The Real Difference Between Traditional Braces and Invisalign®

Posted on November 25, 2019

Thinking about getting braces or Invisalign®? Chelian Orthodontics will break it down for you – the pros, and cons, the real difference between traditional braces and Invisalign.

First, a brief history. . . Did you know that braces were originally invented in 1728 by Pierre Fauchard? His version of braces consisted of a flat piece of metal connected to a person’s teeth by pieces of thread. His treatment was called the Bandeau, and it was a horseshoe-like device placed behind your teeth to keep their proper alignment.

Traditional, stainless steel braces as we know them today were developed in the 1960’s. And by the 70’s, invisible/clear braces came on the market. Yet, it wasn’t until the early 2000’s that Invisalign® took the nation and world by storm. Developed by Zia Chishti and Kelsey Wirth, Invisalign uses clear aligners that patients swap out every two weeks to gently realign their teeth in the correct position.

So, which is better – braces or Invisalign? The real truth: it depends.

Traditional braces are definitely the route you want to take if you have severe alignment issues, or if you don’t want to be bothered with swapping out retainers every two weeks. Whereas Invisalign is perfect for those who don’t want to have metal in their mouth and would like a more discrete solution.

Below are the pros and cons to help you decide which is right for you.

TRADITIONAL BRACES PROS

• Straightens teeth
• Great for severe bite issues
• You don’t have to remember to swap out your trays
• You don’t have to remember to put them back in after meals   

INVISALIGN PROS

• Straightens teeth
• Great for minor and regular realignment needs
• Perfect for working adults
• Completely clear

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TRADITIONAL BRACES CONS

• Tightened every 4 to 8 weeks, which means move orthodontic visits
• Clear braces are not totally clear
• Food and drink can stain aligners
• You’ll need to wear a retainer after treatment
• You can only take them off at the end of treatment

INVISALIGN CONS

• You have to remember to swap out trays every 2 weeks
• Forgetting to put your aligner back in after meals
• Food and drink can stain aligners

Still have questions about the difference between traditional braces and Invisalign or wondering which way to go? Talk to Dr. Chelian and schedule your consultation today!