Pros and Cons of Braces and Invisalign: Which One Should You Go for

You will often find people in your life with front teeth curved and bent outwards or inwards from their gum. This causes problems speaking and might cause discomfort.

But thanks to the advancement of medical technology, methods such as Invisalign and bracing have helped these distressed people. But since these methods are completely different, you might get confused when deciding which one to get. But fear not because that is where we come to help you.

We’ll explain each of these approaches in this article and their advantages and disadvantages. We hope you can decide without much difficulty after reading this information. However, before we do that, let’s look at some factors that could motivate you to have Invisalign or braces.

Reasons for Getting Braces or Invisalign

Any spatial problem related to teeth, such as teeth that are too far apart or too close, will eventually lead you to get braces or Invisalign. 

But apart from this, there are other major reasons why getting treated by any one of these methods is a must. Some of these problems include:

1. Visibly crooked teeth as it can get unpleasing to look at people who have too many crooked teeth
2. Malocclusion. A rare issue where the jaws are misaligned. A brace or an Invisalign can get it fixed.
3. Frequently biting your tongue because of the crooked teeth
4. Difficulty pronouncing a few words while talking
5. Jaws make strange noises as you bite and chew on things
6. Jaw muscles are getting worn out after eating remotely heavy.

There are a lot of well-known and famous dentists around South Charlotte. But be sure that you take advice from people who have gone to some. Always go to the most positively reviewed dentist for Invisalign or braces in South Carolina, Louisiana, or any other parts of the US.

What are Braces?

Braces are a very common treatment for people who have disformed teeth. The method was first introduced in the 19^th century by Christophe-Francois Delabarre. As time went on, it became more available among ordinary men and became a popular treatment method for bent teeth. 

We will not detail the precise method as your dentist will play that part. So let us take a look at some of the pros and cons of using Braces.

Pros of Braces

1. More Experienced Doctors

As mentioned before, the method has gained popularity since the early 20^th century. Since then, many dentists have practiced this treatment method to refine it further. This is why getting well-experienced doctors in this field is much easier. For Invisalign or braces in South Charlotte, or other parts of the US, you can find multiple expert orthodontics at a very reasonable price.

The risk of maltreatment is pretty low, and the technology is much more advanced than the technology used in the last century.

2. Cost Efficient

Although all dental treatment will cost you a lot of money, doing braces is still relatively cheaper compared to Invisalign. We will talk more about the cost of Invisalign later.

Although there is no fixed price, the cost of getting braces is around 2,500 USD to 6,000 USD. The price goes up and down depending on the severity of the problem in your teeth, the metal you will use for the braces and how long you need to be treated. 

3. Quick treatment

Braces are not only less stressful on your wallet, but they also spare your busy schedule. Even in the worst-case scenario, it would take about 3-4 months to align all the teeth properly. This means you can get back to looking normal and enjoy your favorite snacks whenever you want.

Cons of Braces

1. Cannot Eat All Types of Food

This is a major problem for people with braces. They cannot eat everything they want, especially crispy food. You also cannot eat hard and chewy foods such as nuts, bagels, bread and chewing gum. The risk of food particles and dust getting stuck inside the braces could result in infection.

So basically, to make sure you get better in a short amount of time, you need to apply as little pressure as possible on your teeth.

2. Cannot Floss

Many people have a habit of flossing, which is definitely a healthy habit and should be practiced by almost everyone. But with braces, it becomes almost impossible to floss the right way.

Wires and metal brackets will bind your teeth. This makes it very difficult for floss strings to cross in between each tooth properly. So until you remove your braces, you cannot floss the right way.

3. Discomfort

This is by far the most common problem of braces. While wearing braces, people will feel irritated when the wires connected to the teeth tighten. Some even report to feel pain when the wire tightens.

Apart from the wire, the metal brackets can also cause discomfort. They can irritate the tongue and the lips. The wire and these metal caps can also cut and damage the tissues inside the mouth, leading to even more complications.

What is Invisalign?

This method of treating the teeth was invented around 1997 by two Stanford University students working on developing better dental treatment methods. 

So from right here, we can see that even though this is relatively new, this method is slowly gaining more and more positive reviews from people using it. So let us discuss the pros and cons

Pros of Invisalign

1. No Restriction on Your Eating Habit

This is where Invisalign shines because there is no limitation in what you can or cannot eat during your treatment process.

This is because the Invisalign can be easily detached from the teeth. Then you can eat whatever you want, floss your teeth, and wear the mask again.

2. Does Not Cause Distress

Unlike Braces, there is no extra wiring that occasionally tightens to make the teeth fall in place. The entire Invisalign is a plastic cap that covers your teeth, protects it from getting harm from outside, and pulls the teeth closer to fall in place effectively.

Because there is no irritation, the number of people taking Invisalign instead of traditional braces has steadily increased. We expect that it may surpass traditional braces in a few more years.

3. Unnoticeable

Invisalign is a combination of the words invisible and alignment. This “Invisible” segment makes the whole thing much more compelling as the caps are so transparent that people will hardly realize if anything is even there in the first place. 

Although high-quality Invisaligns can be expensive, they come as crystal clear, and even if they get used roughly, the eye does not get damaged.

Cons of Invisalign

1. Expensive

Since we just discussed expenses in the last point, let us look at how high the price can be. In South Carolina, the cost of getting braces can be around 3,000 USD to 7,000 USD. 

On the other hand, Invisaligns can cost you from 3,500 USD to 9,000 USD. So there is a considerable price difference. Even still, many people get these transparent caps as they want to feel relaxed and confident throughout their day.

2. Avoid Sugary Drinks

Drinks that contain added sugar may seep into the gaps between the teeth and the Invisalign cap. This may result in tooth decay, gum decay, and cavities.

Drinks with added sugar are harmful in and of themselves. So to get the best result for your body and teeth, you must avoid drinking sugary drinks while wearing caps. Also, protecting your teeth from other sugary treats during the holidays is best.

3. Not Much Expertise

As mentioned earlier, this method of treating the eyes is relatively new. Only 25 years have passed since the two students introduced this. So, the technology is not that well developed. 

Given time in the future, there could be Invisaligns that properly grasp the teeth. This way, no drink can seep into the cap, and you can drink any beverage. 

Which One to Go for?

Kids or teens with extremely crooked teeth need braces. Wearing braces at first can be a bit annoying, but braces force the teeth into a suitable position better than an Invisalign. As for adults who don’t have too crooked teeth, aligners or Invisalign can be a comfortable option. Invisaligns are removable, and some are nearly invisible. But Invisaligns are definitely more expensive than braces.

Final Thoughts

Teeth are an essential part of a person’s beauty. To have great teeth means to have a great smile, and with a great smile, you can express your personality and captivate others.

And to help you achieve that perfect smile, you need to treat your teeth right. With all the pros and cons discussed before you, we assume it will help you decide and make decisions much easier.

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