People are often confused between deciding whether their orthodontic treatment should be done with braces or Invisalign. Braces consist of little metal brackets that are attached the teeth and are connected by a metal wire which is gently tightened every 6 weeks for the duration of treatment. The wire tightening carefully pulls the teeth into the desired position. In some cases, the orthodontist may add elastics to the treatment in order to pull the jaw forward or back, to correct over bites, under bites, cross bites, and edge to edge.
Invisalign works in a similar way in that a series of custom plastic aligners become progressively tighter and gently move your teeth into their desired position. Both teeth straightening methods have been shown to be highly effective in straightening out mild, moderate and severe alignment issues. Depending on the complexity of your unique bite issue, treatment time can vary but usually averages around 2 years.
Braces and Invisalign each offer unique advantages and disadvantages to our patients. Learn more about which method of tooth straightening can fit into your, or your child's, lifestyle by checking out our clear comparison infographic "Invisalign vs Braces".
You could also book a free, no obligation consultation to speak to an orthodontist!
