On the journey toward achieving a perfect smile for ourselves or our children, many of us have the option of choosing between traditional metal braces and the more discreet Invisalign treatment. When I was a teenager and needed braces to straighten my crowded teeth and overbite from sucking my thumb until I was practically 10, Invisalign wasn’t yet available. However, now that my teeth are once again overcrowded due to not wearing my retainers as prescribed (PS – don’t do that!) and because of an uneven bite causing some immense jaw pain I’ve been dealing with for years, my orthodontist actually recommended Invisalign over standard braces. Based on his evaluation of my teeth, gums, and jaw, along with the movement needed to help ease my jaw pain, that’s what he felt best for me at this time.
So as a woman who’s had the fortunate privilege (which I mean both sarcastically and gratefully) of experiencing both metal braces and Invisalign, I thought it would be fun and helpful to discuss the differences and similarities of both. I understand the importance of considering all the various factors when making this choice and it’s always best to go with the recommendations of your dental providers based on your specific needs or budget. But I’m here to simply share the aesthetic, functionality, and overall experiences from my own unique perspective as having personally experienced both of these orthodontic options.
Traditional Metal Braces: A Blast from the Past
Remember the days of adolescent angst coupled with a mouth full of metal? Were you dreading picture day or your first kiss, wondering if you’d get stuck together if you kissed a boy who also had braces? For many of us, in addition to frizzy hair and dorky outfits, traditional braces were a rite of passage during our teenage years, both myself and my daughter included. While they may have felt cumbersome, visually prominent, and downright embarrassing at times, they were the go-to solution for correcting dental misalignments, especially for us millennials in the 90s and early 2000s.
Metal braces, also known as conventional or traditional braces, are orthodontic appliances consisting of metal brackets bonded to each tooth and connected by a string of heavy duty gauge metal wires. These braces exert pressure on the teeth, gradually shifting them into the desired positions over time. While traditional metal braces have been a tried and true staple in orthodontic treatment for decades, their conspicuous appearance and fixed nature have prompted the development of more discreet and removable alternatives such as Invisalign. We’ll talk about that more in a moment, but first, here are the key aspects of metal braces.
1. Visibility:
One of the primary concerns with metal braces is their visibility. As a teenager, the thought of sporting a mouthful of metal wires and brackets, along with the good old rubber bands from top to bottom and headgear (IYKYK), might have been a source of self-consciousness. Honestly, it still feels like it’d be that way now as an adult. The conspicuous nature of metal braces often made individuals hesitant to smile openly or feel confident in social settings with so many appliances strapped in and on their face.
On the flip side, where the wires fit over the brackets on each tooth, there’s a small rubber band placed to hold the wire in place on the bracket. These bands come in many different colors and most orthodontists allow you to choose up to a few colors each month after adjustments. While adults may want to choose more nude or tooth colored bands, a lot of kids love getting colored bands. I remember that I’d try to match the bands to whatever holiday or special event was coming up. For example, near Valentine’s Day I’d have pink and red bands or green for St. Patrick’s Day. While adults may not care about having a mouth full of vibrant colors, this might be a fun way to get the kiddos excited about their braces and engaged in the process.
2. Oral Hygiene and Maintenance:
Maintaining good oral hygiene with braces did require a little extra effort. Since you have wires in the way, floss has to be threaded underneath those wires and in between each bracket before being able to floss in between each tooth as usual. This definitely took more time than just your normal flossing routine. Although I’ve always liked to have clean teeth and a nice smile, as a teenager, brushing and flossing just weren’t on my list of most exciting things to do each day. So the thought of taking even more time to do so just wasn’t a motivator. Nowadays I have a water flosser which I use religiously, but back in the day when everything was a manual process, I will admit that flossing may or may not have been completed each day. I’m sure this is the case with a lot of children and teens, so a little monitoring and encouragement from parents is helpful. Additionally, regular dental cleanings are essential, along with the periodic adjustments made by the orthodontist. Unfortunately if you’ve ever had braces, you know that typically the wire gets tightened and sometimes changed to a stronger wire, so those appointments often left you with lingering pain or pressure for a few days. Luckily those appointments were typically only every month or so, at least in my case.
