Braces vs. Invisalign: Which Is Right for You?

As your trusted orthodontists in Youngsville and Lafayette, LA, we at Oubre Orthodontics always want to do what’s orthodontically best for you – including finding the orthodontic treatment that will perfectly suit your needs. While we offer a plethora of different options, for most patients, it typically comes down to one of two choices: braces and Invisalign. We’d like to help you out with the difficult decision by comparing the two options and going over their pros and cons.

Braces

Braces are the traditional form of orthodontic treatment that’s been used for over 100 years. With braces, small metal brackets are securely attached to the front of each of the patient’s teeth with an archwire running through all of them. The archwire will slightly tug on the brackets and over time, it will pull the teeth into a more favorable and aesthetically-appealing position. Braces offer many pros and cons that include the following:

Pros

• Braces are a proven and trusted orthodontic treatment.
• For more complex orthodontic conditions, braces may be the only option that’s effective enough to treat them.
• There are several different types of braces that you can choose from, including ceramic braces, which is a much more discreet treatment option.
• You’ll never have to worry about remembering to wear your braces as they’ll always be attached.
• Braces are a relatively inexpensive option compared to alternatives.

Cons

• Because there are foods that can damage the brackets and wires, you’ll need to modify your diet.
• Cleaning your teeth with braces can be much trickier.
• Traditional metal braces don’t always offer the most aesthetically-pleasing option.
• The brackets and wires are made of metal, which can sometimes cause discomfort.

Invisalign

Invisalign is the alternative to braces that utilizes plastic, removable aligners to shift teeth instead of metal brackets and wires. These aligners are custom-made for a patient after gathering important information regarding the patient’s teeth and mouth through X-rays, photographs, and impressions. A series of aligners will be created and the patient will then need to wear each set of aligners for two weeks in a designated order. As the patient moves on to wearing each new set of aligners, his or her teeth will gradually shift until all of the aligners have been worn and the teeth have reached the position that the orthodontist has prescribed. Some of the pros and cons of Invisalign include the following:

Pros

• Invisalign’s aligners are clear, allowing for a practically invisible orthodontic treatment.
• The aligners are also removable, meaning that you can take them out anytime that you want.
• You won’t have to modify your diet as you just simply take your aligners out when you want to eat.
• Cleaning your teeth while undergoing Invisalign treatment is just as simple as ever.
• The plastic aligners offer much more comfort than metal braces.
• If you grind your teeth, the aligners will act as a nightguard to protect your teeth.

Cons

• Not all patients are candidates for Invisalign; it just won’t work on more complex orthodontic problems.
• Invisalign can be more expensive than alternatives.
• You’ll need to make sure that you wear Invisalign for 22 hours a day for it to work properly.
• It’s possible to lose your aligners.

Contact Your Lafayette and Youngsville, LA Orthodontists!

If you have any further questions about our braces or Invisalign treatments, please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment with your orthodontists, we encourage you to fill out our online appointment request form. We can’t wait to help find the orthodontic treatment that’s perfect for you!