If you need braces, then you may be thinking about whether you want to get conventional braces or Invisalign. Traditional braces are the kind of braces that everyone had seen on their friends when they were children or on your children during their youth. Most youth or teenagers will have an easier time with traditional bracket and wire braces, partly due to the fact that so many of their peers have them at the same time. If you are an adult or older teen though, then traditional braces can be daunting due to their looks. This is why Invisalign is attractive to so many people because they are barely noticeable and are removable. There are limitations on Invisalign though, and they cannot always replace conventional braces. Here are the pros and cons of traditional braces and Invisalign.
Severity
One of the biggest cons of Invisalign is that it cannot handle all orthodontic problems because it has diminished control over tooth movement by comparison to traditional braces. If you have:
Severely rotated teeth (a tooth rotated more than 20 degrees from normal position)
Large teeth spacing (more than 6 mm of combined tooth gaps per arch)
Overcrowded teeth (Less than 6 mm per arch)
Extremely tipped teeth (teeth tilted more than 45 degrees from normal)
Severe overbite or underbite
Open bites (where anterior teeth do not touch, often due to thumb sucking or tongue thrusting)
Invisalign is getting better and better though. Now, you can use elastics with Invisalign thanks to attachments to help straighten your teeth. So while Invisalign is currently more limited than conventional braces, which can do pretty much anything given the right application, in the future, it may be able to do a lot more.
Staining
If you do not take proper care of your teeth while you are wearing conventional braces, then when the brackets have finally been removed the portions of your teeth that were exposed may be stained while the tooth covered by the bracket is not. To avoid this, make sure that you are brushing your teeth properly every day and avoid drinks that stain.
Decay
If you have Invisalign, then you have to take your Invisalign off to eat or drink (like a retainer) and put it back in after (you are allowed to drink water with your Invisalign in but no other beverages). If you do not brush your teeth before doing this, though, and if you drink things like soda with your Invisalign then you could end up with tooth decay.
Cost
In most cases, conventional braces are cheaper, especially if you are not compliant with your Invisalign use (you must always wear your Invisalign and not take it out).
Ineligibility
If you have crowns, bridges, or not all of your teeth have grown in, then you cannot have removable braces.
Aesthetics
The main reason most people consider something like Invisalign, especially adults, is that no one knows you are wearing it!
If you need braces and are thinking of Invisalign for yourself, but fear that your orthodontic issues are too severe for Invisalign, then there is a third option: using both conventional braces and Invisalign. Start out in traditional braces to get your teeth to the point where, while not perfect, they can finish the correction process in Invisalign which will shorten your time in conventional braces.
If you are looking for Invisalign in Vancouver or a dentist in Vancouver BC, then look no further than Vancity Dental. Our professional staff will help you decide on the best course of orthodontic care for you, whether Invisalign or conventional braces.
