How to Choose Between Invisalign or Braces in 2024

Invisalign and braces are two of the most common options for people seeking dental treatment for crooked or misaligned teeth. In many ways, Invisalign and braces treat the same oral health issues, including common malocclusions such as teeth gaps, crooked teeth, and bite misalignment. However, they each come with unique advantages and disadvantages depending on your situation.

In this article, we break down the differences between Invisalign and braces treatments in 2024 to help you choose the right treatment option. At Keys Dental Specialists, we prioritize the individual patient experience, regardless of which treatment option you need. Continue reading to learn more about the most common treatments for dental health issues so that you can get the smile you deserve at a cost you can afford.

What is Invisalign?

In the same sense that Jacuzzi is the most common brand of hot tub, Invisalign is technically not a type of treatment but rather the most common brand of clear aligner. Not all clear aligners are Invisalign, but all Invisalign treatments use a series of aligners or dental trays to apply gradual pressure to your teeth to move them into a healthier position.

The Invisalign system was invented in 1997 by Align Technology, founded by Zia Chishti and Kelsey Wirth. The FDA approved Invisalign for the dental market in 1998, and the first treatments began in 2001. Other options appeared on the market later, but Invisalign remains the most venerated.

The significance of this brief history is that despite relative obscurity compared to conventional dental braces, Invisalign treatment is a tried and true methodology for improving smiles. Over 17 million people have received successful Invisalign treatment since its inception.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Like braces, Invisalign trays use pressure to move teeth in micro-increments over a designated treatment time. The time is determined by your dentist’s treatment projection and your progress. The aligner must be worn for 20-22 hours per day to see the intended results. This means that Invisalign aligners must be worn at night, but they should be removed to eat, drink, or play contact sports.

After a predetermined period, the aligner must be switched out for a tighter one. These are worn in a series until treatment concludes, which can be anywhere from 6 to 24 months. Typically, the aligners are swapped every week, but you don’t have to visit the office for every change. Your dentist will provide you with a set of 4 or more at a time to prevent unnecessary appointments and schedule an in-person visit every 4 or 6 weeks to examine your progress and give you the next set of aligners.

The aligners will feel snug at the beginning of each treatment interval and then gradually feel looser as the teeth inch into their new positions. The average Invisalign treatment lasts around 12 months. However, we want to emphasize that this treatment average has very little bearing on your personal treatment outcome. Your personal treatment time will depend on your dentist’s treatment goal as well as your starting point.

What Happens if I Stop Wearing Invisalign?

If you wear Invisalign aligners for less time than directed, they will not maintain the desired effect at your dentist’s pre-determined schedule. At your next checkup, you should be honest about significant lapses in your treatment plan, especially if you lost or broke an aligner during the process.

We always recommend our patients reach out as soon as possible if this happens. Many patients are concerned about the financial cost of a replacement, but they may not realize that the time lost is even more costly. Your dentist will have to redirect your treatment plan to recover this time, which will require remolding aligners to match your new schedule.

Always be honest about your treatment responsibilities with your dentist. This responsibility is one reason that Invisalign treatment may not be right for your child since self-directed treatment can quickly get out of hand without proper guidance. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this popular treatment method in more detail below.

The Advantages of Invisalign

Invisalign offers patients many advantages, including an “invisible” treatment option. Compared to braces, clear aligners are subtle in appearance, allowing professionals to continue working their customer-forward jobs with confidence. Teens who might be sensitive about the appearance of conventional braces might also benefit from the more discreet appearance of Invisalign.

The ability to remove Invisalign is another huge advantage, enhancing the user’s comfort by making meals and sports more enjoyable. Brushing and flossing are also easier without worrying about a permanent appliance getting in the way.

Additionally, Invisalign doesn’t require a special diet that bans hard, crunchy, chewy, sticky, or sugary foods, which is something braces wearers have to worry about. Since Invisalign aligners can be swapped out manually, they also require fewer maintenance visits than braces, which need to be tightened more frequently. Whereas braces can be bent or broken, Invisalign trays can be removed before potentially damaging activities.

The Disadvantages of Invisalign

Despite their discretion and toughness, Invisalign trays come with some disadvantages. The first is the responsibility to self-manage the treatment, which may be incompatible with certain age groups. Those with dental health issues such as bad breath (halitosis) or gum disease (periodontitis) may notice their condition worsens after wearing Invisalign trays all day.

They also tend to cost more than conventional braces, both due to manufacturing costs and also the lack of insurance coverage for Invisalign from some major providers. Additionally, while Invisalign treats similar health issues as conventional braces, they can’t make major structural corrections. Only minor straightening cases benefit from Invisalign by providing patients with a way to correct minor malocclusions without needing a full set of braces.

What are Braces?

Conventional braces consist of brackets, which adhere to the front of the patient’s teeth or the back in the case of lingual braces. The brackets are connected by an archwire, which is tightened to distribute force along the arch of teeth. This pressure gradually moves the teeth into a healthier position.

Braces can be used to treat a full or partial arch of teeth. There are several types of braces, which differ slightly in appearance and functionality but generally treat the same issues. They include metal braces, ceramic braces, and lingual braces.

Ceramic braces tend to be more expensive and less sturdy, but they have a subtler appearance due to using clear ceramic materials instead of metal. Lingual braces attach to the teeth from the back to provide an even more discreet look.

