I knew I needed to fix things. I needed to straighten my teeth, improve my bite, and in the process help alleviate the discomfort from my TMJ. I knew that after three years of braces as a kid, I didn’t want to do braces again, but to be honest, I would have if necessary. But was it necessary? Why would I choose Invisalign over traditional braces?
There are pros and cons to each method of moving teeth.
Pros for braces:
- They are on and the orthodontist is in control of the movement
- There are no clear aligners to worry about losing; it’s why braces are often a great option for kids and some teenagers
- Braces are always at work, since they aren’t removable by the patient
Cons for braces:
- Braces require more frequent visits to the orthodontist, sometimes every 4 or 6 weeks, for adjustments
- Brackets can break and wires can poke out as teeth move around the wire, causing discomfort and the need for repairs
- Certain foods can damage braces, so you have to avoid crunchy, sticky, gooey, and hard foods and candies.
- Proper hygiene is always crucial, but you must learn to brush and floss around brackets
Pros for Invisalign:
- Less visits to the orthodontist–Invisalign only requires a checkup every 10 weeks to make sure everything is on track
- Tooth movement can be very specific–If Dr. Maginnis only wants tooth #10 and #12 that’s all that will move, leaving teeth already perfectly positioned alone
- Aligners are removable, not limiting the types of foods you can eat and makes special flossing and brushing techniques not necessary, just take them out to eat and brush
- There is rarely a need for repairs
Cons for Invisalign:
- You, the patient, are responsible for tooth movement which can also be a pro, but aligners must be worn, without fail, for 20-22 hours per day. What makes this a con for me is that there’s the temptation to remove them if my teeth feel sensitive from moving
- Removable aligners comes with the possibility of losing them
- The aligners are not water tight; drinking fluids of any color, especially wine, coffee, and soda come with the possibility of staining the aligners
For me, Invisalign was winning the race on pros and cons, but there was one little tidbit that was a deciding factor. While I had a cross-bite as a child, my bite is now an overbite. In order to correct that with braces, my bite would have to be propped open using “bite turbos,” which are “ramps” placed behind the upper front teeth. Without them, I’d run the risk of my upper teeth bumping against the lower brackets and “biting them off” every time I closed my mouth. It’s so much easier for kids to get used to appliances like this, but for the 40 year old woman with longer held habits, that would have been really difficult to contend with. Invisalign was going to make those little pieces of joy unnecessary.
After taking all these points into consideration, it was a no-brainer for me. Invisalign it is! Sign me up!
Fresh Smiles in the Lowcountry 