Benefits of Invisalign vs. Braces

Having straight teeth isn’t just about looking the best that you can. Studies show that people with crooked, twisted, gapped, or overlapping teeth are more likely to suffer from problems like dental decay and gum disease. Meanwhile, a poor bite can lead to uneven wear on the teeth that weakens them and puts them at risk of damage in the future.

There are several options for straightening teeth and correcting bite issues. One of the newest and most popular is Invisalign, which has many advantages over standard braces. Let’s find out more about the benefits of Invisalign over orthodontic braces.

Cleaner, Healthier Teeth

Arguably one of the biggest benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners are removable. This means that you can take them out to clean them and to take proper care of your teeth. The trouble with braces is that they use brackets and wires that are permanently attached to your teeth. As a result, you need to try and negotiate around them with your toothbrush and floss – something which is awkward and inevitably leads to areas being missed. When this happens, decay and gum disease are more likely, and these can put your lovely, straightened teeth at risk.

By removing your aligners, you can brush and floss your teeth as normal. This enables you to do it much more comprehensively, reducing your risk of decay and gum disease. You can also clean your aligners, ensuring that you don’t transfer any bacteria or food particles back to your teeth when you put them back in. 

Freedom with Food

One of the most common complaints among braces-wearers is the restrictions that the treatment places on your diet. When you wear braces, certain foods are automatically off-limits for the duration of your treatment. This is because they can damage your braces or get stuck in them, making decay more likely. Banned foods usually include anything particularly hard, sticky, or chewy, like steak, crackers, popcorn, and chewing gum. A full list of prohibited foods will be supplied by the orthodontist.

However, when you choose Invisalign for your orthodontic treatment, there are absolutely no restrictions on your diet at all. This is because Invisalign is taken out while you eat, leaving your teeth completely bare and free to tackle whatever you choose to eat, nothing is off limits! Needless to say, this makes Invisalign a particularly popular choice among fussy eaters!

Discreet Design

It probably comes as no surprise that many people consider the brackets and wires of conventional braces unattractive. After all, nobody wants to share a mouth full of metal when they smile. Fortunately, Invisalign is exceptionally discreet. The aligners are made from transparent plastic that is virtually invisible when placed over the top of your teeth. Unless someone is looking very closely, nobody will ever need to know that you are having Invisalign treatment.

Fewer Visits to Your Dentist

Invisalign uses a series of aligners to gently alter the position of your teeth. These are bespoke, created following the planning of your treatment, and patients are provided with the entire set of aligners that will be used in the treatment in one go. These need to be worn for at least 22 hours per day, but just as importantly, each aligner in the series must be worn in the right order. That’s because each aligner represents a specific stage in the journey of your teeth. The good news is that you don’t have to visit your orthodontist for your braces to be adjusted every 6-8 weeks. Instead, you can simply move on to the next aligner in the series at the allotted time and attend less frequent appointments for your Invisalign provider to monitor the effectiveness of your treatment.

If you would like to find out more about the benefits of Invisalign over conventional braces, or to schedule a consultation to discuss Invisalign treatment, please contact our friendly and experienced dental team at O.C. Lakes Dental in Irvine, California at (949) 356-7860 today.