Metal braces require regular adjustments of the wires and rubber bands

Traditional braces fashioned from wires and brackets that are concreted onto the teeth, then adjusted with the aid of rubber bands and possibly headgear worn for a while, are becoming a thing of the past for some dental patients. In place of all of that equipment, many patients will have the option to take advantage of the clear aligners known as Invisalign to correct their dental problems.

Unlike the common metal braces that remain affixed to a patient's teeth for the duration of 2-3 years, the Invisalign aligners can be slipped off prior to a meeting, a meal or whenever necessary, then reinserted. And the standard aligner straightening process requirement is significantly less time than traditional braces: 6 months - 1 year on average.

Many of the Invisalign users are adults who have long dreamed of correcting a cross bite, overbite, under bite or a mouth full of crowded teeth, but were unable to do so as a child. Now these same people are hesitant to commit to a mouthful of wires and brackets due to the discomfort they may generate in a work environment or present as a non-businesslike appearance. But the availability of aligners in place of metal has made a healthy straight row of white teeth a reality for these adult patients.

The task of maintaining good oral hygiene through brushing and flossing teeth encased in wires and brackets can be very tedious, time consuming and messy, but users of Invisalign can simply slip the aligner off and attend to their normal dental practice, then slip the aligner back into place. The aligner itself can be kept clean with the use of a toothbrush and a lukewarm water rinse.

Metal braces require regular adjustments of the wires and rubber bands, which can be very painful, and the discomfort can last for several days. Whereas with the aligners, an appointment approximately every two weeks results with a new aligner that is fitted to gently guide the teeth into the correct formation. This process is painless and less time consuming than the metal braces.

The cost of Invisalign aligners is comparable to traditional braces, and most insurance companies will cover a part of the cost. Only an orthodontist can determine if this alternative treatment will be an appropriate option for a patient, or if the treatment they need will be better corrected through the application of metal braces.

Some parents may be persuaded by their teenagers to go the aligner route, not only for the cosmetic benefits but due to the lower number of adjustment visits required and the painless straightening process (no pain wracked - miserable child at home!) as well as the shortened amount of time required of the process - about 1-2 years. Fewer appointments mean less school, work and sporting events missed by both parent and child.