In life, when looking for treatment, many people seek to compare the desired treatment with the closest alternative. This is common in cosmetic care, with patients comparing the effects of a facelift to dermal fillers, for instance. However, when it comes to dental care and the realigning of teeth, this...
In life, when looking for treatment, many people
seek to compare the desired treatment with the closest alternative. This is
common in cosmetic care, with patients comparing the effects of a facelift to
dermal fillers, for instance.
However, when it comes to dental care and the
realigning of teeth, this is no different. Many patients are aware that
straightening teeth with a clear aligner is usually the way to go for easy and
discreet treatment. But they cannot help but have concerns that an invisible
aligner will not compare to a standard fixed brace.
Hence, we have devised the following article to
help you compare invisible aligners with braces.
At
Clear Braces Direct, we know all
there is to know about invisible aligners, especially Invisalign London, and we are
well versed in how they compare to fixed forms of orthodontics. So if you are
curious about how this aligner works or whether it is suitable for you, feel
free to contact us.
But how does Invisalign London
compare to a standard fixed brace when straightening teeth? Read on to find
out.
Time
You may have heard that Invisalign London
will take longer than a standard fixed brace to straighten your teeth simply
because it doesn’t work on the same principles; this is not true. Most patients
who undertake treatment with an invisible aligner will need to wear it for
between 3 to 6 months, depending on the severity of the problem being corrected
and their adherence to the advice set down by us. A standard fixed brace is
usually worn by adult patients for between 12 and 36 months, so it is easy to
see which option is preferable if you are looking to save time while
straightening your teeth.
Comfort
Even in 2022, there is no such thing as a comfortable
aligner or brace because these are tools that need to move teeth and cannot
afford to hold back when aiming to achieve that goal. However, aligners work
differently. Braces are fixed and require tightening or adjusting to work,
whereas aligners have these movements built into their shapes and gradually
push your teeth into the required locations. So many patients find aligners
more comfortable to wear overall.
Ease of use
Braces are somewhat easy to use; they are fixed,
you need to keep them clean, and then your dentist adjusts them. Aligners, on
the other hand, are within your control. You are required to time how often you
wear them and when you wear them, as well as send weekly selfies to our team
via the associated app. However, many patients find the ease of use with
invisible aligners related to the cleaning and general maintenance, which is a
bit more complicated with a fixed brace.
Appointments
When you wear a fixed brace, you will need to
attend appointments with our dentist every 4 to 6 weeks to have the brace
tightened or adjusted. With invisible aligners, you will need to see our team
on average every 6 to 8 weeks for checkups. But as mentioned earlier, you also
need to send weekly selfies, which can reduce your time visiting our team if
all is going well.
Cost
Many people assume that invisible aligners are more expensive than braces, but this is rarely the case, as the overall cost involves the appointment with our team and any adjustments that are needed, which will be more common with a fixed brace. So, invisible aligners are usually the more affordable option.