Braces vs. Aligner treatment

Name: Orthodontic Specialists of Lake County
Telephone: 847-223-2876

Braces and Invisalign® treatment are wonderful options for anyone looking to straighten their smile. We understand it can be overwhelming to decide which treatment is best for you - so we’ve made a simple guide to show you the difference!

Braces

Material: Brackets and wires with elastic colors that can be changed at each visit
Appointment intervals: Every 5-12 weeks (25-60 minutes), Appointments might be needed to fix broken brackets and poking wires which are unexpected and often inconvenient
Removable: No
Oral hygiene: Requires additional time and effort to properly clean and regular brushing and flossing with excellent oral hygiene to avoid decalcification leading to permanent stains on teeth
Diet: Avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods and any foods that could possibly get stuck in your braces; avoid fizzy drinks and avoid food and drinks with a lot of sugar
Issues treated: Simple, complex, and severe cases
Comfort level: Tenderness may be present for up to 2-3 days after fitting and adjustment appointments

Aligner® treatment

Material: Nearly invisible, removable aligners, with temporary, tooth-colored attachments
Appointment intervals: Every 12-20 weeks (10-30 minutes)
Removable: Yes (wear at least 22 hours per day for best results)
Oral hygiene: Regular brushing and flossing, cleaning aligners
Diet: No food restrictions (you can remove aligners to eat, brush and floss)
Comfort level: Tenderness may be present at the start of treatment and very minimal when switching aligners
Other Facts: Ideal for open bite correction, more suitable for patients with crowns and other dental work (bridges, fillings, etc.), can be used as mouthguard for most sports

Treatment on-the-go with Dental Monitoring

Enjoy remote check-ins by pairing your braces or aligner treatment with Dental Monitoring. Just by sending us weekly scans from home, we can track your treatment progress through this revolutionary smartphone app.