Interested in straightening your smile and improving your bite? Aren’t sure if you should choose Invisalign® aligners or metal braces? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Our Invisalign dentists in Ann Arbor, Plymouth, and Clarkston, MI, are ready to help.
To truly know what treatment option is the best choice for your smile, you’ll need to schedule an orthodontic consultation with one of our dentists. In the meantime, we’ll tell you some of the main differences between Invisalign clear aligners and metal braces.
Here’s what you need to know.
Appearance
are highly visible. However, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Many of our patients enjoy picking out what color elastics they want during their appointments. With metal braces, you’ll be able to celebrate the holidays, show off your school spirit, or support your favorite sports team. We offer a full rainbow of elastic ties to choose from!
One of the main reasons patients choose Invisalign treatment is because the aligners are clear and discreet. This is perfect for teenagers or adults who would prefer to not draw attention to their smiles during orthodontic treatment. Most people won’t even know you’re wearing aligners unless you tell them!
Functionality
Invisalign treatment uses a series of nearly invisible aligners that fit snugly over your teeth. Each set of aligners exerts constant but gentle pressure on your teeth, which is what moves them into optimal alignment.
In order to succeed with Invisalign treatment, you’ll need to be diligent about wearing your aligners on a consistent basis. Our Invisalign dentists recommend wearing your aligners at least 20 to 22 hours per day in order to stay on track.
Metal braces work differently from aligners because they are not removable. Instead, the brackets are bonded to the fronts of your teeth. During your visits, we’ll tighten or add new wires to your brackets. That way, your traditional metal braces continue exerting pressure on your teeth.
Traditional dental braces are an excellent choice for anyone who may struggle with wearing clear aligners. That’s why our dentists often recommend metal orthodontic braces for our younger patients who may not have the willpower yet to wear aligners as directed.
Diet
With metal braces, you’ll need to avoid foods that are sticky and/or hard to chew. This is because foods like caramel can damage your metal wires or brackets. Since Invisalign aligners are removable, you won’t have these dietary restrictions. Instead, you’ll have the luxury of being able to eat whatever you want.
The only caveat with Invisalign clear aligners is that you’ll need to brush your teeth before wearing your aligners again. That way, you’ll avoid staining your clear aligners and trapping food particles against your teeth.
Oral Hygiene
It’s much easier to maintain good oral hygiene when you’re wearing . This is because aligners are removable, which means you’ll be able to brush and floss your teeth like you would normally. Metal braces are a bit challenging because patients must thread their dental floss under the archwire to floss around each tooth. However, patients with metal braces should get used to this with a little practice.
Candidates
In general, we only recommend Invisalign aligners for teens and adults. This is because it takes a lot of self-discipline and willpower to consistently wear your aligners. In order for Invisalign treatment to work, you must wear your aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours per day. Otherwise, your teeth won’t move according to schedule.
In contrast, you can be a candidate for metal braces at any age. However, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists to determine if dental braces are the right option for your smile.
Schedule an Orthodontic Consultation
Interested in Invisalign aligners or metal braces? Call to schedule a consultation with one of our . They’d be more than happy to help you explore your treatment options. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.