Orthodontist Questions Invisalign

Is Invisalign as good as braces?

I'm 22 years old, and I'm just wondering if Invisalign as good as dental braces? Will they take longer to straighten out my teeth or would they straighten out in the same time frame?

10 Answers

They are very similar in timeframe. Some more difficult cases should have braces, but simple crowding and overlapping of teeth is prefect for Invisalign treatment and is much "prettier."
Invisalign works great. It can treat most cases just as well as the old fashioned braces as long as the patient follows directions and wear time. It's generally much more comfortable and treats in less time than traditional braces.
Invisalign is an alternative to traditional braces and should be evaluated on a case by case basis. My feeling is you can get good results if chosen correctly but nothing finishes as nice as braces. Hope that helps. There are also very clear braces that aren't noticeable as an option
Yes, it is. Maybe it is more comfortable for the patients.
Invisalign or clear aligner treatment can be as good as braces if the movement of the teeth is very easy and simple. However, if the movement of the teeth requires moving teeth that require severe rotation, tipping, proclination, extrustion, intrusion, reclination, then braces are better than clear aligners. Clear aligners have some limitations when it comes to moving teeth that require a lot of movement to align them. An alternative treatment, would be combination treatment or hybrid treatment, where you place braces on for a few months to correct the severe movements needed and then finish treatment with clear aligners.

Daniel A. Flores, DDS, MS
Invisalign is a great technique to align teeth, but it doesn’t move teeth as fast as traditional braces and usually takes more time to get ideal results. I have seen beautiful results in my patients with Invisalign.
In minor misalignment cases they work as fast traditional braces.
Invisalign and clear aligners are comparable to traditional wire braces. These newer alternatives are great for the cosmetically conscious patients. Where they make up in cosmetics, they lack in force. They do not have the same tensions and “grip” to correct the more sever cases. The good news is that most cases are minor to moderate in which they can handle well and around the same treatment time.
That depends on your specific needs. We recommend you get a comprehensive exam with an orthodontist and inquire about both options. You are asking the right questions.
Some orthodontic conditions may be treated with invisalign, but not all. Consult an orthodontist for your best advice.
Of course not, not even close. All braces typically need bone development first with appliances and then aligning with straight wire. Invisalign doesn't consider occlusion (the bite) or bone "room" to straighten the teeth.