Do you have misaligned teeth that make you self-conscious when you’re in public? Do you desire a flawless smile that shows off perfect teeth? My Local Dentists have the perfect solution for you!
We use traditional metal braces and Invisalign clear aligners to move crooked teeth into their correct position so you have an attractive smile.
How can I get straight teeth?
If you have crooked teeth and are looking to fix it so your teeth become straight and you get an attractive smile, the best treatment for you is Invisalign clear trays or regular braces.
These dental appliances work by exerting pressure on the teeth and jaws to manoeuvre teeth into a new position so they fit into the dental arch properly and are not crooked or misaligned.
What is Invisalign treatment?
Invisalign aligners are orthodontic clear trays that fit upon your dental arch and exert pressure in different places to move teeth into their desired position. This treatment gives you straighter teeth over a period of a few months.
What are metal braces?
Traditional braces are stainless steel metal brackets that fix onto your teeth and use rubber bands or archwire. They are a good choice for straightening teeth that are very crooked and correct bite issues.
Lingual braces are traditional dental braces that fit onto the back of your teeth to move them into position.
Difference between ceramic and metal braces
Metal braces are made of high-quality stainless steel while ceramic braces are made of poly-crystalline alumina which can be clear or coloured.
Metal braces stand out against natural teeth while ceramic braces can be clear or tooth coloured and blend in with your natural teeth,
Which orthodontic treatment should I opt for?
The type of orthodontic treatment you get will depend greatly upon your dentist’s examination of your mouth, the extent of malocclusion as well as your age and your lifestyle.
Our highly competent dentists will do an intraoral scan of your mouth to take 3D images of the inside of our mouth to judge the placement and condition of your teeth.
They will then discuss your lifestyle with you and give their opinion on what the best is to straighten your teeth.
Braces vs Invisalign – is Invisalign treatment better than braces?
This question has been asked of My Local Dentist’s qualified and experienced team frequently and the answer is that there is no clear winner in this debate.
While both are an orthodontic treatment to realign crooked teeth, they suit different people and meet requirements to correct malocclusion.
There are differences between Invisalign treatment and braces, cost and duration of time being key distinctions among others.
Top 12 differences between Invisalign and traditional braces
Some key differences between Invisalign and braces are:
Varying treatment times
The average treatment time for metal braces is two years but it can be as short as one year or as long as three years depending on the severity of the case. Invisalign clear trays work slightly faster and can get the alignment of crooked teeth right in as little as seven months, going up to two years for more complex cases.
Of course, this treatment time for straightening crooked teeth with metal braces or Invisalign is not set and changes due to the different needs of every patient we see at My Local Dentists clinics.
Cost
In Australia, Invisalign treatments can cost upwards of $4500 depending on the complexity of the case.
Traditional metal braces cost starts at $4500 while ceramic braces can cost $5,000 and above.
Lingual braces are the most expensive of all, costing starting at $7,500.
If you have a dental insurance plan that covers orthodontics, the price of each treatment comes down substantially, making the treatment affordable and well worth the cost and time invested in it.
Suitability for different ages
Metal braces can be used to fix teeth on all patients that require orthodontic treatment be they young children, teens, young adults or adults.
On the other hand, the skilled team of dentists at My Local Dentists recommends Invisalign braces to those patients whose jaw has developed fully.
Care required
Traditional Invisalign treatment typically requires less care compared to braces. Invisalign clear trays can be removed at meal times and replaced after the meal is over and teeth are cleaned of any food particles and debris.
On the other hand, people with braces need to pay extra attention to cleaning their teeth and maintaining good oral health.
My Local Dentist’s friendly, caring staff can show you proper techniques for brushing and flossing your teeth while you have braces on.
Using braces or clear trays does not minimise the risk of tooth decay or gum disease. Therefore, it is very important you maintain good oral hygiene and do all you can to prevent the formation of tartar and plaque which can cause caries and other problems such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
Replaceable clear trays or fixed traditional braces
As mentioned, Invisalign are removable clear trays that are replaced by your dentist every two weeks while braces are fixed in place until your teeth are fully aligned. The clear trays may have blue indicators on them that will fade when they have been used as long as required and need to be replaced.
