Is Invisalign faster than ordinary braces?
One of the first questions people tend to ask about Invisalign braces is the amount of time they will need to correct your teeth. Crooked or misaligned teeth can be embarrassing and uncomfortable if not treated properly, and many people look for a quick solution.
Many people tend to shy away from ordinary metal braces due to their lack of aesthetic appeal, making clear options for braces an increasingly popular option. The question of whether traditional braces or Invisalign braces are faster has divided answers.
Some orthodontists will tell you that Invisalign are in fact faster than ordinary braces while others believe the opposite. Neither of these opinions are technically wrong, however the belief that Invisalign braces produce slower results is a bit outdated.
Why Choose Invisalign?
Invisalign has been rapidly gaining popularity within last few years with both patients and orthodontists, not only for the aesthetic factor but also for the reduction in tooth damage and substantial plaque buildup that traditional wire/ bracket braces can cause.
Invisalign has been on the market for nearly 15 years now and initially they did in fact take slightly longer to repair common malocclusion than traditional wire and bracket braces. However, the past decade has seen huge technical improvements to the Invisalign trays. Traditional braces can take 3 years or more to properly correct tooth misalignment and spacing, whereas Invisalign normally corrects the malocclusion within a year (18 months for severe misalignment and spacing issues).
What makes Invisalign faster?
There are several reasons why Invisalign is able to fix crooked, spaced or misaligned teeth faster and more effectively than traditional metal/ceramic braces. Invisalign aligner trays are made specifically for the patient by using x-rays and impressions to design a computer generated 3-D image to design aligning trays to treat the patient’s malocclusion in custom manner.
Metal or ceramic braces on the other hand have more of a one size fits all system that requires frequent orthodontists/dentist visits to adjust the braces. Invisalign braces only require patients to check in with their dentist/orthodontist every 6 weeks or so.
Invisalign trays also allow clear and accurate x-rays (metal and ceramic braces can hinder an accurate x-ray picture). The advantage to accurate x-rays is that it allows your dentist/orthodontist to efficiently track your teeth’s progress to make prompt adjustments to the aligner trays should they need it.
Unlike metal braces that use painful damaging wires and brackets to straighten teeth, Invisalign uses their aligning trays to achieve a process known as simultaneous staging that can actually reduce treatment times by 30 to 50% in comparison to ordinary braces.
If you’re considering Invisalign for your teeth, then it’s certainly a decision to discuss with your orthodontist, as they will be happy to tell you more.