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Braces vs Aligners – Which Will Suit You Better?

Many patients (or their parents) have asked us which option will be better for them. It really is a personal decision, so we thought we would provide some information to take with you to help you if you need time to consider your options.

It is important to remember that aligners can treat most, but not all, orthodontic problems. Therefore, it is important that you chat with your orthodontist at your initial consultation about which option might help you get the best result.

For many cases, however, both options are available which means you get to decide according to what you would prefer and what best suits your lifestyle.

Braces are made of metal or porcelain and are attached to your teeth. Metal wires and rubber bands are then used to provide a force to help the teeth move into the correct position.

Aligners are made of plastic and are custom made to fit your teeth. Each aligner moves the teeth step by step towards the final position. Small bumps of composite resin (tooth coloured filling material) are attached to various teeth to help the aligner grip the tooth so it can be moved correctly.

Aligners

Advantages:

Appearance: Aligners are less noticeable than braces as they are clear and custom made to fit your teeth. This can be a factor for many, but not all patients.

Diet: As you remove your aligners to eat, your diet is not affected. You will still be able to eat the foods you like. Some foods are difficult or uncomfortable to eat with braces and can cause breakages which can delay treatment and require extra visits to have repairs carried out.

Hygiene: As your aligners are removable, you can brush and floss as per normal. This is significant as cleaning your teeth with braces in place is challenging for many patients.

Appointments: As the tooth movement is pre-planned by your Orthodontist, the actual visits to the practice are usually much simpler and, in some cases, can be fewer overall. This can be a big advantage for all those who are living busy lives!

Comfort: Generally speaking, aligners are more comfortable than braces. Although the teeth can still be somewhat tender as they begin to move, the lips and cheeks tend to be less irritated as the plastic aligner is smoother than the metal or porcelain braces. This may be particularly relevant for those playing contact (or semi-contact) sports.

Disadvantages:

Compliance: Aligners need to be worn 22 hours a day to be effective. This means they are only removed for eating and cleaning. Compliance equals results!

Aligners need to be removed for eating and cleaning. Some patients may find it difficult to do this in public if they feel shy or embarrassed about it.

Effectiveness: Aligners can treat most cases, but not all. In complex situations, your orthodontist may recommend braces rather than aligners. If you insist on aligners anyway, the final result may not be as precise.

Cost: In some cases, the cost of aligners can be more than braces. However, in many cases they are similar or the same. Your orthodontist can discuss the cost of your options before you decide.

Braces

Advantages:

Applicable to all cases: Whereas aligners can treat most cases, braces can be used treat all cases. That means braces are always an option.

Variety of braces: Braces can be various types of metal braces, with or without colours. There are also porcelain braces which are much more discreet than regular metal braces.

Compliance: Because the braces are fixed to your teeth, you cannot forget to wear them, or lose them. This can be useful for some patients if they are not internally motivated to comply with wearing aligners adequately.

Disadvantages:

Hygiene: It is much more challenging to clean your teeth with braces rather than aligners. If cleaning is not done adequately, real damage can occur to the teeth. This may lead to the decision to remove your braces early, before an optimal final result has been achieved.

Diet: With braces attached to your teeth, your diet will need to be modified. Hard foods (or night time grinding) can cause breakages which can slow or stop your treatment progress. Also, as you are more prone to decay with braces on, sugary sticky foods need to be avoided. A poor diet, plus inadequate hygiene is a recipe for disaster!

Comfort: Generally speaking, braces are more likely to cause discomfort as they can rub on the cheeks and lips. Some patients suffer from this more than others and is often a consideration for people involved in some sports and other activities.

Appearance: Braces (even the porcelain ones) are more noticeable than aligners. This is important for some patients depending on their occupation, hobbies and personality.

Appointments: The appointments needed for braces tend to be longer and more involved, with active adjustments needed to be carried out in the chair. There may be a need for more frequent visits as well.

There’s a lot to consider when you are weighing up the options of orthodontic treatment. Hopefully the information provided above will be useful in helping you decide which option suits you best. There are no right or wrong options, however being informed about your choice and what it will mean on a day-to-day basis is very important. Decide what pros or cons matter most to you to help make your decision easier. Most importantly, ask questions. Make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.

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At Doral Family Dental our mission is to provide care to our patients at a reasonable cost, we have advanced technology and highly trained professionals to meet the needs and high expectations of our patients.

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Braces vs Aligners – Which Will Suit You Better?

Aligners

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