With the arrival of Invisalign on the scene to help straighten the teeth as an alternative to traditional metal braces there have been questions about which is more effective. The question is only able to be answered based on individual needs of the patients. In certain cases that need correction metal braces are more effective.
The Limitations of the Invisalign System versus Metal Braces
There are four weaknesses of the Invisalign system.
1. Bite Changes – Invisalign is not able to predictably control a change in the bite of the back of the mouth. According to Mouhab Rizkallah, DDS you may even cause back bite problems when attempting to move the back teeth and do not correctly reach your goals.
2. Rotation of Cylindrical Teeth (canines and premolars) – Because these teeth are round in shape the Invisalign system cannot grip the tooth predictably to realign it easily or predictably.
3. Predictable up-righting root movement – Invisalign cannot effectively accomplish this movement in a manner that is easily controlled and predictable.
4. Vertical Movements – Invisalign cannot accomplish this predictably and the appliance itself is designed to release in the vertical plane.
Invisalign has attempted to correct these 4 issues with the addition of “buttons” which are glued to the teeth to allow for friction to grip the tooth and move it, some Dentists have had success with this addition while others have not.
If you need correction of the bite, root up-righting, vertical tooth movement or rotation of cylindrical teeth, Invisalign may not be the right choice for you. If you do not require any of these 4 functions you can get the same result using Invisalign as you can from the use of metal braces. Traditional metal braces are able to predictably accomplish these tasks making them more effective in certain dental situations.
The Benefits of the Invisalign System
For many alignments Invisalign can achieve the same results as using metal braces without being easily seen to the naked eye. Using Invisalign instead of metal braces for these corrections has the additional benefit of being easily removed to brush and floss the teeth after meals. Since they have smooth edges they are often reported as being more comfortable than traditional metal braces and more attractive since there are no wires, brackets or rubber bands needed.
The Benefits of Traditional Metal Braces
The use of traditional metal braces for aligning teeth is a tried and true method. They do not have the limitations that are attributed to the Invisalign system. They are now available in various colors including the use of clear brackets making them far more attractive than in previous years. The cost of traditional metal braces versus the cost of the Invisalign system is less expensive and most dental insurance policies will pay a portion of the bill. If tried and true methods and cost is a concern of yours talk to your dentist to determine if traditional metal braces are the best choice for you.
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