What’s the Difference Between Invisalign and Braces?
Your teen has a lot on their plate. They’re busy with:
- Going to school
- Spending time with friends
- Joining teams and clubs
- And everything in between
So the last thing they need is for orthodontic care to feel like a burden.
Getting a healthier, straighter smile doesn’t have to be a hassle, whether your child chooses Invisalign® or traditional braces.
But, you may be wondering:
“What are the differences between Invisalign and braces?”
In this blog, you’ll learn the comparison between both orthodontic treatments, including the pros vs. cons.
What’s the difference between Invisalign and braces?
There are several differences between these two treatment systems:
- Appearance
- Removability
- Compliance
- Frequency of check-ups
- Treatable cases
- Cost
Let’s break each one down.
1. Appearance
One of the main differences is how these two systems look.
Traditional braces are made of metal brackets, an archwire, and often rubberbands. Whereas Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible.
Invisalign aligners are from SmartTrack material… This text opens a new tab to invisalign.com…, which is smooth and transparent.
This can be helpful because teens tend to be self-conscious about their appearance.
A recent survey… This text opens a new tab to the PR Newswire website… showed almost all US teens (a whopping 96 percent) who aren’t satisfied with their smiles are insecure about their appearance.
And reportedly, about 30 percent of teens are most self-conscious about their teeth.
On the other hand:
Modern metal braces have gotten a lot smaller!
Your teen can even customize their braces by choosing colorful rubber bands or transparent clear bands for a more subtle look.
2. Removability
Invisalign is completely removable.
With this unique clear aligner system, your teen can eat whatever they want, whenever they want.
Note: Invisalign aligners aren’t made to withstand the pressures of chewing. So make sure your teen remembers to take out their trays before eating.
All they have to do is simply slide the trays out of their mouth before they eat (or drink anything besides water). When they’re finished, they can easily clean their mouth and put their trays back in.
Your teen won’t have to worry about pieces of food getting stuck between the wires.
Also, the fact that the aligners are removable is handy for when your teen has a big event like homecoming or school picture day!
Metal braces stay in your mouth permanently.
Eating with braces can be more difficult. Your teen will need to avoid certain foods to prevent snapping a wire or popping a bracket off.
Keep reading to find out why permanent braces may be more favorable for your teen though.
3. Compliance
Metal braces may put your mind at ease because you know it’s working 24/7.
Invisalign aligners must be worn for 20-22+ hours a day. Otherwise, they won’t work.
Because Invisalign aligners are removable, you may feel hesitant to choose them for your teen.
To give parents peace of mind, our office offers a “teen guarantee.”
This means:
If you choose aligners for your child and they’re unable to wear them sufficiently, we’ll switch them over to braces (within one year) at no additional charge.
The Invisalign commitment may not work for everyone, but we are committed to getting you the result of a dream smile.
4. Frequency of check-ups
Traditional metal braces require adjustments roughly every four to six weeks to help your teen progress through their treatment plan.
The Invisalign treatment system allows you and your teen to come in every eight to 12 weeks to make sure your treatment is progressing as planned.
Here at Orthodontic Specialists – Indian Valley, we make appointments convenient for your family’s busy schedule. We offer evening and weekend opening hours.
So it’s a win-win for everyone!
5. Treatable cases
Invisalign is typically best suited for mild to moderate alignment cases.
Whereas braces offer more control when straightening teeth, allowing us to correct all types: minor, moderate, and complex.
This includes:
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Gaps
- Overcrowded teeth
- Misshapen teeth
The best way to know which treatment will work better involves a thorough examination of your child’s case complexity.
If you’re located in or around the Souderton, PA area, request a consultation now to learn which orthodontic treatment is better for your teen.
6. Cost
Just because Invisalign is advanced and more convenient than other treatment methods doesn’t mean it’s more expensive.
Believe it or not:
The costs of traditional metal braces and Invisalign clear aligner therapy costs are comparable.
In a recent report, the Consumer Guide for Dentistry… This text opens a new tab to the Your Consumer Guide for Dentistry website… stated that the national average for Invisalign is between $3,000 and $5,000.… This text opens a new tab to the Healthline website…
And if you have dental insurance, they’ll likely cover a portion of the costs.
But if you don’t have insurance, don’t worry. Our practice offers flexible, interest-free financing to make your teen’s treatment more affordable.
Looking for an orthodontist in Souderton?
Contact the team at Orthodontic Specialists – Indian Valley.
We offer:
- Invisalign Teen
- Traditional braces
- Clear braces
Our board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Justin Silvestre, looks forward to improving your teen’s beautiful smile and wellbeing.
Schedule a complimentary consultation today!
Or:
- Book a free video consultation
- Call us at 215-799-4602
- Email us at info@indianvalleybraces.com
Orthodontic Specialists Indian Valley is located in Souderton, PA… This text opens a new tab to our Google listing… and serves patients from surrounding communities, including Harleysville, Hatfield, Hilltown, Sellersville, Perkasie, Quakertown, and Lansdale.
