Clear aligners and braces both serve a similar purpose: to straighten and properly align your teeth. Both treatments can improve your oral health and the appearance of your smile, but you also need to consider which one would be better for your lifestyle and sense of well-being. At Copper Creek Dental, our dentists will discuss both options with you and help you decide on the best route. Let’s dive in and compare the differences between clear aligners vs. braces.
Are Clear Aligners Right for Me?
Clear aligners are a series of removable “trays” that fit snugly over your teeth and gradually align them over the course of nine to twelve months. They are virtually invisible and far less noticeable than traditional metal braces. You can remove them to eat and brush your teeth, and they’re usually much more comfortable to wear.
Clear aligners can treat mild to moderate cases of gapped or crowded teeth, overbites, underbites, crossbites, open bites, or crooked teeth. However, they may not be the optimal choice to treat severe alignment issues.
How Clear Aligners Work
At Copper Creek Dental, we offer both Invisalign and SureSmile clear aligners. We will take digital impressions of your teeth and send in your prescription to the lab so they can be manufactured and returned. When your first set of aligners arrives, we will contact you to schedule an appointment for a fitting. We’ll also give you instructions on how to wear them and care for them properly.
You will wear each set of custom clear aligners for two weeks. You’ll need to wear them for at least 22 hours every day in order for treatment to be effective. You should only remove them for short periods to eat and drink or to brush and floss your teeth. As long as you wear them according to our instructions, you should see fast results.
Benefits of Clear Aligners
- Discreet appearance
- Faster treatment time
- Easier to clean
- More flexibility with food choices
Are Traditional Braces Right for Me?
Traditional braces include non-removable metal brackets attached to the teeth with a special cement. A long, thin wire is then threaded through all of the brackets, and tiny rubber bands are placed around the brackets to hold the wire in place. Traditional braces can be used to straighten teeth, correct biting alignment, and correct jaw problems. Although they can treat mild and moderate alignment issues, braces are most often used for the more severe cases.
How Traditional Braces Work
Traditional braces put pressure on your teeth to slowly move them into better alignment. They also reshape the bone structure underneath your teeth. Traditional braces are more complex than clear aligners, as they have many parts. Braces will require check-ups on your progress every four to six weeks. If they do not notice much improvement, they will remove the tiny rubber bands on your braces and replace them with tighter ones to place more pressure on your teeth.
Benefits of Traditional Braces
- You don’t have to remember to put them in or take them out.
- You can’t lose them.
- You can choose different color bands at each visit if you wish.
- Traditional braces can treat complex alignment issues.
Comparison of Clear Aligners vs. Braces
We’ve already covered some of the most significant points, but let’s quickly examine some of the main differences between clear aligners and braces.
Appearance
Clear aligners, like Invisalign and SureSmile, are virtually invisible. They are not easily noticed by others, whereas traditional braces have shiny metal brackets and wires.
Comfort and Convenience
Clear aligners are generally more comfortable and gentle than traditional braces. Most people who use clear aligners experience less discomfort from pressure.
Treatment Duration
Clear aligners usually take about six to eighteen months, while traditional braces have a treatment duration of one to three years. Length of treatment also depends on the severity of your case, and with clear aligners, it also depends how well you follow your dentist’s instructions.
Effectiveness
Clear aligners and traditional braces are both effective methods of straightening teeth. However, traditional braces will more effectively treat complex dental issues.
Cost
Clear aligners and traditional braces generally cost about the same amount. Depending on the severity of the case, they can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $7,000.
Clear Aligners vs. Braces? Let Copper Creek Dental Help You Decide
If you’re still comparing the differences between clear aligners and braces, come to Copper Creek Dental. We can help you make an informed decision based on your particular dental issues. We can help you determine which treatment will give you the best results. Take the next step toward getting the smile you have always dreamed of—contact us to schedule an appointment today.
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