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If you have decided to undergo orthodontic treatment, you have a major choice to make: do you want braces or Invisalign?

Both of these treatment methods have been around for many years and have proven themselves to be effective. Choosing the right one for you requires a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Invisalign vs. Braces: Pros and Cons

Cost

Invisalign and braces usually cost around the same amount. In some cases, Invisalign treatment may be slightly more expensive. The cost of both treatments is higher when treatment is longer, highly complex, or requires one or more attachments to achieve the desired results.

Your dentist can give you an estimate for both treatments to help you work out which is best for your budget. Both treatments may be partially covered by your insurance. Some dentists may also offer financing options for orthodontic treatment to help you get the care you need without incurring financial hardship.

Appearance

Metal braces are quite noticeable and make many people who wear them self-conscious about their smile. Ceramic or lingual braces may be less noticeable, but they can still be spotted in some situations.

Invisalign trays are clear and discreet, making them a great choice if you want to undergo treatment without drawing attention to your teeth. Most people will never notice they are there, and they will not distract from your smile in pictures or in social situations.

Comfort

Traditional braces use brackets and wires to move your teeth. These elements can make them uncomfortable or even painful to wear. If a wire breaks, it may cut the inside of your mouth.

In contrast, Invisalign trays are much more comfortable to wear. These simple, clear aligners fit right over your teeth and can be worn when sleeping, speaking, and going about your daily activities. After a while, you may forget they are there at all.

Effectiveness

Both braces and Invisalign are highly effective at moving teeth. Either can be used to treat a variety of orthodontic problems, including overbite, underbite, a diastema, and more.

However, Invisalign has certain limitations that traditional braces do not. Some highly complex cases can only be treated using braces. Your treatment provider will let you know if you are not a good candidate for Invisalign treatment.

Convenience

Traditional braces are infamous for their inconvenience. They must be manually adjusted during each phase of your treatment, forcing you to make time for a visit to your dentist for orthodontic work regularly. Many people also need additional visits to get broken brackets and wires repaired.

Invisalign treatment is conducted using prefabricated plastic trays, so adjustments are rarely needed. Your provider will monitor your progress over the course of your treatment during brief visits every two months or so. This approach allows you to get the same quality of care with far fewer trips to the dentist’s office.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Braces require plenty of diligent care to maintain. Because they are cemented to your teeth and cannot be removed at home, you will need to brush and floss very carefully around them. This is difficult and time-consuming, but good hygiene is more important than ever when wearing braces. The wires and brackets often trap food in your mouth and may increase your risk of tooth decay without proper cleaning.

Invisalign aligners can be removed to eat, brush, and floss, making it much easier to keep both your teeth and the trays clean. It is recommended that you brush and floss after each meal to avoid trapping food between the trays and your teeth.

Follow-Up Care and Maintenance

Both braces and Invisalign require you to wear a retainer at night to maintain your results. This may feel more comfortable for Invisalign users due to how similar retainers are to the clear aligners they wore during their treatment.

People treated with either braces or Invisalign can also opt for permanent lingual retainers cemented to the backs of their teeth. This option makes it easier for patients to retain their results by making it impossible for them to remove or misplace their retainers.

Which Treatment Is Faster?

While each case is different, people treated with Invisalign tend to finish treatment sooner than those treated with braces. Some Invisalign treatments can be completed in as little as six months. Traditional braces typically take at least one year to produce results, and longer treatment times are very common.

However, adherence is key to finishing Invisalign treatment quickly. If you wear your Invisalign aligners for less than the recommended 22 hours per day, your treatment will take longer to complete. Patients who know they are likely to struggle with this may want to choose braces instead.

Which One Moves Teeth More Efficiently?

Both braces and Invisalign are excellent treatments for misaligned teeth. Which of the two is most efficient depends on how efficiency is defined.

Invisalign often produces faster tooth movements than braces do, making it the winner in terms of speed. However, braces can accomplish movements that Invisalign cannot, giving them an edge over clear aligners. Invisalign must also be worn consistently to achieve results, while braces will continue to move teeth regardless of what the patient does.

Invisalign vs. Braces: The Final Verdict

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer when choosing between Invisalign and braces. Both treatments have strengths and weaknesses: only you can decide which is best for you. If you have any doubts, Google “Invisalign near me” and ask your nearest provider for input. They will be happy to offer some professional advice.

