Clear Aligners vs. Braces: Choosing the Right Option

If you want straighter teeth, you have one primary decision to make: how to get there. Here, we help you explore your two main options.

3D printing can transform our lives, including orthodontic care. Invisalign® uses clear plastic aligners to shift your teeth into better alignment, leveraging 3D printing technology.

That said, clear aligners aren’t suitable for everyone. Nisha Modi, DMD, offers both braces and Invisalign here at Miracle Smile Dental in Aubrey, Texas. She can evaluate your teeth and jaw to determine the type of orthodontic treatment that is right for you.

When you might need traditional braces

Invisalign can straighten misaligned teeth, but it doesn’t do anything for jaw alignment. If you need adjustments to help your bite fit together more comfortably, Dr. Modi typically recommends fixed braces.

There’s another instance in which Dr. Modi may recommend braces over aligners for certain kids and teens. You can remove aligners like Invisalign, but they work effectively only if you wear them consistently. If your child or teenager struggles to maintain daily habits, braces might be a better fit.

If Dr. Modi recommends traditional braces but you want a less visible option, we have good news for you. Dr. Modi offers ceramic braces. By replacing metal brackets with ceramic ones that match your teeth, these braces blend in with your smile.

The benefits of clear aligners

If you’re a candidate for clear aligners like Invisalign, you get some notable upsides. Most obviously, Invisalign gives you virtually invisible orthodontic treatment.

People also love the ability to remove the aligners. You take them out to eat, which means you don’t need to worry about anything getting stuck in your trays. And since you remove them to brush and floss, you don’t need to do anything differently.

Because you only need to wear your aligners for 20–22 hours a day, you get flexibility for certain activities, too. You can take your aligners out to give a presentation at work or to play a sport, for example.

Invisalign can also be more comfortable and convenient. With no brackets or archwire, you don’t have to worry about any of the poking or rubbing of traditional braces. There’s nothing for Dr. Modi to adjust, either. You swap from one aligner to another throughout treatment. That means fewer trips to our office throughout treatment.

Generally, if you’re a candidate for Invisalign, it offers benefits over braces. That said, traditional braces have come a long way. Ceramic braces give you a less visible option.

Dr. Modi can help you determine what’s best based on your teeth and jaw, combined with your cosmetic preferences. To schedule a consultation, use our convenient online tool or call us at 469-765-3567 today.