3. Dietary Restrictions:
Ah, the infamous list of foods to avoid with metal braces – sticky candies, anything super hard, popcorn and corn on the cob, gum, apples, etc. These dietary restrictions are imposed to prevent damage to the braces and ensure effective and timely treatment progress. Orthodontists will only reattach brackets so many times before they start charging extra. However, what kid or teenager doesn’t want to eat candy or chew gum? And who cares about popping off a bracket or two (besides the parent who has to pay for it)? Now it’s more of the apples and corn on the cob that would be a bummer for me, but I have to admit the lack of gum and candy are sad and an inconvenience even as an adult.
Invisalign: Modern Orthodontics
Fast forward to the present, where advancements in orthodontic technology have introduced a more discreet alternative to traditional braces – Invisalign. Invisalign is a modern orthodontic treatment that utilizes clear, custom-made aligners to gradually straighten teeth. These aligners are made from a smooth, BPA-free plastic material, making them less visible when worn. Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign aligners are removable, allowing for greater flexibility in eating, oral hygiene, and overall lifestyle. The treatment involves a series of customized aligners, each designed to progressively move the teeth into their desired positions, offering a discreet alternative to traditional braces. This innovative approach to teeth straightening offers several advantages over its metal counterpart, but there are definitely also some things I wasn’t expecting. Let me elaborate…
1. Aesthetic Appeal:
One of the most significant benefits of Invisalign is its more invisible nature (hence its name). The clear aligners are far less noticeable compared to metal braces. For women in their 30s juggling professional, social, and parental commitments, the more discreet appearance of Invisalign aligners can be a game-changer in maintaining confidence and comfort throughout the treatment process.
Having said that, I’m now a couple months into Invisalign and I’m still talking with a slight lisp. It certainly has gotten better over the last several weeks since day one, but I feel like my speech might continue to be slightly altered for the duration of my treatment. I guess we’ll see. However, I also noticed that I’m a little more lispy again right after switching to a new aligner tray (which I personally have to do weekly). So if slightly impaired speech is a concern to you, perhaps if you work primarily on the phone or giving presentations, I’d definitely say give that a consideration before choosing Invisalign.
Additionally, I didn’t realize that I’d still have brackets on some of my teeth. In fact, when the orthodontist was initially placing them on, I thought “hold on, they do know I’m getting Invisalign, right?!”. Turns out that even though the trays are removable, you do still need an anchor point on some of the teeth in order to help aid movement and the aligners staying in place. I don’t know the criteria for choosing which teeth will have the brackets, but I do know from talking with others who have Invisalign that bracket placement is different for everyone. On the plus side though, the brackets are closely matched to your natural tooth color, so whether you have the aligners in or out, the brackets are still drastically less noticeable than the traditional metal brackets.
2. Removability:
Unlike metal braces, which are affixed to the teeth throughout the treatment duration, Invisalign aligners are removable. This feature allows for greater flexibility for eating and oral hygiene. Whether enjoying a meal or brushing and flossing, simply remove the aligners, perform the necessary tasks, and reinsert them.
On the flip side, because these braces are removable, it does leave the door open for having them out too long. In my case, I need to wear them for 22 hours each day (and I do believe that’s standard for all Invisalign wearers). It’s up to me to make sure I’m following that or it will lead to a delay in my treatment. So if you’re not very disciplined, especially when they’re uncomfortable or if you take long periods of time to eat every meal, Invisalign might not be the best solution for you. And I can see this being most problematic for children who might be inclined to take them out and not be diligent about getting them back in right away.
