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Invisalign Aligners vs Braces

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Both Invisalign aligners and braces apply consistent, gentle pressure to straighten your teeth, correct bite irregularities, and give you a healthier, more attractive smile. While exploring your options, you may wonder how Invisalign® and traditional braces compare. How do you know which is best for you?

Understanding how clear aligners and metal braces compare can help you make an informed decision about orthodontic treatment based on your lifestyle and preference. Dr. Geoff Kerns at The Smile Line Studio in Leawood, Kansas, can help you compare Invisalign and traditional braces in terms of appearance, cost, treatment time, and other factors to help you decide what’s right for you.

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that uses nearly invisible custom aligners to move teeth gently to their correct positions. Dr. Kerns uses in-office digital technology to scan your teeth and create a 3D model and a treatment plan. The Invisalign lab uses the information Dr. Kerns gathers to create a series of clear custom aligners for gradual, precise tooth movement.

Each new set of Invisalign trays differs from the previous ones and moves your teeth to their next position. Invisalign uses patented SmartTrack material to produce predictable results.

How Do Invisalign Aligners and Braces Compare?

Invisalign aligners and braces have similarities and differences. The following comparisons can help you determine which treatment best suits your preferences and lifestyle.

Cost

The average cost of traditional braces is $3,500 to $7,000. The cost of Invisalign and other clear aligners is comparable. Your treatment cost will depend on the complexity of your case and the extent of realignment required. During your free Invisalign consultation at The Smile Line Studio in Leawood, you will get an estimate of your treatment time and cost. Many dental insurance plans cover a percentage of orthodontic treatment, whether you choose braces or Invisalign.

Comfort

Invisalign surpasses traditional braces for comfort because the clear aligners are metal-free. Unlike braces with metal brackets and archwires that can poke the soft tissues in your mouth, Invisalign’s BPA-, BPS-, and latex-free aligners remain comfortable throughout your orthodontic experience.

A 2024 BMC Oral Health article published the results of a comparative study of patients with traditional braces and patients with clear aligners. The study showed that patients with clear aligners had a more comfortable experience with orthodontic treatment due to better gum health, chewing function, and sleep quality, and less inflammation than those with traditional braces.

Visibility

Invisalign’s primary appeal is that most people don’t notice you’re wearing the aligners, while metal and ceramic braces draw attention to your teeth. If you prefer a discreet way to straighten your teeth due to your career or lifestyle, Invisalign helps you feel more comfortable socializing and smiling in public.

Eating

Invisalign aligners are removable, so you won’t have food restrictions; however, indulging in a slice of stringy cheese pizza or biting into a crisp apple is off-limits with traditional braces. If you choose metal or ceramic braces, you must avoid sticky, chewy, hard, and crunchy foods because they can damage archwires or brackets.

Oral Hygiene

Braces require diligent cleaning around and beneath the brackets to remove food particles that can breed bacteria and promote tooth decay. Invisalign’s advantage for oral hygiene is that you must remove the aligners to floss and brush your teeth, enabling thorough cleaning around often-missed areas when wearing braces.

Compliance

Although Invisalign is removable for eating, flossing, and brushing, you must wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily. Compliance with Invisalign’s wear time is essential for its effectiveness in aligning your teeth. In contrast, only your dentist can remove traditional braces, which eliminates the risk of forgetting to put them back on.

Treatment Time

While orthodontic treatment with braces can last 12 to 36 months, Invisalign is usually faster. The clear aligners can treat mild misalignment cases in as few as three to six months. Your Invisalign treatment time will depend on the complexity of your bite condition and how many clear aligners are needed to straighten your teeth. Dr. Kerns will estimate treatment time during your Invisalign consultation at The Smile Line Studio in Leawood.

Follow-Up Visits

With Invisalign, you will return to our office every five to six weeks for a checkup. Dr. Kerns will check your progress and give you enough aligners to wear until your next visit. Traditional braces require follow-up visits every four weeks to adjust the archwire and tighten the braces. Usually, the follow-up visits for braces are less frequent as treatment progresses.

Retaining Tooth Position

After completing orthodontic treatment, you must wear a retainer to keep your teeth aligned. Without a retainer, your teeth will gradually shift to their original positions. After your Invisalign treatment, Dr. Kerns will explain how often you need to wear your retainer.

What Types of Cases Can Invisalign Treat vs. Braces?

Invisalign and braces correct bite misalignment, including:

  • Crossbite
  • Crowding
  • Gaps and spaces
  • General misalignment
  • Open bite
  • Overbite
  • Rotated teeth
  • Underbite

During your consultation, Dr. Kerns will take 3D images of your teeth to explain whether Invisalign is right for you and what you can expect. Some complex cases may require braces rather than clear aligners.

How Do the Invisalign and Braces Processes Compare?

Invisalign and traditional braces begin with a consultation to evaluate your oral health and bite. At the end of the consultation, you will understand the condition of your bite and the treatment needed to correct it.

Invisalign

You will get a series of customized Invisalign aligners to place on your teeth. After a week or two, you will switch to the next pair of aligners. During follow-up visits, Dr. Kerns will adjust your treatment plan if needed and give you new sets of Invisalign trays for progressive tooth movement. After you’ve worn all the aligners, he will compare the position of your teeth with the desired results. If the results are as expected, you can begin wearing a retainer to keep your smile intact.

Metal or ceramic braces

A dentist bonds brackets to your teeth and threads an archwire through them. During follow-up visits, the archwire is tightened to help the brackets apply gentle pressure to your teeth and move them to the correct positions. When your teeth are aligned, your dentist will remove the braces. You will wear a retainer to keep your teeth in the correct position.

Request an Invisalign Consultation in Leawood, KS

If you’re considering Invisalign, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Geoff Kerns at The Smile Line Studio in Leawood, Kansas. He will listen to your concerns carefully. Then, he will use 3D technology to evaluate your teeth and explain whether you can benefit from Invisalign. Call us today for a consultation.

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