If you are considering straightening your teeth, you may be wondering about the difference between traditional bracket braces and clear Invisalign. You may be asking yourself, am I a candidate for clear Invisalign, the alternative to braces?
Teeth that are not aligned properly in your mouth create what dentists call “malocclusion”. Left untreated, malocclusion can lead to periodontal disease and create abnormal amounts of stress on teeth and jaws, which lead to premature wear. Invisalign is a virtually invisible solution, so you can smile confidently both during treatment and after. Using a series of clear, removable aligners, Invisalign gradually moves your teeth toward the smile you’ve always wanted. There are no rubberband, powerchains, wires or springs to poke your lip and cheek like in the traditional braces. And almost no one will know you’re wearing the clear unless you tell them.
Invisalign is comfortable to wear and easy to live with and for most patients are more comfortable to wear than traditional brackets. You visit your doctor every month or two to check your progression and get new aligners. Average treatment time is about a year. Unlike traditional braces, the aligners are removable, so you can continue to eat your favorite foods without food getting stuck between your teeth and braces. And you can brush and floss normally to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
For many of our adult patients, Invisalign has been a life changing procedure ending years of painful self-consciousness and trying to hide their crooked teeth. And for those teens who are even more self-conscious and concerned with how their friends perceive them, Invisalign clear braces has meant the difference between a painful adolescence and one that is full of the best kind of self-confidence , helping them grow into successful adults.
Many people believe that Invisalign is only effective at treating minor orthodontics issue. But the fact is that a broad range of cases, from overly crowded teeth and underbites to jaw problems and tooth misalignment can be successfully treated. Therefore, most patients are candidates for Invisalign. As a patient you should think of the Invisalign aligners and the traditional brackets as two different tools used to straighten teeth. In the right circumstance they are equally beneficial. In the hands of a skilled practitioner with the knowledge to know the difference and when worn according to your doctor’s recommendation, Invisalign can be as effective as traditional braces for many types of treatments.
The cost of Invisalign is comparable to that that of traditional braces. In our practice, financing options are available to you for as low as $100 a month.
