The Difference Between Braces And Invisalign®

cleveland invisalign

If you have crooked, crowded, or overlapping teeth, this could mean more than just poor smile esthetics. You could also develop serious oral health complications down the road. To correct your uneven teeth, your Cleveland, TX, dentist offers two unique treatment options. But which one is right for your smile, braces or Invisalign®?

The Value of Fixing Uneven Teeth

When we have uneven teeth, this often leaves places for food particles to become lodged. Even if you brush and floss, you may be unable to remove them, which then increases the risk of complications like tooth decay and gum disease, as well as bad breath and stained teeth. For others, misalignment could upset your overall bite balance, the strain then resulting in TMJ disorder and chronic teeth grinding (bruxism). To protect the health and beauty of your smile, you need to seek treatment! The option we decide on will depend on the cause and extent of your misalignment, which we will assess during a thorough dental exam.

Braces

With braces, we attach metal brackets to the front-facing sides of the teeth. We then connect a thin arch wire to them with bands. During periodic visits, the dentist will adjust the tension in the wire to begin shifting the teeth into optimal positions. This option is great for more severe cases of misalignment. You will need to continue cleaning your smile, working around your orthodontics when you brush and floss each morning and evening.

Invisalign®

While braces are quite effective, we often find teens and adults are more excited for treatment with Invisalign®. With this option, we don’t use metal brackets and wires at all. Instead, we take detailed digital impressions of your smile, which are used to craft a series of clear aligners from a plastic material. A set is worn daily for about 20 to 22 hours, and every two weeks, the patient upgrades to the next in the series as the teeth are gradually and gently repositioned. The aligners can be removed before meals, or before you brush and floss. The total treatment period is usually about a year, while braces could require up to two years. If you have any questions about addressing misalignment, then contact our team today. We would love to see you for a consultation so we can see which option is right for you and start you on the road toward a more even and healthy smile.

Schedule Your Orthodontic Visit

Poor alignment could mean the onset of major oral health complications, which is why the team at Cleveland Family Dentistry in Cleveland, TX offers two different treatment options to correct your smile. Contact our office at (281) 592-1234 to schedule your appointment today.