You have numerous options for straightening your teeth. Orthodontic patients in Salem, OR, often choose between braces or aligners like Invisalign. Our team at Castilla Orthodontics can help you assess these options so you can choose the best straightening method for you.
Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of clear braces vs. clear aligners.
Basic Facts About Clear Braces and Clear Aligners
Let’s first break down the differences between clear braces and aligners like Invisalign.
Clear Braces in Salem, OR
Clear braces work in the same manner as traditional metal braces do. The main difference is that they attach to your teeth with special ceramic brackets designed to blend in with your smile. Dr. Castilla can use white elastics to hold the archwire in place and connect the brackets, making them much more discreet.
Clear braces also function in the same way as traditional braces. You will visit our office regularly to have them adjusted so that they slowly shift your teeth into proper alignment.
Clear Aligners in Salem, OR
Clear aligners such as the Invisalign system function quite differently than traditional braces. Patients who choose this system receive sets of aligners that fit over their teeth. They wear each set for several weeks before swapping them out for a new set.
Straightening your teeth with Invisalign in Salem, Oregon, requires you to wear the aligners for about 22 hours every day. By wearing them properly, the aligners slowly guide your teeth into their correct positioning.
Reasons to Choose Clear Braces vs. Clear Aligners
While both clear braces and clear aligners can straighten your teeth, clear braces come with these additional benefits:
Less Hassle
Patients who choose clear aligners must wear the aligners for most of the day. Failure to wear the aligners for a sufficient amount of time lengthens the time for your teeth to straighten.
In addition, many patients have difficulty remembering to put their aligners back in after they eat or brush their teeth. In contrast, clear braces stay attached to your teeth so you don’t have to remember anything outside of your normal routine (apart from those prescribed by our team).
Furthermore, patients who don’t use their aligners for a long time may even need them adjusted. As a result, they’ll face higher costs of using Invisalign in Salem, Oregon.
Additionally, some patients accidentally throw their aligners away while collecting their trash after a meal. Aligners can be very expensive to replace in this situation.
Fewer Dietary Restrictions
Both clear braces and aligners come with some dietary restrictions. For example, patients wearing clear braces often have to avoid foods that are:
- Hard
- Sticky
- Crunchy
Eating these foods could damage the wires and brackets associated with the braces. However, patients using aligners face another restriction: they can only drink water while wearing them. Eating or drinking other food while wearing aligners allows bacteria to get between the aligners and teeth. The aligners must be removed each time you eat and drink.
Fewer Costs
In most cases, you’ll find that clear aligners in Salem, Oregon, cost more than clear braces. In addition, the aligner system may cost more if you end up wearing them for a significant amount of time. Losing a set of aligners will further drive up their cost.
Even with insurance coverage, you will likely save money by selecting clear braces in Salem.
Effectiveness for Severe Cases
Invisalign in Salem, Oregon, works well enough to straighten teeth for some patients. However, the effectiveness of clear aligners comes with limitations for certain orthodontic cases. Patients with severely crooked teeth or more complex issues often require clear braces instead.
Clear braces can address more severe orthodontic alignment issues. You can speak with Dr. Castilla to review the treatment that best suits your needs.
More Frequent Progress Checks
You’ll see your orthodontist less frequently when using clear aligners. As a result, you will have less information about the changes to your teeth and treatment timeline. On the other hand, clear braces require regular check-ups where you’ll get updates on your teeth’s progress.
Our office recommends clear braces for most of our patients in Salem, Oregon. Reach out to Dr. Castilla and her team to learn more about clear braces vs. clear aligners.