Level of responsibility
Patients who opt for Invisalign clear trays need to be responsible enough to keep their aligners on for 20 hours a day, taking them off only at mealtimes. Not wearing the trays for some time can set back the treatment which may need to start from scratch when resumed.
On the other hand, braces are cemented onto the surface of your teeth and don’t come off unless you are in an accident or experience blunt force to your face.
Time commitment
Invisalign treatment requires more time than braces do. You will need to visit your dentist once every two months and spend roughly 20 minutes with them each time.
On the other hand, braces require a follow-up visit once every 4 – 8 where your dentist may take around 30 minutes to readjust the bands on your teeth.
Requirement of emergency care
Since Invisalign are made of clear transparent plastic, they are quite unbreakable and as such patients wearing them do not require any emergency dental care.
Traditional braces, on the other hand, may break or their bands might get loose from their bonding, requiring an urgent visit to your nearest My Local Dentists.
Discreet or clearly visible
Once of the main reasons patients, especially adults choose Invisalign is that they are indistinguishable when worn. This helps the patients go about their regular routine without the stress of a “metal mouth”.
Even if clear ceramic brackets are applied with a fine, barely noticeable wire, they are visible and can create confidence issues.
Speech
Some patients note they are unable to speak clearly while wearing their clear aligners which is the same with those who opt for lingual braces. A reason this could be is that they affect the movement of the tongue in the mouth and cannot form words properly. However, this problem disappears once they get used to the covering on their teeth.
Those who choose to wear regular, on-the-dental-enamel braces do not face this problem as their tongue’s movement is unrestricted.
Case complexity
If you have a complex case with badly arranged teeth or have an overbite, underbite or any such condition due to the shape and alignment of your jaw, Invisalign may not be the best solution for you.
Invisalign is a good option for those who suffer from mild to moderate malocclusion while traditional braces are the need for complex cases.
Lifestyle
Invisalign is a discreet solution to correcting your smile, which is the best possible option for people who study or work or need to be in situations where they need to smile and talk and face people.
A clear aligner allows you to wear the appliance as you go about your daily life without getting conscious about having a metal mouth.
Having read this, you should now have a clear understanding of the differences between the two types of teeth straightening treatments and can judge if Invisalign is better than braces for your requirements and lifestyle.
However, we would strongly recommend you visit a qualified dentist with experience in both treatments to know which one will suit you best.
My Local Dentists create beautiful smiles!
Our team of Australian-graduate dentists are highly skilled and maintain their edge by taking regular courses and undergoing training to stay up-to-date with advances in the dental field.
We have been providing top-class orthodontics treatments to Sydneysiders for many years and are proud to have improved the lives of hundreds of clients by giving them a beautiful smile with the help of braces or Invisalign clear trays.
Making orthodontics affordable
At My Local Dentists, we are committed to providing the best dental services money can buy. To make this easy, we are happy to offer
- discounts to senior citizens
- free consultation for orthodontics
- GAP FREE to health fund members
- Super Care
- Medicare
- HICAPS
- CBHS
- WestFund
- NIB
Contact us to make your dream smile a reality!
My Local Dentists have five locations around Sydney which offer conveniences that make us the best choice for orthodontics in the city, such as
- easy access by car and public transport
- readily available parking
- 6-day week with late hours on certain days
- highly qualified, caring and friendly staff
- option to visit any location you are close to with no requirement other than an appointment
- acceptance of various payment methods
You can visit any of locations at Burwood, Northmead, Leichhardt, West Ryde or Northbridge, or contact us to book an appointment online for your preferred location.
Disclaimer: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Resources
Metal braces: Uses, costs, benefits, and more
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/metal-braces-uses-costs-benefits-and-more-2
Invisalign: Options, Procedure & Cost
https://www.smile.com.au/dental-treatments/invisalign-cost