Most people know the importance of a nice smile to your appearance and how you feel about yourself. A rough smile isn’t always the end of the world, as wearing braces or Invisalign can help improve the quality of your smile in stylish and effective ways. Both options are great if you’re looking to improve your oral health and get cosmetic dental care that enhances your smile, but between Invisalign and traditional braces, which suits your lifestyle best?

 

What Are They?

Braces and Invisalign aligners are treatment options designed to help straighten your teeth and improve your oral health. Braces are the older and more trusted option, while Invisalign is the newcomer on the block and starting to dominate the market. They are both great options for aligning your smile, with relatively great pros and cons that won’t shut you away.

 

Braces

Braces are metal brackets glued to your teeth and held in place by wires and rubber bands. Nowadays, braces can come in colors that match your enamel or other colors of your choosing. While metal braces are the traditional choice, you can also get ceramic and lingual braces nowadays.

 

Invisalign

Invisalign is designed to be virtually invisible and provides you with a comfortable and easier to use option. Invisalign trays are made from plastic materials, and your specialist uses a combination of x-rays and pictures to create a 3D image of your teeth and design your Invisalign accordingly.

 

Comfort Levels

Invisalign treatments are a much more comfortable option for orthodontic issues, mostly due to their design and how they work. Invisalign applies much less pressure to your teeth throughout the day and has fewer sharp edges and areas that pressure your gums and teeth. Invisalign is especially great for active children or those who play sports, as braces can occasionally cause a few cuts and bruises. In either case, it’s important to remember that aligning your teeth will be painful at times, so don’t expect always to have a smooth and easy experience. 

 

Convenience Factor

The most convenient treatment plan for your teeth depends on your needs and how much flexibility you want in daily tasks. Both options are very convenient overall for teeth care, but braces are much less flexible as you can’t take them out. For some, that works well, as it’s a more set it and forget it option. But for others who want the flexibility to devour some of their favorite foods while healing their teeth, Invisalign trays can be taken out but require you to clean your teeth thoroughly, and you don’t want to forget to take them out either.

 

Maintenance and Cleaning Process

As far as maintenance goes, cleaning and care are important to maximizing the benefits of your treatment. With braces, it’s usually easier to clean as you can continue brushing and flossing as you normally would. If you do get food stuck in your braces, you might need a small brush to clean it out so that it doesn’t get stuck and affect your oral health.

Invisalign cleaning and maintenance are roughly the same, with the added benefit that you can remove your trays and brush your teeth normally. Don’t forget to clean trays, though, and remember that you have to get new trays about every two weeks or so. Cleaning trays can be time-consuming, but you can use a cleaning solution at night and get replacement trays often enough to make an Invisalign treatment worth it. 

 

Which One Is More Effective?

The most effective options depend on the goals and ability of patients to follow their instructions. Braces are usually kept on for 24 hours a day, and cannot be removed, ensuring that your orthodontist’s instructions are followed to a tee. Invisalign can be taken off, meaning that some people might forget to put them back on for a few days at a time, leading to an extended treatment time.

Traditionally, braces are used for misalignment and oral hygiene issues that are more severe, while Invisalign is used for smaller changes to the teeth. Depending on your needs, traditional braces and Invisalign both make huge differences to the condition of your teeth, and no matter what orthodontic treatment you go for, expect to be much more comfortable throwing out a smile or two.

 

Regardless of What Option Suits You, the Right Dentistry Can Make a World of a Difference!

For residents living in the heart of Texas, finding an orthodontist with the perfect combination of expertise and care isn’t difficult. It only takes a simple call to Complete Dental, a general family dentistry that can get you your traditional braces or Invisalign invisible braces in Houston, Texas. We specialize in everything from dental implants to pediatric dental care and can walk you through all the steps needed to realign your teeth. Get in touch and schedule an appointment to determine whether Invisalign or traditional braces is right for you.