What is the difference between Invisible Aligners and Braces?

Posted by Jayden Tremblay on June 8th, 2021

The first and very prominent difference is the appearance given to the patient by both the treatments. As clear aligners are invisible and braces are very visible because of the metallic wires and buttons used, this is the most common deciding factor for the patients to choose between the two treatments when given a choice. Since teenagers are very sensitive about their looks and people who have to remain socially active can decide to have them on at any point in time without feeling awkward, the number of patients in Auburn, invisalign for orthodontic treatment has increased. Some however prefer braces with colored buttons.

The degree of dependence on the orthodontist is more for treatment with braces than in the treatment with clear aligners. This makes braces more effective. As braces are fixed to the teeth a patient cannot remove them on their own without the help of an orthodontist. As such, they remain on the teeth uninterrupted, constantly doing their work of straightening the teeth. On the other hand clear aligners can be removed by the patient, so it totally depends on the patients’ usage whether the aligners will work or not. If they remove them frequently and do not meet the requirement of having the aligners on for 20 to 22 hours a day, the treatment may not work or it may not give the desired result. Clear aligners need more work to be done at the patient’s end.

There is no restriction of food while having clear aligners. In Auburn Orthodontics has been offering straightening treatments -one where a patient has a list of restricted food as a take away and another with only a series of new aligners to be put and zero food restrictions as a take away. As braces have a metallic button where food particles can get stuck, or chewing hard may dislocate the brackets, therefore there are restrictions on food in this treatment. Aligners can be removed for eating so there are no food restrictions.

Though having braces is complicated, as one cannot remove them, patients mostly learn to live with them and thereby adopt the prescribed cleaning and eating habits to avoid more hassles. But because of the ability to be removed for convenience the patients of clear aligner tend to not follow the prescribed routine unless they are much disciplined or very serious about the treatment. Though in Auburn, Orthodontics has a solution for the teenagers and children with clear aligners, they may suggest the parents to have braces if they think the patient may not stick to the routine.

Aligners are more comfortable than braces. Having the teeth covered by the braces all the time is uncomfortable compared to aligners that only have a pair of plastic trays on the teeth. These trays can also be removed for brushing, flossing and eating so the patient can do them daily without being bothered by anything inside the mouth. This is another reason why Auburn has more Invisalign patients.