Invisalign versus braces; which is right for you?

In life, when looking for treatment, many people seek to compare the desired treatment with the closest alternative. This is common in cosmetic care, with patients comparing the effects of a facelift to dermal fillers, for instance.

However, when it comes to dental care and the realigning of teeth, this is no different. Many patients are aware that straightening teeth with a clear aligner is usually the way to go for easy and discreet treatment. But they cannot help but have concerns that an invisible aligner will not compare to a standard fixed brace.

Hence, we have devised the following article to help you compare invisible aligners with braces.

At Clear Braces Direct, we know all there is to know about invisible aligners, especially Invisalign London, and we are well versed in how they compare to fixed forms of orthodontics. So if you are curious about how this aligner works or whether it is suitable for you, feel free to contact us.

But how does Invisalign London compare to a standard fixed brace when straightening teeth? Read on to find out.

Time

You may have heard that Invisalign London will take longer than a standard fixed brace to straighten your teeth simply because it doesn’t work on the same principles; this is not true. Most patients who undertake treatment with an invisible aligner will need to wear it for between 3 to 6 months, depending on the severity of the problem being corrected and their adherence to the advice set down by us. A standard fixed brace is usually worn by adult patients for between 12 and 36 months, so it is easy to see which option is preferable if you are looking to save time while straightening your teeth.

Comfort

Even in 2022, there is no such thing as a comfortable aligner or brace because these are tools that need to move teeth and cannot afford to hold back when aiming to achieve that goal. However, aligners work differently. Braces are fixed and require tightening or adjusting to work, whereas aligners have these movements built into their shapes and gradually push your teeth into the required locations. So many patients find aligners more comfortable to wear overall.

Ease of use

Braces are somewhat easy to use; they are fixed, you need to keep them clean, and then your dentist adjusts them. Aligners, on the other hand, are within your control. You are required to time how often you wear them and when you wear them, as well as send weekly selfies to our team via the associated app. However, many patients find the ease of use with invisible aligners related to the cleaning and general maintenance, which is a bit more complicated with a fixed brace.

Appointments

When you wear a fixed brace, you will need to attend appointments with our dentist every 4 to 6 weeks to have the brace tightened or adjusted. With invisible aligners, you will need to see our team on average every 6 to 8 weeks for checkups. But as mentioned earlier, you also need to send weekly selfies, which can reduce your time visiting our team if all is going well.

Cost

Many people assume that invisible aligners are more expensive than braces, but this is rarely the case, as the overall cost involves the appointment with our team and any adjustments that are needed, which will be more common with a fixed brace. So, invisible aligners are usually the more affordable option.