This is one of the most frequently asked questions my Treatment Coordinator, Tennille, and I hear during a consult. The short answer is: it depends. A lot of people will say they heard that Invisalign doesn’t work as well, but that’s definitely not true. For most cases, Invisalign works just as well as braces, and treatment time is the same.
Invisalign was introduced almost 25 years ago to the orthodontic community, and its algorithms and materials have been improving every day, as have the skills of the orthodontists that use it! Under the care of an experienced Invisalign orthodontist, Invisalign can fix crowding, spacing, deep overbites, underbites, crossbites, etc. You can use rubber bands with your Invisalign trays just like braces. Invisalign is actually even better than braces at fixing open bites (where the teeth don’t overlap in the front)!
However, I always tell my patients during their free consultation that Invisalign can work just as well as braces, but only if you wear it. Compliance is key. We ask that you wear your aligners 20-22 hours/day, and that you change your aligners to the next one in the series weekly. Without your help, it won’t work!
In addition, there are still some super complicated orthodontic cases where Invisalign is not going to be your best option. If you have an impacted tooth, a really big overbite (what we call overjet, horizontal overlap between the top and bottom teeth), or some other significant dental concern, I may recommend braces over Invisalign, or perhaps a supplemental appliance with Invisalign or a braces/Invisalign combination.
The most important thing to remember is that as an orthodontic office, we are specialists in straightening teeth and correcting bad bites. During your consult, I will do an exam, explain what I see needs to be improved, and give you your personalized treatment plan. If you’re debating between braces and Invisalign, I will go over the pros and cons of each, and then you can decide what’s going to work best for you! I’ve treated patients from 8 years old to 85 years old with Invisalign, and a little younger to a little older than that with braces, so age does not necessarily determine whether or not you’re an Invisalign candidate. (Although Tennille may warn me before I do my exam that mom/dad have vetoed Invisalign already for their child, in which case I won’t mention it as an option 😉).
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a free consultation to see if you are a candidate for braces or Invisalign, give us a call or fill out our online form here! We look forward to giving you your BEST smile soon!
– Dr. Best