The Advantages of Braces

Unlike Invisalign, traditional braces can treat complex oral health issues such as dramatic spacing problems, bite alignment issues, teeth gaps, and more. They are usually cheaper and more comprehensively covered by insurance as well.

Though they cannot be removed, which may be a disadvantage for some, for others this provides a more straightforward treatment schedule without relying on a self-directed routine. As a result, braces are more durable than Invisalign as well, being able to withstand hot and cold drinks without being warped or stained.

Overall, braces provide a more predictable treatment. Your dentist knows exactly how long they have been on and can micromanage your progress by adjusting the tightness at your next checkup.

The Disadvantages of Braces

The biggest disadvantage of traditional braces is their appearance, which can make professionals and students alike less confident for the duration of their treatment. Their permanence also comes with a cost: braces require additional oral care to properly maintain.

For example, flossing is difficult due to the archwire crossing in front of the tooth gaps. A special dental threader is needed to loop the floss around the wire, which must be done for each tooth individually. Since many patients, especially children, won’t do this regularly, braces can indirectly lead to lower oral hygiene and a greater risk of cavities.

Another limitation of conventional braces is the diet, which restricts chewy, crunchy, hard, and sticky foods to prevent the appliance from being damaged. Many patients find these restrictions frustrating, though there are always viable alternatives for those with a sweet tooth.

Finally, braces can feel abrasive to those with sensitive lips and gums. Musicians are particularly susceptible since lip pressure is part of their occupation. Speak with your dentist about getting some dental wax to protect your lips from the brackets, especially during the first few weeks.

Price Comparison: Invisalign vs Braces

If you are trying to choose between Invisalign or braces, price is likely a key contributing factor. In objective numbers, Invisalign treatment often costs approximately the same as braces, with braces averaging anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000 and Invisalign anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000. However, these numbers are not the only factor to consider.

Most insurance providers treat braces as a medical procedure, partially or fully covered by their plans. However, some treat Invisalign as a cosmetic procedure despite the fact that it treats similar conditions. In those cases, Invisalign would cost far more than braces because you would be paying 50% or even 100% of the treatment costs out of pocket.

To determine the cost of Invisalign vs braces, you don’t need an online article’s generalized advice. You need to contact your insurer first to determine which treatments are covered. Then, ask your dentist about payment options. Many providers partner with payment vendors to offer payment plans within different budgets, and many offices offer their own plans to their patients.

Rather than delaying the treatment you need, always feel free to communicate with your dentist about your financial means. At Keys Dental Specialists, we will always work with you to figure out the plan that’s right for your treatment and budgetary needs.

Home Alternatives to Invisalign: Are They Safe?

In recent years, home kits have cropped up in the Invisalign/clear aligner industry that offer Invisalign-style treatment for minor dental issues at a fraction of the cost. These kits come with a dental molding tray that allows you to take an impression of your teeth. You then mail this to the service, which prints your clear aligners to achieve the desired result.

In some cases, these services partner with dental offices to provide initial diagnostic scans, but most are mail-in services only. Regardless, these services should never be considered an alternative to professional dental treatment. Not only are they suitable for only the most minor corrections, but there’s no guarantee that the corrections are “correct.” Without a dental professional examining your case, you may be doing more harm than good with these services.

On an even lower tier of dental safety, “DIY braces” are a growing trend on social media in the form of homemade kits made from earring backings, elastic bands, and even paperclips. These kits purport to move teeth as easily as real braces, which in many cases is absolutely true. It’s also the biggest problem with do-it-yourself dentistry.

Teeth, especially in young people, are very pliable. However, without proper guidance, the bands and metal wires of DIY braces kits will move them in random directions, often costing young patients their ligament strength, bone density, and in extreme cases, the teeth themselves. Infections, tissue strangulation, and bone damage are just some of the possible risks of trying to “do it yourself” when it comes to braces.

While Invisalign lookalike services are likely not as dangerous as this, they should still pose a red flag for those looking for effective dental treatment. In the first place, the dental mold you created might not be good enough to make the appliance on your first try, which means you’ll have to buy the kit again, cutting into your supposed savings. Additionally, the absence of in-person checkups means that no one is monitoring your progress to see whether the treatment is working as intended.

The sad truth of home-based dental treatment methods is that in an attempt to save money, many patients end up paying for their treatments twice: once through a mail-in service and then again with a professional. Sometimes, the corrections are even more expensive due to the damage caused by those home kits.

If finances are the main cause of your hesitancy toward dental treatment, reach out to our office to find out what you need, what’s covered, and how we can help. You may be surprised to learn that professional treatment is not only safer than do-it-yourself methods but a better value too.

Visit Keys Dental Specialists for Advanced Restorative Dentistry

At Keys Dental Specialists, we pride ourselves on being the best Key West dentist in the fields of maxillofacial surgery and restorative dentistry. Our surgeon, Dr. Eberle, is double board-certified in providing complex dental implant restorations including root canals, jaw and facial reconstructions, dental implants, bone grafts, corrective jaw surgeries, and more.

Our team of specialists is committed to helping you find the level of care you deserve. Feel free to contact us so we can help you get on the right track to discovering (or rediscovering) your ideal smile.