Is Invisalign worth the hype?

Straightening teeth with braces is a nightmare for teens and adults alike. Having braces on does make it harder for brushing and flossing, which causes food particles to get stuck in between the braces and eventually leads to plaque, tartar and cavities.

From tooth staining to sore mouths, cuts inside the mouth, missing ligatures, broken brackets and speech difficulties, the endless list of the inconvenience of wearing traditional braces continues.

According to the survey of Align technology, about half of the teenagers considers wearing traditional braces are embarrassing. The survey addressed issues like teasing, peer pressure and self-confidence.

Invisalign launched in 1997 as an alternative to traditional braces. It tried to address the imperfections of traditional braces, but is it a successful alternative?

The benefits of Invisalign

Invisible

Invisalign trays are invisible. No one will notice those who are doing orthodontics treatment. The invisible appearance of the trays makes them more popular among teens and young adults.

Comfort

Invisalign trays are comfortable compared to traditional braces because the Invisalign is made of smooth plastic and is custom made.

Improved dental Hygiene

The difficulties of cleaning while braces are on are well known. Invisalign trays are removable, which makes the cleaning of trays and mouth easier. The patient can remove the aligner before brushing and put it back after the brushing.

Saves time

Invisalign claims that it can straighten the teeth in six to 12 months. However, the duration of the treatment can prolong depending on the complexity of the cases.

Eat whatever

With traditional braces, there’s a need to worry about what can be eaten, the sticky and hard foods cause the metal brackets to snap and wires to bend. With removable aligners, anything can be eaten, just remove the tray beforehand.

Dental Health

Having a straightened teeth is imperative for good dental hygiene. Straightening the teeth also reduce other dental issues such as:

• TMJ Disorder
• Gum Disease
• Worn teeth
• Tooth Decay

It’s clear why the Invisalign aligners are a very popular orthodontics treatment among teens and young adults. But here are the benefits of wearing traditional braces over Invisalign.

Issues that can be treated with braces

• Misalignment
• Gaps between the teeth
• Overcrowding
• Protruding teeth
• Underbites
• Overbite
• Crossbite
• Traditional braces are still considered the most effective solution for different orthodontic issues. From our survey, most orthodontists still prefers traditional braces for complex teeth alignment issues.

Benefits of traditional braces

They work quickly: Unlike Invisalign, traditional braces can’t be removed. Wearing braces 24 hours a day helps to shift the teeth back to the desired position more promptly. As a result, it reduces the duration of the treatment.

Cost: Traditional braces are less expensive compared to other orthodontics treatments options. The lesser cost of braces treatment makes it affordable. At end of the day beautiful, aligned teeth are the whole point of getting orthodontic treatment.

Braces work for almost everyone: Traditional braces work exceptionally well for children and adults alike. Invisalign treatment efficacy is questionable for straightening teeth in young children.

Disadvantages of braces

Visits to the dentist: Some may require more visits to an orthodontist to examine and assess the progress of teeth straightening treatment. Patients will have to visit their dentist every month.

Restrictions on favourite meals: Patients are not supposed to eat sticky food and hard food with their braces on, which may cause damage to the wires and brackets. Favourite dishes may have to go amiss until treatment is finished.

Inconvenience: The difficulties of maintaining proper dental hygiene may lead to cavities and other dental problems. It is found to be difficult to brush and floss with traditional braces on.

Pain and uncomfortable: Having braces can be a painful experience. patients with sensitive gum have experienced pain and soreness in their mouth. The sharp metals in the mouth can be a painful experience.

Conclusion

Now both the options for straightening teeth have been reviewed, including the advantages and disadvantages. The success rate of that treatment is difficult to find as Invisalign treatment has not been around for a long time.

So comparing Invisalign and braces are hard. For teens who are self-conscious about their appearance with traditional braces, Invisalign may appeal. And the fact that it is removable for eating and drinking. But if changing the aligner every time while eating or drinking is inconvenient, braces may be the best solution.

Finally, for patients with complex teeth alignment issues, Invisalign may not be the right choice of solution, Invisalign trays are designed to treat mild teeth alignment issues.

So the treatment choice is down to the patient to decide after the evaluation of teeth alignment with an orthodontist.

Last but not least, choose Invisalign providers correctly. The success rate of the treatment is depended on the experience of an orthodontist. Invisalign designate ranks to their providers based on the number of patients treated with Invisalign. They are silver, gold, platinum and diamond. The doctors who treated more patients have their head and shoulder above compared to their competitors.

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