Invisalign treatment vs braces: which is suitable for your smile?

Okay, you're totally sure you want to get yourself a straighter, beautiful smile. The perks are obvious — you'll feel more confident, have fewer oral health issues, and you'll look a-maze-ing in pictures.

But there's one big question left to answer: should you get Invisalign aligners or braces?

Invisalign treatment and braces both have things going for them, so the best way to make a decision is to talk to your dentist or orthodontist about what would be more suitable for you.

To begin with though, we're going to quickly explain what each treatment is, and then list a bunch of categories to see which one is best in that situation. That way, you can start out with a decent idea of what’s what, before you talk to your dentist or orthodontist.

What are traditional braces?

Traditional metal braces are the classic way to straighten your teeth, consisting of metal brackets and wires. Metal braces have been around since the 1800s¹!

That being said, traditional braces do the job of treating misaligned teeth conditions, and they're also usually the go to option because of their long history for teeth straightening.

Depending on your case, traditional metal braces generally take between 12 and 24 months² to do their thing.

What is Invisalign treatment?

Invisalign treatment is a modern alternative to braces, consisting of a series of clear aligners that are custom-made to fit your teeth and gently reposition them over time. Invisalign clear aligners are made with SmartTrack^® material, which offers a range of benefits, such as comfort³, speed⁴ and predictability⁵.Your clear aligners are swapped out for the next set in the series as your teeth continue to straighten.

Before you start Invisalign treatment, you may get your teeth digitally scanned and you can see a simulation of what you may look like with straighter teeth in a matter of minutes even before starting your journey.

Invisalign treatment usually takes around 12 – 18 months⁶ on average, but it can sometimes be as quick as 6 months! Treatment time will vary depending on the complexity of your case, which your dentist or orthodontist can assess. So less time in treatment means more time loving your new smile!⁷

Invisalign treatment vs traditional braces — brushing and flossing

This is a big one, especially for anyone who already struggles to keep their teeth clean. With metal braces, you have to be extra careful when brushing and flossing around all of the metal hardware, which can be a pain (literally!) for some people.

If you're not very consistent with cleaning your teeth with braces, you're more likely to develop cavities and other problems⁸.

With Invisalign treatment, on the other hand, you can easily remove your clear aligners to brush and floss like normal, which makes it a lot easier to keep your teeth clean and healthy.

Invisalign treatment vs traditional braces — look and appeal

Well, we're not going to lie, it's pretty obvious when you are wearing traditional braces. If you're not into the look of metal hardware in your mouth, then braces might not be for you.

On the other hand, Invisalign clear aligners are practically transparent — unless someone is up close and personal with your mouth, they're probably not going to be able to tell that you're wearing clear aligners.

Invisalign treatment vs traditional braces — eating, ease of use, and comfort

If you happen to be someone who tends to get food stuck in your teeth, do read this.

With traditional metal braces, the brackets and wires can make it harder for you to eat certain foods, like popcorn, apples or chewing gum - not fun. And if you forget about a piece of food stuck in your braces, you run the risk of running into some oral health issues.

On the other hand, Invisalign treatment is super easy to live with — all you have to do is pop out your clear aligners when you eat and put them back in after you're done. Plus, because there are no metal brackets or wires to worry about, Invisalign treatment is a lot more comfortable for most people.

Invisalign treatment vs traditional braces — visits to the dentist or Orthodontist

With traditional braces, you'll typically have to see your dentist or orthodontist every three to four weeks for adjustments. If you damage your braces in any way (which isn't uncommon), you'll need to make an unplanned visit to get them fixed — sorry! The process of tightening braces can be a bit uncomfortable too, as the treating doctor needs to poke around in your mouth quite a bit.

Invisalign treatment, on the other hand, uses special advanced SmartStage^® technology* to generate the plan for your customised aligners for each stage of your treatment, which means that your dentist or orthodontist simply needs to monitor that your teeth are moving in line with the treatment plan prescribed.

Depending on your needs, a visit every six to eight weeks could be enough — depending on how well you follow your treatment plan! With the My Invisalign app, you can also upload a photo of your treatment progress and check in with your dentist or orthodontist virtually via Invisalign Virtual Care, which is pretty cool.

Less visits to the dentist or orthodontist means more time to enjoy the things you love.

*SmartStage technology uses ClinCheck software, a powerful and sophisticated tool that supports treatment planning and monitoring.

If you want to learn more about Invisalign treatment, book consultation with an Invisalign dentist or orthodontist today by visiting our Find a Doctor page.