Our patients often ask: What is the best orthodontic treatment? In this article, we discuss this question and talk about the advantages and disadvantages of several of the most common orthodontic treatment methods, including Invisalign and traditional metal braces.

What Is the Best Orthodontic Treatment?

Let us begin by pointing out that there is no such thing as the best orthodontic treatment that works perfectly in each case and for every person. Each orthodontic method has its strengths and weaknesses, be it suitability for a particular issue, price point, or comfort of use.

Your orthodontic dentist will be the best judge of what type of treatment is most suitable in your case. However, you might find it useful to consider the pros and cons of the most common methods beforehand.

Traditional Metal Braces

The biggest advantage of traditional metal braces is that they can effectively treat even very severe cases of misalignment. The reason for this is that metal wires can withstand a lot of pressure (which is needed to move severely misaligned teeth). So, metal braces remain a reliable and versatile solution.

However, traditional metal braces have several disadvantages as well:

• Braces are noticeable in the mouth and can make people who are self-conscious about their smile feel uncomfortable.
• Braces have protruding metal parts that can rub and irritate soft tissue in the mouth, causing sores and discomfort, especially when speaking and eating.
• When wearing traditional braces, you should limit your diet to softer and non-sticky foods to avoid damaging the appliances.
• Brushing and flossing might be challenging as metal wires require adjustments to your techniques.
• If your oral hygiene is ineffective while wearing braces, the risk of cavities increases.
• An orthodontic treatment with braces requires frequent visits to a dental office for adjustments (sometimes as often as once a week).

Invisalign Clear Aligners

Compared to traditional metal braces, Invisalign clear aligners can offer the following advantages:

• Invisalign trays are made of transparent plastic and are almost invisible in the mouth.
• Invisalign aligners can be removed for eating and brushing your teeth, making meals and maintaining your oral hygiene much more straightforward.
• Clear aligners do not have metal parts that can rub the soft tissue in the mouth. However, some rubbing can still occur along the gum line, primarily until you get used to your aligners.
• Invisalign requires fewer visits to the dental office.

The main disadvantages of Invisalign include:

• Clear aligners are typically not suitable for severe misalignment and are more commonly used to fix minor to mild orthodontic issues.
• Wearing aligners requires discipline, as if you take them out more often than recommended, you risk prolonging the treatment.

Lingual Braces and Ceramic Braces

Lingual braces are attached to the back of the teeth and are invisible in the mouth. Ceramic braces are attached to the front of your teeth and have tooth-colored brackets, making them more aesthetic. Both of these options are typically just as effective as traditional braces attached to the front teeth. Still, they are always more expensive due to the type of materials used and the complexity of the dental work required.

Get an Orthodontic Treatment at Smile World Dental

If you are considering an orthodontic treatment, do not hesitate to make an appointment with a top-rated dentist today. Our specialists will take your oral health needs, preferences, lifestyle, and budget into consideration to offer you the most suitable orthodontic solution. We are looking forward to your visit to Smile World Dental.