It used to be that to straighten your teeth you needed unsightly braces, but these days you have a choice as to whether or not you have a ‘brace face.’ Invisalign works to strengthen your teeth without the embarrassment of braces, but is this treatment right for you? We’re going to explore the ins and outs of both options so that you can come to a conclusion about what is best.

Braces and Invisalign basically do the same thing. Using incremental movements, they make it possible to straighten your teeth and improve overall dental health. Over a period of six months to two years, you can have an enviable smile that you never imagined possible.

Braces

Braces use metal brackets which are glued to the teeth and connected with rubber bands. These bands are tightened in order to incrementally straighten your teeth. It used to be that all brackets were silver, but today you can find brackets that more closely align with the color of your teeth. There are even glow-in-the-dark brackets for those who wish to make a statement. Once in place, braces require little maintenance and they’re easy to clean. The difference here is that Invisalign needs to be brushed after every meal. If you’re someone that engages in full contact sports, then braces are not the best option as they can lead to injury. With braces, you can expect soreness after each tightening.

Invisalign

As the name suggests, Invisalign is designed to be invisible. They are made of BPA-free plastic and they lie flat over the teeth. It begins by getting 3D imaging of your mouth so that an impression is formed, which is then used to create trays. The trays are placed over your teeth and will subtly straighten them over the course of six months to a year. Invisalign is a great option for those who are looking for subtle, less dramatic change, but they require much more upkeep than braces. You must remove Invisalign before eating and drinking, and it’s vital that you brush your teeth after every meal before you reapply the Invisalign. You want to make sure that you keep the trays in your mouth for at least 22 hours a day.

Either option is an excellent choice when you wish to straighten your teeth, but for those who are less disciplined, braces are the better option. Also, if you find that you have a lot of work to do on your teeth, braces are going to get the job done more efficiently.

 

Invisalign Articles