Both teens and adults prefer Invisalign mainly due to the fact that wearing the clear aligners give them a “metal mouth.” But there’s more to this revolutionary tooth moving system than that.
Here are five advantages of Invisalign over traditional braces.
#1 — The Look
No one likes having a metal mouth. OK, maybe that huge Jaws guy in that one James Bond movie with Roger Moore, but no one else. Most people subconsciously avoid smiling and opening their mouths fully when they’re sporting metal braces. In contrast, Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible, even when a person is talking to you in close proximity.
#2 — Comfort
Traditional braces are certainly less than comfortable. The bands rub on your lips. Wires poke your cheeks. Tightening every 4 to 6 weeks is akin to medieval torture for a couple days afterwards. Ouch. Invisalign trays are painless to wear. Plus, the tooth movement when switching the aligner trays every two weeks isn’t the same as the aching teeth that are a part of tightening braces.
#3 — Easier on the Teeth
The metal bands that are glued to the teeth or slide over them place a lot of stress on the teeth they are moving. Because of this, a tooth or a couple of teeth can develop trauma later on. This will merit a root canal. Braces can also lead to decay forming in between teeth and around the bands because it is almost impossible to fully clean around all the wires and bands. Invisalign spreads the force across all the teeth at once, eliminating any single teeth receiving excess force and potential future trauma. Also, cleaning is simple — patients just take out their aligner trays and brush and floss their teeth normally.
#4 — Length of Treatment
Although Invisalign can’t be used for excessive tooth movement cases, it can be used for just about all mild to moderate cases of alignment. And it does it in less time. Invisalign usually requires from 1-1.5 years for treatment. Traditional braces can require up to five years.
#5 — No Surprises
You’ll know exactly what your final result will look like with Invisalign — you’ve already seen it in the initial 3D computerized movement projections used to plan your aligner trays. With metal braces, there can be more trial and error, so the final result isn’t fully known until it is final.
Dr. Fong is a big fan of Invisalign, as our his happy patients who have used Invisalign to straighten their teeth. Call us at (714) 549-1903, and let’s see if we can make Invisalign work for you or your teenager.