In the old days, metal braces were to go-to remedy for straighter teeth. Then came Invisalign, and for the last 20 years the question of “Invisalign or braces?” has been on the mind of countless patients. As a leading cosmetic dentist in Minnesota, Circle Drive Dental is especially qualified to comment.

If you’re unfamiliar with Invisalign, here’s a quick primer. Unlike braces, which are metallic, visible, and permanent (in the sense that only a dentist can remove them), Invisalign is clear and comes in removable plastic trays (“aligners”). And while Invisalign may be more expensive than traditional braces, it offers several advantages that may qualify it as your best option. As an experienced Invisalign dentist, we know all about the product’s upside – so let’s take a look at some of the biggest.

The fact that Invisalign is removable gives it a clear advantage in the ease-of-teeth-cleaning category. Whenever you want to brush your teeth, i.e. when you wake up and before you go to sleep, you only need to remove the trays, go about your cleaning, and then reinsert the trays into your mouth. Practicing good oral hygiene with braces, on the other hand, is a more daunting challenge. Food and plaque can accrue in the braces’ brackets and the adjacent gum line, thus increasing the chance of tooth decay and gum disease. And even though there are valid methods for brushing and flossing with braces, there’s still a good chance that a patient with braces will require a professional cleaning to restore her smile’s brightness after the braces are removed.

Invisalign appliances are provided to patients in sets, which makes replacement easy. If the user cracks or breaks an aligner, all he needs to do is grab a new aligner from his supply - it’s that simple. On the other hand, braces are far more “mechanical” in nature: a wire can snap or come loose, or a bracket can weaken and lose its effectiveness. Incidents like these must be addressed by the dentist, which can grow tiresome and time-consuming.

Speaking of braces being time-consuming, and even in the absence of any required repairs, braces still require a patient to spend more time in the dentist’s chair. At a bare minimum, braces need to be tightened every 1.5 - 2 months. The same isn’t true for Invisalign users – as mentioned above aligners are provided “in bulk”, usually several months’ worth at a time. Instead of making time for the dentist’s office for regular maintenance, an Invisalign patient just needs to swap out his old aligners for a new set every two week or so.

With Invisalign, you don’t need to alter your diet or avoid certain foods that aren’t braces-friendly. Also, Invisalign is ideal for patients who prioritize discreteness in a teeth-straightening solution. Plus, Invisalign can boost patient confidence and overall comfort.

Circle Drive Dental, a highly respected Rochester dentist, is an excellent choice for all things Invisalign-related. Talk to us today about Invisalign’s application, timing, and cost, and we’ll help you decide whether it’s the best solution for your situation.