Finding out that you need braces can cause feelings of both excitement and dread for many people. Excitement for the straight, beautiful smile you will have once the braces are off and dread for having to wear braces for the next 18 to 36 months. But fear not! In this day and age, braces are not the clunky, chunky metal brackets of years past, you can even get clear braces in Idaho Falls or invisible trays, also known as Invisalign. The question that plagues many people when they are faced with the realization that they will need to get braces, is what kind to get. Before deciding on what type of braces you should get, it’s important to take a look at the bigger picture. Aligning a bite and/or straightening teeth is a lengthy process and there will always be some amount of discomfort involved. Think about the results you want and choose accordingly. This article discusses the pros and cons of clear braces and invisible aligners to help you decide what type of orthodontic treatment you should get to correct your smile.
The Pros & Cons of Idaho Falls Clear Braces
Randall Orthodontics employs the use of Damon clear braces in Idaho Falls to align our patient’s smiles and bites in a virtually invisible process. Unlike traditional braces, clear braces offer many advantages that aligners and traditional braces don’t offer, these include:
- Fast Treatment – Compared to both traditional braces and invisible aligners, Damon clear braces work to align bite misalignment and straighten teeth faster. When compared to traditional braces, Idaho Falls clear braces proved to, in some cases, work six months faster. Similarly, clear braces work constantly to align a person’s teeth 24/7, invisible aligner trays are not designed to be worn all day and night, thus slowing down their treatment time.
- Fewer Adjustments – If you’re planning on using invisible aligners, you will need to change out your tray every two to three weeks. This means you’ll be experiencing more discomfort than you would if you are wearing clear braces, which only require adjusting every four to six weeks. Fewer adjustments with clear braces, means less pain and less orthodontist appointments for you.
- Comfortable – Damon Clear braces in Idaho Falls use tie-less braces that don’t require tightening and are all-around more gentle on teeth. Traditional methods will use elastics to bind archwires in place, which makes for a longer treatment time and causes unnecessary pain.
- Better for Complicated Cases – If you only need to straighten your teeth or close gaps between them, you may be a candidate for invisible aligners. However, not everyone is. Clear braces are designed to treat both mild and severe cases of misaligned bites, crooked or overcrowded teeth, gaps, etc,. Discuss your options with your Idaho Falls orthodontist, generally speaking though, clear braces are the better choice for more complex cases.
- Extraordinary Results – As a certified Damon orthodontist, Dr. Randall takes more than just straightening your teeth into account. A Damon doctor factors in your facial proportions, alongside your unique smile and bite. In less time and less pain than traditional braces or invisible aligners you’ll have the smile you’ve always dreamt of.
Along with these advantages, there are some minor disadvantages to clear braces. Which include:
- Irritation – Just like traditional braces, when you first are fitted for clear braces in Idaho Falls, you will notice irritation of the gums and the inside of your lips. As time goes on, the mouth will get used to your braces and the irritation will subside.
- Staining – Both invisible aligners and clear braces can get stained from smoking and certain types of food and drink. To avoid this, follow the care instructions provided by your orthodontist and try to limit stain inducing foods, drinks and smoking.
The Pros & Cons of Invisible Aligners
Invisible aligners like Invisalign, can offer many benefits to a person looking to straighten their teeth without having to wear braces 24/7. In fact, one of the benefits that makes wearing aligners so appealing as opposed to Idaho Falls clear braces, is that they are removable. Other advantages include:
- Discreet – Even with a system like Damon clear braces, invisible or clear trays are more discreet since they are not adhered permanently to the tooth. Even up close it may be hard for people to notice that you’re wearing the trays.
- Removable – As mentioned above, invisible trays are removable which gives them the added advantage of being able to be removed whenever it’s convenient for the wearer. It is important to note, however, that the more you take the trays off and for extended amounts of time, the less likely they are to work or work as fast.
- Sturdier – According to this article, by Orthodontics Limited, since aligners are switched out every other week and can be taken out as needed, it is very rare for someone to break an aligner. This can be seen as advantages because both traditional and clear braces in Idaho Falls have been known to break. Although this isn’t a common occurrence for patients who properly care for their braces as instructed by their orthodontist.
While many people like the idea of invisible aligners, they aren’t for everyone, especially if you need major orthodontic work done. Just as with clear braces, it’s important to understand the disadvantages of invisible aligners before making your final decision. Some of the drawbacks of invisible aligners include:
- Speech Issues – Many tray users complain about speech impediments that arise from using invisible aligners. After extended use, you may get used to speaking with them, while some people will never deal with this issue.
- More Office Visits – Since the tray is switched out every two to three weeks, you can expect to see your orthodontist a lot more than you would if you are wearing clear braces in Idaho Falls. If you have a relatively flexible job, this isn’t a problem.
- Not For Everyone – Invisible aligners were created to fix minor teeth and bite issues. If you want to close a gap between teeth or straighten a few crooked teeth, invisible aligners should work for you. Anything more severe than that will probably “disqualify” you from using aligners.
- Results May Vary – When compared to the effectiveness of traditional braces, invisible aligners usually fall short. Though they can straighten teeth, this study found that the “mean accuracy of tooth movement with Invisalign was only 41%”.
For the final say, you should discuss your options with your Idaho Falls orthodontist. He or she will be able to determine what orthodontic treatment will be the best option to get you the results you’re looking for in the shortest amount of time.
To set up a consultation with Randall Orthodontics, contact us today.
