Choosing between Invisalign clear aligners and braces can feel like picking between two favorite flavors of ice cream—each has its own perks. However, the decision can be overwhelming for new patients, especially since Dr. Candice and Dr. Shawn at About Faces and Braces consider factors like the severity of your bite.
To make things simpler, here are four key factors to think about before choosing braces or Invisalign:
1. Discreetness
For our teen and adult patients in Ft. Campbell, Rudolphtown, Bellevue, and Springfield, the ability to keep their treatment low-profile is a top concern.
- Metal Braces: Our traditional metal braces consist of high-grade metal brackets and archwire. Because braces come with colored elastics, they can be as colorful as you want, making them much more noticeable to the naked eye.
- Clear Braces: With brackets and an archwire crafted from polycrystalline material, clear braces blend with the color of your teeth. They won’t be easily noticed in public unless someone has keen eyesight.
- Invisalign: Unlike braces, Invisalign doesn’t have ceramic or metal components. It is a clear aligner tray made from the brand’s SmartTrack material, a BPA-free thermoplastic polymer that gives our clear aligners their signature near-invisible look.
2. Brushing
Brushing is a staple of your metal braces, clear braces, or Invisalign treatment. Your preferred treatment will determine if you need to change your usual brushing habits.
- Metal Braces and Clear Braces: Normally, brushing only takes two minutes. It’s a different story with braces. With so many places for food and plaque to get trapped, brushing evolves into a slow and steady process. But this should not intimidate you.
Begin brushing the top and bottom of the brackets and wire, followed by the chewing and inner surfaces of your teeth on both jaws. Then, remove all remaining plaque and food build-up with an interdental brush. Overall, the whole process takes three to five minutes.
- Invisalign: Invisalign makes brushing a breeze. Just take out your clear aligner tray and go about your brushing business. Dr. Lehman-Grimes and Dr. Coleman recommend brushing twice a day or after every meal to maintain good oral hygiene during treatment. Don’t forget to rinse your Invisalign and put it back into your mouth.
3. Treatment Costs, Process, and Duration
During your initial consultation at About Faces and Braces, Dr. Lehman-Grimes or Dr. Coleman will discuss your eligibility, processes, cost, and expected completion of your treatment. All these will help you make an informed decision about each dental appliance.
- Metal Braces and Clear Braces: Harnessing the power of our iTero Element scanner, we’ll create a 3D impression of your smile’s anatomy for our reference — from each individual tooth down to your gums.
We’ll affix the steel brackets, thread and bend the archwire, and attach the colored elastics. Treatment lasts an average of 12 to 24 months, and follow-up appointments occur every four to six weeks.
Because of the difference in materials, treatment costs for clear braces are pricier than those for metal braces.
- Invisalign: No gooey impressions! We stick to those good old 3D impressions to create your customized Invisalign clear aligner set. You’ll wear your Invisalign for at least 22 hours a day. Every two weeks, you’ll change to a new clear aligner until you complete your treatment in 9 to 15 months. Due to lab fees and materials used, Invisalign is more expensive than braces.
4. Dietary Restrictions
Food is life. However, whether a significant change in eating (and drinking) habits is needed depends on your preferred treatment.
- Metal Braces: Any food that’s hard, sticky, and chewy can damage your braces or their components. If you munch on crunchy food after getting your braces installed or adjusted, your teeth will exert more force to break it down — which can lead to tooth pain and discomfort.
Soft tacos, noodles, sandwiches, and other braces-friendly foods save you a trip to the office. Cutting fruits and meat into smaller pieces also makes chewing easier and prevents breakage.
- Clear Braces: Dietary restrictions are the same as metal braces. Despite the ceramic makeup of clear braces, we allow our patients to take their coffee or tea. And you can thank technological advancements for that. At the end of the day, staining and discoloration will be the least of your concerns.
- Invisalign: With Invisalign, food restrictions are thrown out of the window. From pizza to chicken to fruit, the menu is your oyster. Be sure to remove your clear aligners first before digging in; you wouldn’t want food to get stuck on your aligner.
Although you can drink water with Invisalign, we advise our patients to remove their aligners when drinking soda, juices, or coffee to avoid staining.
Let’s Help You Decide the Right Treatment!
Lifestyle, diet, cost, and brushing habits — these are just some of the factors to keep in mind when getting Invisalign clear aligners or braces. Lucky for you, our smile team is here to help you make the right decision.
Complete our online appointment form or call About Faces and Braces today for an initial consultation. See you at either of our Nashville or Springfield offices or one of our two offices in Clarksville: Ft. Campbell or Rudolph Town!