Braces vs Invisalign, Which Should I choose?

We love seeing our patients, and every time we do, we listen to their concerns and thoughts. One question we’ve been hearing lately is whether it would be better to get Invisalign or braces?

The answer to this question involves many moving parts that need to come together seamlessly. This would provide our patients that go for Invisalign or braces in Burlington with the best results in a way that best suits their lifestyle.

Here are some questions we like to ask at the consultation appointment at our dental office:

1. What is the final goal we want to reach?

   This question is everything when it comes to aligning teeth. The end goal will determine what we choose. Sometimes certain movements for teeth are achieved better and with more accuracy with braces, while other times Invisalign can work faster and easier with other movements. Putting the teeth in the right spot that works for our end goal isn’t a simple push and pull movement. There’s a science to how to move teeth predictably to their desired positions; this is very important to get right so that we can simply have them in a spot that makes them look and function better, or to facilitate further treatment or makeover steps, such as veneers. At our dental office in Burlington, we carefully help you elect between braces and Invisalign based on your needs.




2. How long do we need to reach our goals?

   Time is a big factor sometimes. There are times where braces work faster, while other times Invisalign works faster. That’s why a thorough consultation at our Burlington dental office is where we usually start the process, and we always recommend that to our patients. Diagnosing the problem, the cause and learning how much time we need and have to reach our goals is of the essence when it comes to choosing between braces and Invisalign.




3. How good is the oral hygiene?

   Braces work by being attached to the teeth at all times. This makes them very efficient, but may also make cleaning slightly challenging for some patients. Our dentists always provide our patients with a full cleaning kit and electric toothbrush to ensure the best results. Nonetheless, the choice between braces and Invisalign is greatly influenced by whether or not oral hygiene will be easy for the patient.




4. What are the lifestyle demands of the patient?

   Our dentists offer different types of braces, including glass braces or transparent braces. They also offer the convenience of the transparent Invisalign trays. This is because some of the patients we see have demanding lifestyles that require frequently being in front of a camera or public speaking, or even are simply very sociable. If they think braces would interfere with their social or work demands, our dentists will recommend Invisalign.



The choice between either is determined by an open discussion and consultation with our dentists, to help make the best choice between esthetics, lifestyle , goals and demands!