Invisalign vs. Braces for Straightening Your Teeth Q&A

Both treatments have their place and are useful for different dental concerns. Invisalign is a top tier treatment for aesthetic dentistry that can help straighten teeth and enhance their appearance, though the treatment is not useful for major dental concerns. Invisalign is not recommended for growing teeth, as it often will not give the support needed for teeth to grow correctly. Invisalign treatments can also be removed if they become uncomfortable, though this has the added complication of needing to remember to keep your Invisalign in to maximize your results. Braces are semi-permanent, primarily functional rather than aesthetic and are useful for fixing complex dental issues. As the focus of braces is on functionality rather than aesthetics, they often do their work faster, aligning teeth and closing gaps with maximum effectiveness.

Invisalign is the preferred choice for many patients due to its appearance and comfort compared to traditional metal braces, which can cause speech difficulties, be uncomfortable or leave sores where the brackets sit. The removability of Invisalign also makes it easier to clean your teeth, as you will be able to simply pop out the plastic and perform your standard dental cleaning routine rather than needing to manoeuvre around the wires and brackets.

Traditional Braces tend to be more affordable than Invisalign with pricing in the $2500 to $6000 range with Invisalign costing more in the range of $3500 to $8000. However, depending on the complexity of the dental issue and the other advantages of Invisalign many find the price difference insignificant. As well Invisalign aligners are not likely to break, thus they potentially have smaller upkeep costs than traditional braces. While the aligners do need to be changed every 2 to 3 weeks to keep up with the changing positions of your teeth the cost of new aligners will be factored into your overall treatment cost. It is important to know that Invisalign treatments are customized for each individual patient and the cost reflects that.

Invisalign is a less invasive and extremely efficient method for gently straightening the teeth. They are especially useful in simpler cases where straightening is more of an aesthetic concern than a dental health one. Braces should remain the primary choice for serious dental correction, as they can be used for a wider array of concerns.

The full results of an Invisalign treatment take about 12 months on average and many patients report seeing results after a few weeks of treatment. Depending on the complexity of the fix, traditional braces can take anywhere from 12 months to 3 years of treatment. However, it is important to note that some of the longest and most complex treatments are simply not possible using Invisalign.

At the end of the day, it is important to have as much information as possible regarding the effects of both types of orthodontic treatment and choose which is right for you. If you would like more information about either traditional braces or Invisalign, and are in the Mountain View, California, area, please contact us at your earliest convenience to book an appointment to meet with our professional staff and discuss what options are best for you. We serve patients from Mountain View CA, Sunnyvale CA, Los Altos CA, Stanford CA, Menlo Park CA, Atherton CA, Loyola CA, Cupertino CA, Palo Alto CA, Redwood City CA, and surrounding areas.