Is Invisalign Really Better than Braces?

Could Invisalign Be Your Solution to a Happy, Healthy Smile?

If you’re struggling to be positive about your smile, don’t worry. You’re not alone. While most of us think of braces as a straightening solution for children, plenty of teens and adults have also been seeking orthodontic treatment. A study from the American Association of Orthodontists found that over a quarter of American and Canadian orthodontic patients are fully grown (and so are their teeth). So, it’s absolutely no surprise to anyone that Invisalign became an insanely popular solution for creating your smile after it hit the market in the late 90s.

The Big Question: Is Invisalign Better than Braces?

Invisalign is the chameleon of correcting teeth. Invisalign hides in plain sight while it does its work, unlike the variety of metal braces options. This makes it the clear choice for many patients – you may have even made up your mind before coming through our doors! But plenty of consultations in our Middletown and Paramus orthodontics offices start with a big question: is Invisalign really better than braces? 

Well, the answer is not as simple as a “yes” or “no.” The truth is that Invisalign at Pachter Orthodontics is often a better choice for many adults and teens. Creating your perfect smile is a long process, and many adults and teens need the low-profile option to feel good about the process (not just the final product). Flexibility is also a big bonus, so an active lifestyle or crazy work schedule doesn’t have to be impacted by straightening your smile. And, of course, Invisalign also makes it easy to keep a happy and healthy smile for the whole process.

Let’s check out exactly what kind of POsitive Vibes Invisalign can bring to your life!

Never Hide Your Smile Again

Crooked teeth and funky bites might be keeping you from showing the world your beautiful smile, and so you’re seeking treatment options. With Invisalign, you don’t have to be afraid to show off your great grin – even if your treatment isn’t finished! Because Invisalign offers a discrete pathway to a brand-new smile, most people won’t even notice that you’re undergoing treatment. This is a huge change from the big metal brackets of the old days. While clear braces (like our 3M™ Clarity™ Advanced Bracket system) offer a revolutionary design for low-profile braces, nothing is quite like Invisalign. With clear aligners, your treatment plan will fit seamlessly with your current lifestyle, right from the get-go.

Keeps Your Day-to-Day the Same

What makes Invisalign different? These bad boys are removable. That’s right. Unlike metal braces, you can pop them out for snacking and meals while still maximizing their time in your mouth. You’ll have the flexibility to work them right into your day-to-day activities and eat or drink whatever you want. Just make sure you floss and brush before putting the aligners back to work. Braces don’t offer this same luxury, and metal braces have dietary restrictions to prevent damage to them. If you’re going to have to go through months of orthodontic treatment, wouldn’t it be nice to keep your routine uninterrupted?

Taking Care of Teeth is Way Easier

A huge problem for patients with braces is that they can irritate the heck out of your gums and cheeks. Invisalign doesn’t have the same brackets and wires to aggravate the sensitive parts of your mouth. And on top of being comfortable, the clear aligners can be removed for super simple cleaning (not just eating). Flossing and brushing is a critical part of maintaining your oral hygiene during treatment since trapped food and sugars can lead to advanced decay with orthodontic treatment. Braces are much harder to clean around than Invisalign, so patients concerned about their dental health can rest easy with this option. Transforming your smile should never create more problems during treatment, and the positively simple solution of removable aligners helps make sure you stay healthy on the entire journey.

Does Invisalign Work for Everyone?

Clear aligners are fast, convenient, and custom-tailored to your tooth needs. Unfortunately, though, Invisalign is not the perfect solution for everyone. Because of the way that Invisalign works, severe tooth rotation and dentition with advanced alignment problems are not a good fit for Invisalign. In some cases, braces are the only treatment option for getting the job done. Invisalign also requires a level of responsibility that younger patients won’t be able to handle. Think that you might forget to put your aligners back in after a meal or struggle to brush more frequently? Invisalign may actually be a worse option.

If you’d like to join the conga line of 5,000,000 worldwide Invisalign patients, then give your orthodontist a call and get scheduled for your consultation so you can ask us yourself if Invisalign might be right for you!