Invisalign and Braces Alternatives

Is Invisalign Right For You?

Patients wishing to straighten their teeth may find that Invisalign is a smart choice. In fact, there are a number of obvious benefits worth considering when it comes to choosing Invisalign over traditional braces. Not surprisingly, crooked teeth or misaligned bites can have a direct impact on one’s health and overall social life. Braces were traditionally used for many years to straighten teeth in a slow but steady fashion. Invisalign came along a few decades ago and made the entire process more convenient and much less obvious.

The most obvious benefits of Invisalign include enjoying a more pleasing visual appearance as well as improved oral functionality. Some of the advantages associated with Invisalign are clearly cosmetic in nature. Invisalign is less obvious and almost virtually invisible when being worn. The clear aligners inherent in the Invisalign system make the technology desirable for those who may be concerned about social interactions while trying to straighten their teeth.

Both Invisalign and braces are designed to improve your oral health and your smile by straightening your teeth. It is also important to note that both modalities have very high success rates with little complications. They both offer incredible results in the form of improving oral functionality and restoring a beautiful smile. Invisalign first made its way into the dental care scene around the year 2000. Braces go back much further regarding their origination. That said Invisalign Express and Invisalign do not have the same history and track record as braces. However, a body of very positive substantial evidence is growing each year.

Understanding Braces

Consisting primarily of metal brackets that are bonded to the teeth, braces are connected by wires and tiny rubber bands needed to produce the desired results. These days, patients can choose brackets that more perfectly match the enamel color of their teeth. This results in braces that are much more discreet and less noticeable. In some cases, patients choose to get bright or flashy colors as a way to make an impressive fashion statement while straightening teeth at the same time. Either way, braces have an excellent track record for straightening teeth in an efficient and reliable way.

Understanding Invisalign

In contrast to braces, Invisalign and Invisalign are intended to be virtually invisible. Patients of any age can feel confident and comfortable in wearing clear aligners that will rarely be noticed by others. Teenagers are particularly susceptible to self-image and self-esteem related issues. Invisalign solves this problem by straightening teeth in an invisible and subtle fashion. When using this type of arrangement to straighten teeth, aligner trays are worn directly over the teeth to slowly, subtly and gently shift teeth to the desired position. The aligner trays are comfortable, smooth and made of clear translucent plastic that is BPA-free. Your dental care provider will use a combination of pictures, x-rays and teeth impressions to create an exact 3D image of your teeth. This 3D image is then used to configure aligners that are individually custom crafted to fit your exact dental needs.

Invisalign is a removable type of technology that makes it easy and convenient to eat, drink and enjoy life to the fullest. Eating your favorite foods without concern is best achieved by using the teeth straightening system known as Invisalign. Also, Invisalign is considered very easy to care for on a daily basis. All that is required is to remove the aligners and then brush and floss your teeth as you normally would. This is a key consideration when talking about teeth straightening systems. In short, Invisalign facilitates better oral care and oral hygiene. When teeth can be cleaned and flossed normally, they will benefit substantially. Metal braces that feature wires and brackets can make it very difficult to maintain normal oral hygiene and good dental care.

Also worth considering is the fact that Invisalign is by and large far more comfortable than traditional metal braces. The aligners are flexible and custom-made. They are designed to fit easily into the mouth while rarely causing any appreciable amount of discomfort. This in itself is a good reason to choose Invisalign over traditional metal braces. Also worth noting is that the technology is convenient and only requires switching aligners at periodic intervals. This precludes the necessity of having painful adjustments, as is the case with metal braces.

Which System Will Be Best For Your Specific Needs?

While both Invisalign and braces are highly effective at straightening teeth, they each have certain specific benefits and advantages that must be considered. For example, braces are not removable while Invisalign Express and Invisalign are completely removable. Also, braces make it very obvious that the patient is having teeth straightening treatment performed. Invisalign is almost completely invisible and hard to detect. Regarding treatment time, braces can take on average about two years to achieve the desired results depending on the condition of the patient’s teeth. When Invisalign is used and assuming that the patient wears the aligner trays for at least 22 hours per day, the treatment can be completed in anywhere from 6 to 18 months. Invisalign Express is obviously an even much quicker process.

Cost of Invisalign in comapare to Bracs

Regarding cost comparisons, braces cost on average anywhere between $1800 and $5500 while Invisalign will usually cost around $3500 to $5000. Invisalign Express will be less than standard Invisalign but will also vary depending on the type of treatment needed. To make the orthodontic treatment more affordable for our patients, we offer in-house financing, discount for family and seasonal special offers. Please follow us on Facebook our Instagram to receive these exclusive offers. 

When it comes to maintenance, braces require that the brackets and wires be brushed regularly in addition to the teeth being cleaned. Doctors often recommend using a WaterPik to more effectively clean teeth that are being straightened by metal braces. Invisalign is very easy and simple to clean. The aligner trays are simply removed and placed in a rinsing tray with lukewarm water.

With braces, the patient is expected to have monthly follow-up visits, while with Invisalign or Invisalign Express the patient is expected to return for follow-up treatment every 4 to 6 weeks to receive new aligner traits.

