Braces Vs. Invisalign: The Pros And Cons Of Each

Orthodontist Wyckoff 2

Your child’s teeth are precious. Your child uses them to eat. It’s the focal point of his or her smile. And it’s one of the first things people see when they speak to him or her. It’s a crucial feature of your child’s mental and physical health, which is why it’s so important that you make sure he or she takes good care of them. But on top of that, it’s also your job to give your child the resources he or she needs to have a beautiful, attractive, and healthy smile. Sometimes, in fact, often, that entails receiving Orthodontist Wyckoff services from Pediatric Dental Associates (PDA).

Your child’s first meeting with his or her orthodontist should take place between the ages of 7 and 9. If his or her teeth are not straight, the orthodontist will likely give your child the options of either receiving invisalign or braces. To make the decision a bit easier, we’re going to use this article to walk you through the pros and cons of each. So without further ado, here’s what you and your child stand to gain and lose, depending on which one you choose.

Invisalign

The biggest and most obvious perk of invisalign is of course the fact that they are clear. And thus, they are less visible than braces. Only if a person looks extra closely can he or she even tell you’re wearing it. For this reason, invisalign is preferable to many people due to the impact that braces can have on social life.

Another feature, which may or may not be a perk depending on how you see it, is the fact that they’re removable. That means that if a piece of food becomes stuck while the person is eating, he or she has the option of removing the invisalign, removing the food, and then placing the invisalign back in his or her mouth. But, that also means that the temptation is always there for the patient to remove it any time if it becomes uncomfortable. And this can delay the process significantly. For most patients, orthodontists recommend using invisalign between 6 and 18 months.

Braces

Coming back to the appearance, depending on age, this may or may not be problematic. For example, in the younger years, having braces is relatively common. Additionally, your child can make a game of it by alternating colors each month. It all depends on attitude and perspective, which depends largely on how your child feels in comparison with peers. That being said, in comparison to invisalign, it is normally less preferable in this respect.

On the other hand, the fact that the orthodontist attaches the brackets to the patient’s teeth prevents him or her from removing them when they cause discomfort or pain. This is crucial to the treatment working within the correct timeframe. Such is the case especially with younger patients, there always is a limit in which the person loses patience and just has to take the invisalign out. And this always ends up being extremely counterproductive.

If you’d like to learn more about the pros and cons of invisalign and braces, contact Pediatric Dental Associates at (201) 652-7024 and ask about our Orthodontist Wyckoff services.

Specialized dentistry for children and adolescents in a warm, caring and "child-friendly" environment.