When it comes to straightening your teeth as an adult, you will probably want a brace or aligner that is discrete, painless and offers accelerated results. But is such a brace or aligner the most suitable tool for you?

At Smile Dental Care, we know a great deal about braces and aligners, and can even offer our suitable patients Invisalign in Glasgow. After an assessment, we will choose the brace or aligner that is the most likely to be successful to straighten your teeth, helping you get the smile you deserve.

Here, our team compares 5 key areas of orthodontics concerning standard braces and Invisalign in Glasgow to help you get a better idea of what each orthodontic tool involves. Enjoy!

Comfort

OK, while our team at Smile Dental Care can agree that orthodontic treatments have become more comfortable over the last few years, there is still no such thing as completely comfortable braces or aligners. And when you wear Invisalign in Glasgow, when you change between the aligners, there is likely to be some discomfort for the first few days at least. However, if you need to wear a metal brace, you are more likely to experience a feeling of pressure after the brace has been tightened or altered.

Treatment time

It can be hard to estimate how long orthodontic treatment will take without consulting with our team. However, when you are given an invisible aligner to straighten your teeth, it takes on average between 3-6 months to work. With a standard brace, however, you may need to wear them for as long as 36 months as an adult. But with a fitted brace, our team will be better equipped to offer you a more accurate time frame as they cannot be removed and the treatment does not rely on you wearing them for 22 hours a day.

Discretion

Of the 2 options, an invisible aligner is, well, not invisible but certainly less noticeable!

It is made from clear plastic and is designed to slot over your teeth like a standard sports guard, allowing you to go about your day without even your colleagues noticing it unless you point it out to them. To keep your aligners clear, simply rinse them under a cold tap and brush away any debris with a toothbrush. Simple!

Versatility

While they are great for correcting misalignments with the front teeth and helping with teeth that are spaced or crowded, invisible aligners can be somewhat restrictive. And so, if our team decides that you need an orthodontic treatment that can handle more complex cases, we will offer you a fitted brace. This allows us to offer a more personalised treatment, which can rotate teeth and even straighten molars.

Cost

Many patients are surprised to learn that when they undertake treatment with invisible aligners, that it may not be more expensive than regular braces. This is because the cost of orthodontics revolves around the fitting, adjustments, dental visits and how long the treatment is required. And as invisible aligners do not need fitting, adjusting, require minimal trips to our dentist and can be significantly quicker than regular braces, the costs can be much lower.

For more information on how much an invisible aligner may cost you, contact our team at Smile Dental Care.