It should be pointed out that braces are usually more efficient for increasingly complex teeth straightening issues. With braces, there is no concern for forgetting to wear the devices, so there is less discipline required by the patient. While regular brushing and flossing may be more time-consuming, there are no extra cleaning steps required with traditional braces.

With Invisalign teeth straightening is almost completely invisible and removable. There are never issues associated with food getting caught as it does with braces. There is no difficulty in eating because the aligner trays are removed, and there is no discomfort associated with wires and other metal parts and pieces affixed within the mouth.

When it comes down to making a choice between standard traditional braces and Invisalign only your dental care provider and you the patient together can come up the best plan of action. It is important to consider all aspects of both technologies before making a final decision. To make the decision easier for you, we offer free consultation and X-ray for our orthodontic patients.

The Average Time For Invisalign Treatment To Be Effective

As a bonus, Invisalign is fast regarding straightening teeth in the most effective way possible. While each patient’s case is unique and different, the average time for Invisalign treatment to be effective is about one year in total. This is considerably less in duration as compared to older type metal braces. With so much to offer it is clear to see why Invisalign has become so popular in recent days.

Even parents stand to benefit from Invisalign in that their teens enjoy a less stressful and less painful teeth straightening experience. Those who require any orthodontic care should fully research and understand all that Invisalign has to offer. These customized and completely removable teeth straightening technology is intended to benefit adults, teenagers and parents alike. Whether deciding upon braces for children or braces for adults as well as Invisalign or Invisalign for teens, there are many choices when it comes to straightening teeth in a safe and effective way. Your dental care provider can go over all the options and cost of Invisalign with you in your first evaluation type visit.

As a final note, conventional braces can sometimes be uncomfortable because of protruding metal pieces that can puncture the inside of the mouth or gums. Clear aligner known as Invisalign is simply safer and less intrusive in this regard. They are comfortable and do not have any sharp edges or protruding parts that can injure the inside of the mouth. Metal braces can even cause demineralization and decaying of teeth. Talk with your dental care provider to determine which type of teeth straightening system will be best for your specific needs.

Is There Any Alternative for Invisalign?

Traditional metal braces are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Invisalign has taken the dental world by storm, straightening teeth and giving people the gift of a perfect smile, but it comes at a pretty high cost. Fortunately, there are some alternatives to Invisalign that are more affordable and can still get you a great smile. While Invisalign is still the industry standard that has the best track record of success, the following options may be an excellent fit for you and your budget.

Smile Direct Club

One of the more expensive parts of Invisalign treatment is the constant orthodontic maintenance and monitoring that is required. Smile Direct Club takes a lot of that cost out of the equation. A client scans their mouth and sends the 3-D image to Smile Direct Club which has an orthodontist develop customized aligners and a plan for straightening the client’s teeth. The aligners are then sent to the client and they begin their treatment. It’s far less expensive than Invisalign, but there are some factors to consider. You won’t be getting individual attention along the way from an orthodontist, so if something happens that is unexpected along the way, it’s harder to address. In addition, the process of getting the right type of impressions and scans can be tricky and cause problems.

Overseas Alignment Alternatives

The United States isn’t the only country in the dental alignment business. Companies like ClearPath (located in the Middle East) and K-Line (housed in Germany) have established themselves as a viable option for a better smile. These companies are still new and don’t have the proven track record of others, but they are gaining popularity abroad. As a result, many people in the United States have begun looking into them as a less expensive alternative to Invisalign.

Clear Correct

Another alternative to Invisalign is Clear Correct. This system also provides clear aligners at a lower cost. Clear Correct has been shown to provide good results, but many orthodontists still prefer using Invisalign for a number of reasons. The resources available to orthodontists are more extensive with Invisalign, but Clear Correct has proven to be very successful in teeth alignment. If you a patient, the biggest difference you may notice would be in the check you write.

Ormco

Known for having a smoother aligner, Ormco is a company that provides a variety of dental supply products. The aligners made by Ormco are known to do a great job and many dentists are happy to use this product. Truthfully, Ormco aligners are similarly priced to Invisalign. The difference may or may not be in the feeling of the aligners themselves. Invisalign is indeed the tried and true product with years of research and lots of resources for orthodontists using their product.

Making Alignment More Affordable

There are a lot of “do-it-yourself” products on the market that claim to straighten your teeth. Orthodontists strongly warn patients against these types of products for a number of reasons. Anything to do with your dental structure should be carefully done by a qualified and licensed professional. Anything that goes wrong with a DIY approach to straightening your teeth can cause significant damage. If you are interested in straightening your teeth to get the best possible smile, most orthodontists have a system in place to make it more affordable. Talk to your insurance provider and certainly work with the orthodontist’s office to coordinate treatment. You may have some or all of the Invisalign covered in your plan. Furthermore, don’t be shy about talking about a payment schedule. Providers of Invisalign treatment understand that the whole amount is expensive, and they can almost always work with your budget to create an affordable payment structure. Contact us today to discuss how we can give you the smile of your dreams.