Braces vs. Invisalign: Which Teeth-Straightening Mechanism Is Best For You?

Are you an adult looking to achieve straight teeth? Or a parent trying to find the best teeth-straightening solution for your child? Invisalign, an orthodontic system using clear aligners rather than metal braces, might just be the the answer for you.

That's right. You can forget nicknames like "brace face" or "metal mouth" if you go with Invisalign. However, this doesn't mean Invisalign is right for everyone.

So, what works best? Dr. Paul Etchison of Nelson Ridge Family Dental gives us an inside perspective on the pros and cons of each and reveals who might be the perfect candidate for Invisalign.

Patch: What exactly is Invisalign, and how does it work?

Etchison: Invisalign is an orthodontic system utilizing clear aligners to straighten teeth rather than metal braces. The aligners are practically invisible, hence the name Invisalign. Computers digitally move the patient's teeth within the software, creating successive aligners from that digital plan to produce the aligners that will achieve the movement desired in the patient's mouth.

Patch: How long do most patients have to wear it?

Etchison: Cases often vary from three months all the way to two years, but most of my adult patients are in Invisalign for an average of nine months to a year. It all depends on how much movement is needed to achieve the results desired.

Patch: How much does Invisalign cost? Who's the best candidate for it, and is there an ideal age?

Etchison: Invisalign can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $6,000 depending on the difficulty of the case and the movement desired. Treatment cost is often based on the amount of time the patient will need to wear Invisalign to get the results they want.

The youngest that a patient can proceed with Invisalign is usually around 12 years old. There is no age limit where we cannot treat any patient orthodontically. Ideally, younger patient’s teeth move faster, but I have treated people in their 80s before successfully.

Patch: What are the pros and cons of Invisalign vs. braces?

Etchison: The pros for Invisalign include the ability to get the smile you’ve dreamed of without wearing braces. Often, especially with adult patients, the cosmetics of wearing metal braces keep the patient from proceeding with orthodontics. The great thing about Invisalign is that it takes that fear away by offering an alternative to having a “metal mouth.”

As Invisalign technology has improved, the amount of cases we can treat with Invisalign over metal braces has increased immensely during the past decade. Metal braces have an advantage in that we have a little more control over the root position, but for most patients, this is a difference that only a dental professional would be able to see.

One of the cons of Invisalign is that compliance is completely dependent on the patient. Therefore, if the patient does not wear the trays for the prescribed amount of time, the system fails, and the planned results are never achieved. Since Invisalign gives my patients the smile they want without metal braces, that very fact is usually enough motivation for the patient to wear the trays as prescribed.

Patch: Who would you make an appointment with if you're looking to try Invisalign?

Etchison: If you or your teenager is looking to see if Invisalign would be a good fit, please give us a call. We offer a free consultation as well as simulation to show what the teeth would look like once they are straight. The technology behind Invisalign is really exciting, and they are quickly replacing metal braces in many cases, especially with adults.

Image credit: Nelson Ridge Family Dental