For a Beautifully Aligned Smile, Choose Trillium Smile Dentistry

Interested in undergoing Invisalign in Mississauga? Contact Trillium Smile Dentistry for a stellar experience and dazzling results. Dr. Tousi is a certified Invisalign dentist with many years of experience treating even the most complex cases. Call us today at 905-828-9894 or request an appointment online to get started on the journey toward your ideal smile.

Also Read:

• 10 Questions to Ask Your Dentist About Invisalign
• 7 Tips to Keep Your Teeth Clean During Invisalign Treatment

You may have heard that Invisalign treatment offers a convenient and discreet way to straighten your teeth, but how much do you really know about this type of orthodontics? Do you know what it takes to get the most impressive results?

There is a lot to learn about this revolutionary treatment, especially if you are interested in undergoing it yourself. Our guide will outline 10 of the most important things you need to know about Invisalign treatment to ensure excellent results.

Top 10 Things to Know About Invisalign

1. You Must Wear Your Aligners Every Day

For Invisalign treatment to be successful, patients must wear their aligners for 22 hours a day, every single day. This includes the hours they spend sleeping.

Aligners are only to be removed when you are eating, brushing, or flossing. You may also need to remove them to participate in contact sports where a mouthguard is required. If you remove your aligners for any other reason, you may unnecessarily lengthen your total treatment time.

2. Your Aligners May Interfere with Your Speech

When you first receive your Invisalign aligners, you may speak with a lisp. This is because the aligners take up more space in your mouth than you are used to and interfere with the way your tongue and teeth come together to form words.

Not to worry, however – this problem is temporary. Your mouth will gradually adapt to the presence of the aligners the longer you wear them, and speech typically returns to normal after a few days of practice.

3. Total Treatment Length Varies

Invisalign treatment varies in total length from patient to patient. Most people will wear their Invisalign aligners for at least a few months, and many need to wear them for a few years.

Your Invisalign dentist in Mississauga will give you an estimate of your total treatment time when starting, but it is important to remember that this is only an estimate. If you do not wear your aligners as directed, your treatment will take longer.

4. It Yields Fast Results

Orthodontic treatment takes time and effort, leading many patients to eagerly look for ways to shorten their treatment time. Invisalign can help in this respect. It typically produces faster results than traditional braces, allowing you to get your treatment completed as quickly as possible so you can spend more time enjoying the results.

5. Flossing is Key

Good brushing habits are essential during Invisalign treatment, but diligent flossing may be even more important. Without good flossing habits, bacteria will begin to grow between your teeth and may cause cavities to develop in the contact spaces. Food can also become stuck between your teeth and cause your aligners to feel tighter than they should in certain places.

To avoid these problems, be sure to floss at least once a day, and ideally after each meal. The more you floss, the more likely it is that you will avoid these problems during your treatment.

6. Keep Your Aligners Clean

Your aligners should be in direct contact with your teeth most of the time, so it is vital to keep them clean and free of bacteria. Clean them regularly using a toothbrush and some clear liquid soap. You can also scrub or soak them using an aligner cleaner. If you choose to use a product like this, be sure to follow the instructions on the package very carefully to get the full disinfecting effect.

7. Remove Your Aligners Before Eating and Drinking

Wearing your aligners consistently may be important but taking them out when necessary is just as essential to proper treatment. Remove your aligners anytime you are eating or drinking anything other than water.

This will help keep your aligners free of stains and bits of food that could get stuck near your teeth and feed bacteria. Remember to put your aligners back as soon as you are done with your food, as treatment compliance is essential to good outcomes.

8. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Excellent oral hygiene is essential to successful Invisalign treatment. Brush and floss your teeth thoroughly after every meal, taking care to keep your aligner out of your mouth until you have cleaned away all of the residue from your food and drink.

If you cannot brush and floss right away, try to swish some water around in your mouth for the time being. The goal is to keep your teeth as clean as possible, avoiding trapping food particles and bacteria inside the aligners, which promote tooth decay.

9. Rinse Your Aligners Regularly

Like the rest of your mouth, your aligners will experience bacterial growth over the course of a typical day. Cleaning them regularly greatly reduces this growth, but it does not stop it completely.

To combat this problem, rinse them with water whenever you have the opportunity. This will wash away some of the bacteria and contaminants stuck to them and help to keep your aligners hygienic and stain-free between more thorough cleanings.

