, many parents prefer clear braces because they can not be removed, so there is less risk of missing or failing to wear their aligners for their child.
2. Invisalign Are Worn Atleast 22 Hours a Day
Invisalign produces good result only if they are worn up to 22 hours per day. That means you may take them out for eating and drinking, but that’s about it. If you try to remove or fail to put them back consistently, they won’t work as well and will take much longer to produce the result you hope to achieve.
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3. Clear Braces Work Better For Complicated Dental Issues
Some dental problems including bite correction, arch widening or extreme tooth alignment require clear braces to fix the problem. For uncomplicated cosmetic dentistry problems and straightening of teeth, Invisalign are a perfect option. But, some Orthodontic conditions can be corrected properly with Invisalign aligners. Talk to your dentist to find out which option would work best for you.
4. Invisalign Aligners Looks More Discreet than Clear Braces
The look of Invisalign aligners is preferred to the look of clear braces by many individuals. While clear braces are far more discreet than standard metal braces, they are fixed to the exterior of your teeth so that they can be noticed. Invisalign aligners are clear plastic liners that go around the teeth and are often so discreet that most people won’t know you’re wearing them.
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5. Clear Braces Don’t Need to be Adjusted as Often
At the beginning of treatment, clear braces often create more discomfort as the brackets are attached and the wires are tightened. However, once mounted, clear braces only need adjustment every four to six weeks. Every two to three weeks, you need to use a new Invisalign tray.
6. With Braces, You Need to Be Careful About What you Eat
You need to stay away from sticky or hard foods like hard candy, toffee, apples, and carrots if you have clear braces, as these foods may get stuck in your braces or cause your brackets to be harmed. With Invisalign, you remove your aligners to eat as long as you brush your teeth afterwards, so that you can eat whatever food you want.
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7. Both Clear Braces and Invisalign Can Get Stained
If you’re not careful of what you’re eating and drinking, both clear braces and Invisalign aligners may get stained making them more visible. Smoking or drinking coffee, wine or other darkly coloured liquids on clear braces or Invisalign aligners will shade or stain the clear plastic if you do not remove them before drinking.
My Verdict
Invisalign are user friendly. There are no limits on eating when being handled properly. Invisalign can hurt a little but clear braces hurt more and are often you have to tighten them up.
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And if you’re concerned about the cost, you should know that, much like other orthodontic procedures, Invisalign is identical to clear braces and is protected by most dental insurance policies. Plans can cover care for up to $3,500. It might be much more affordable than you might expect.
In conclusion, we think that for certain individuals, Invisalign is a good option. It is probably a smarter choice to get Invisalign if you are older.