One more thing to note is that although I’m extra conscientious of not throwing my aligners away after I’m done eating, since that’s exactly what happened to one of my retainers when I was younger, it has already happened. I personally didn’t throw them away, but left them on the table wrapped in a napkin and they got picked up with other trash on the table. Totally my fault and I shouldn’t have been so careless, especially since I was provided with a case to store the aligners in during meal time, specifically for this purpose. However, now I will be even more diligent about not throwing them away or just leaving them lying around. But this is just one more thing to keep in mind since they are removable and very easy to miss.
3. Comfort:
Metal braces are notorious for causing discomfort and irritation due to the presence of wires and brackets. I remember having sores on the sides of my cheeks from sleeping on one side too long and from when I played the flute in my high school band. My daughter who played the trumpet had a permanent sore spot inside her mouth for the entirety of her metal braces stint. So on a day-to-day overall basis, I’d say Invisalign is more comfortable because each aligner is custom-made to fit snugly over the teeth, minimizing discomfort and irritation. I will say that for about 2-4 days each week after changing the aligners though, my mouth hurts like a mother. My orthodontist said the “mild pressure” shouldn’t hurt and typically only lasts 2 days for most people. However, the few people I’ve talked to with aligners agree with me that it’s generally more than a couple days and definitely more than “mild” discomfort.
So in weighing out which are more comfortable, it really depends on which day you ask me. Overall the aligners are more comfortable and have less consistent opportunity for irritation, but the pain or “pressure” is more frequent than with metal braces.
4. Not Great for Snackers
If you like to snack, Invisalign might also not be for you. Every time you eat, you need to brush your teeth. That’s a huge commitment to snack foods! And keep in mind you only have a total of 2 hours every day without the aligners for eating and cleaning. Alternately, if you ever wanted to cut back on snacking and don’t feel like brushing your teeth 7 times per day, maybe this is for you! If you’re a drinker of anything other than water, whether juice, coffee, tea, or wine, this might be inconvenient for you as well since you also have to brush after each drink that isn’t water. The main objective is to not have anything sitting in the aligners and against your teeth for any period of time as to not cause cavities.
Similarities: The Common Ground
While metal braces and Invisalign differ in their appearance and mechanics, they share some commonalities in their approach to orthodontic treatment:
1. Treatment Duration:
Both metal braces and Invisalign aim to gradually shift the teeth into their desired positions over time. The duration of treatment varies depending on the complexity of the case and the adherence to treatment guidelines. While some may opt for shorter treatment times with accelerated orthodontic techniques, the average treatment duration typically spans several months to a few years with both options. Again, it really just depends on your situation.
2. Orthodontic Expertise:
Regardless of the treatment option you select, the expertise of the orthodontist plays a crucial role in achieving optimal results. From the initial assessment and treatment planning to the periodic adjustments and monitoring progress, the orthodontist guides patients through every step of the journey toward a beautiful smile.
3. Commitment to Compliance:
Successful orthodontic treatment requires a commitment to compliance from the patient. Whether diligently wearing Invisalign aligners for the prescribed duration each day or adhering to dietary restrictions with metal braces, following the orthodontist’s instructions is essential for achieving desired outcomes.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Path to a Radiant Smile
As a woman who has traversed both traditional metal braces and now Invisalign, I understand the significance of choosing the right orthodontic treatment. While metal braces served their purpose during my teenage years, the discretness and convenience of Invisalign aligners have made my adult orthodontic journey infinitely more manageable (minus the lisp and pressure when changing to new aligners weekly).
Whether you’re a career-driven woman in her 20s, 30s, or 40s, or a teenager navigating the complexities of adolescence, the decision between metal braces and Invisalign is a personal one. Consider factors such as aesthetics, comfort, and lifestyle preferences when embarking on your orthodontic journey, and remember, the path to a radiant smile begins with a choice that aligns with your individual needs and aspirations, along with the recommendations of the dental professionals.
From one crooked-toothed, imperfectly smiled person to another, lots of love and discipline,
-LS