the difference between invisalign and braces

Proper teeth alignment is important. Apart from looking good on the outside, well-aligned teeth indicate the absence of jaw problems and abnormalities. As for those who have alignment problems, they will be advised by a dental clinic near you to consider getting corrective treatments like braces or Invisalign. These two can be done in a Winnipeg dental clinic. However, you will have to undergo a consultation first to know whether you are eligible.

These two treatments are geared towards the same goal. However, there are significant differences between the two. To broaden your understanding, here are a couple of differences between Invisalign and clear braces.

Getting to Know What Invisalign and Clear Braces Are?

Invisalign involves the use of retainer-like aligners that are clear and transparent. These are worn for a minimum of 22 hours per day to ensure the teeth shift correctly into place. The aligners have to be changed every two weeks until the cycle of nine to twelve months is completed. If you would like to choose this method for correcting your teeth’s alignment, you have to find a Winnipeg dentist who specializes in Invisalign near you.

Clear (ceramic) braces, on the other hand, are made with ceramic material that comes in a transparent colour or one that matches the colour of your teeth. This works similarly to metal braces. Brackets are bonded onto the teeth and are attached with an archwire that is responsible for pressure, movement, and alignment. Ideally, these are adjusted every four weeks.

Differences Between Invisalign and Clear Braces

Colour: Invisalign is visibly more transparent than the rest. While both are transparent, you will see that clear braces are still a bit obvious when compared to the Invisalign aligners.

Comfort: Invisalign offers flexibility in terms of cleaning and convenience as it can easily be removed. It is taken out when eating, brushing or flossing. Braces, on the other hand, remain on the teeth permanently and may make cleaning a bit more of a challenge.

Adjustment: Clear braces require monthly trips to your Winnipeg dental clinic for adjustments. Meanwhile, Invisalign needs to be replaced every two weeks.

Texture: After receiving braces at your Winnipeg dental clinic, you’ll begin to notice a change in the texture of your teeth. Clear braces make your teeth more brittle than usual, hence they are more susceptible to breaking.

Experience: Invisalign is known for its comfort. Someone may say that the experience is similar to the feeling of their natural teeth while clear braces feel rough and actually can cause soars on the inside of the mouth.

Effectiveness: When it comes to correcting oral issues, clear braces may have a hard time fixing the bottom teeth. This is usually due to the contact between the top teeth, the braces and your lower teeth.

Staining: Invisalign does not facilitate staining. However, clear braces can. When you drink and consume teeth-staining substances, the tendency for discolouration is high. The exposed areas might end up stained while the areas covered by the brackets won’t.

The differences between the two vary but the end goal remains the same. Visit a Winnipeg dental clinic to know if one of these two orthodontic options aligns with your dental needs today.