There is a popular alternative to metal braces for straightening teeth: Invisalign aligners. Today, our orthodontists at Fraser Valley Orthodontics in Langley share the differences between the two treatments to help you make your decision.
Invisalign
Invisalign's series of plastic aligners are clear and removable, with the ability to help straighten your teeth without having to use wires or metal.
Your treatment involves wearing each set of aligners for a length of time between ten days to two weeks, which is when you change to your next set of Invisalign® aligners. Your orthodontist will determine the exact time frame.
When wearing your Invisalign aligners, the people around you will struggle to see them, because they are transparent. This makes Invisalign orthodontic treatment a great choice for you if you are worried about the aesthetics of the traditional metal and wire braces.
You are also able to remove Invisalign® aligners, so you don't have to make any drastic changes to the foods you eat or to your regular dental care routine.
Braces
When using traditional metal braces, your dentist manipulates small metal components to guide your bite and/or teeth into a correct, new position.
There are three primary components to mental braces (wires, elastic bands, and brackets) which apply specifically calibrated forces to slowly move your teeth into a correct position over time.
Metal braces today are far less troublesome and obtrusive to daily life because improvements have been made to their comfort, design, and size.
This treatment method works efficiently for both complex and simple orthodontic cases.