Not sure whether clear aligners or traditional braces are the ideal choice for you? Here are some factors to consider based on advice from our Abbotsford dentists.
Choosing Between Clear Aligners & Braces
It can be tough to choose between Invisalign and braces! Luckily, we can help you out by presenting some facts to consider about each option. Both can help you achieve a straight smile, but accomplish this in different ways.
Clear Aligners
Transparent clear aligners such as Invisalign are custom-made and specially designed for your smile. Constructed from clear plastic material, these removable orthodontic appliances forgo the wires and brackets that accompany braces and therefore offer a lower profile appearance.
Depending on your specific treatment plan, they may be in line with the cost of braces or slightly more expensive. A casual observer may not even see them on your teeth.
Braces
Traditional Metal Braces
These are the most common type of braces. Made entirely out of metal and supported by elastics, metal braces have received numerous upgrades in recent decades thanks to advancements in orthodontic technology.
Brackets today are more streamlined than those used in years past. Now, you’ll run less risk of the inside of your cheeks or lips growing irritated by a bracket, as the brackets have gotten smaller and more comfortable. However, some people are still reluctant to choose metal braces because of their appearance.
In this case, clear braces may be a viable alternative.
Clear Braces
Many patients choose clear braces as they are better able to blend in with their smile. They are not actually transparent; the brackets are constructed from tooth-coloured ceramic.
Clear braces come with a caveat: while they are a compromise between metal braces and clear aligners when it comes to appearance, they are actually more brittle and larger in size than the traditional metal braces you may have seen.
They also tend to be more costly. Therefore, they are commonly used only on upper front (your most visible) teeth to save on costs.