10. Do Not Use Mouthwash or Toothpaste as Cleaning Agents

To clean your aligners properly, you will need the right supplies for the job. Mouthwash and toothpaste are not suitable for this purpose.

Most toothpastes contain abrasive particles that could scratch or damage your aligners, while mouthwash contains dyes that could stain them. Instead, use clear soap and water or an aligner cleaner formulated specifically for this purpose.

Enjoy a Smooth and Stress-Free Experience with our Invisalign Dentists

If you are interested in being treated with Invisalign in Mississauga, you will need to find a top-quality provider to oversee your case.

There is no need to search for “Invisalign near me” and hope for great results: Trillium Smile Dentistry is the place to go. Our staff will discuss your orthodontic needs, formulate an Invisalign treatment plan, and execute that plan with you. Contact us online or at 905-828-9894 today to book your first appointment.

Also Read:

• A Complete Guide to Invisalign
• 10 Questions to Ask Your Dentist About Invisalign

Many people who are dissatisfied with their smile turn to Invisalign treatment to improve the alignment of their teeth. If you choose Invisalign, you will need to be extremely vigilant about your oral hygiene. Here are some tips that many dentists give their patients to help them keep their mouths clean throughout their treatment.

7 Tips for Clean Teeth During Invisalign Treatment

1. Brush Whenever You Eat

Brushing your teeth regularly is always critically important for good dental hygiene, and that is particularly important when you have Invisalign. During this time, you should be brushing after eating or drinking anything other than water. If you are on the go and cannot brush right away, be sure to swish your mouth out with some water first and brush once you are able to.

2. Avoid Food and Drink That Causes Staining

Tooth stains are not linked to tooth decay, but they are still a clear indication that your mouth is not as clean as it could be.

To keep stains at bay during Invisalign treatment, avoid dark-coloured foods and drinks, including:

If you consume any of the beverages listed above, drink them through a straw to keep them from making contact with your teeth.

3. Floss Regularly

Brushing your teeth is extremely helpful for keeping your mouth clean, but you will be missing many of the food particles and bacteria that can linger between your teeth if you do not floss as well. For a truly reliable clean, be sure to floss at least once a day, preferably after every meal.

4. Rinse with Mouthwash

Want to add an extra layer of bacteria-killing protection to your oral hygiene routine? Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash at least once a day. This will help to keep your mouth clean between brushing sessions.

5. Remove Your Trays

Invisalign trays must stay in your mouth as much as possible to do their job, but there are exceptions to this rule. Every time you eat or drink something or brush your teeth, take your aligners out. Food and drink can get stuck in the aligners and feed the bacteria in your mouth. The plastic trays will also block your toothbrush’s bristles from making contact with your teeth and keep you from achieving a good clean.

6. Clean Your Trays

Without proper cleaning, your Invisalign trays will harbour all of the bacteria you regularly brush out of your mouth. There are several ways to clean your aligners, including hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, vinegar, and clear, unscented soap. Clean your aligners at least once a day using your method of choice and a toothbrush you only use for this purpose. Be thorough and consistent – the longer you let bacteria sit on your trays, the more it will grow and fester.

7. Store Your Aligners in Their Case When Not in Use

Aligners that are kept in pockets or abandoned on countertops quickly become exposed to dirt, germs, bacteria, and other harmful substances. Keep yours away from these contaminants by storing them in your plastic case when you are not using them, even if you only plan on having them out for a few minutes. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Get Professional Invisalign Treatment at Trillium Smile Dentistry

If you are interested in straightening your teeth with clear aligners, visit Trillium Smile Dentistry for the expert treatment you need. Dr. Tousi is a leading Invisalign provider in Mississauga whose many patients swear by her ability to get excellent results for even the most challenging cases. Contact us today at 905-828-9894 or use our online form to book a consultation and see what she can do to help you improve your smile.

Invisalign is a new way of treating common orthodontic concerns and improving the appearance of your smile. Instead of traditional metal braces, Invisalign uses custom clear aligner trays that are almost invisible when worn, which is where the treatment gets its name.

Its convenience and discreet nature make Invisalign treatment very popular among clients of all ages. Still, many patients who are considering this type of orthodontic care hope to understand it better before committing to it.

Before you Google ‘Invisalign near me,’ why not read up on some of the most common questions that patients ask about this procedure? You will find the answers to ten of the most frequently asked questions about Invisalign below.