Did you know that there are many different types of braces available nowadays? When most people think of braces they tend to think of traditional metal braces – but nowadays other types of braces such as invisible braces, lingual braces and Invisalign are growing in popularity.
The reason other types of braces have become so popular is because they offer different advantages. As you can imagine that makes identifying which type of braces is ‘best’ more difficult. In fact, the real focus should be on determining which type of braces fits you best.
Metal Braces
Metal braces that consists of metal brackets and wires affixed to your teeth have remained popular simply because they are effective. Metal braces can deal with complex alignment issues, and are more cost-effective than most other types of braces.
Of course metal braces are far from perfect. Not only are they very noticeable and not aesthetically pleasing, but there will be some pain and discomfort when they’re first installed as well as when they’re adjusted later. To add to that it is difficult to brush or floss while using them, and you will have to avoid some types of food.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are very similar to metal braces – except the brackets and wires are placed on the inner side of your teeth. Because of that they are almost completely unnoticeable and allows them to treat most mild to moderate alignment, bite, or spacing issues.
Unfortunately lingual braces do have a lot of disadvantages. This type of braces is not able to treat more complex issues, and because of the location of the brackets it makes it difficult to clean the inner side of your teeth.
To add to that, lingual braces are quite expensive and you’re likely to feel more initial discomfort compared to metal braces. Some people have been known to develop a temporary lisp after they’re fitted with lingual braces, which is definitely less than desirable.
Invisalign
Although relatively new, Invisalign is a type of braces that consists of clear aligners that are tailor-made to fit your teeth. It is almost completely unnoticeable when you wear them, and you won’t have to worry about what you eat because you can simply take them out during meal time.
Initially it wearing the aligners may take some getting used to, but the discomfort is much less than other types of braces. Because they can be removed it is easy to brush and floss your teeth normally.
The main disadvantages of Invisalign lie in the fact that it is not suitable for complex cases and is more expensive than metal. Additionally it requires self-discipline and you’ll have to strictly wear the aligners at least 22 hours a day.
Conclusion
As you can see each type of braces has its own pros and cons, so deciding which is ‘best’ is something you’ll have to do on a case by case basis. The first thing I’d do in your shoes is look for orthodontic treatment near me and find out whether or not it can be fixed by Invisalign or lingual braces.
Once you find that out, you can weigh your options. To put it simply, Invisalign is more aesthetically pleasing and convenient – but more expensive. On the other hand traditional metal braces are cheaper, but will affect your brushing, flossing, eating and may be uncomfortable or painful at times.
