Dr. Real discusses the pros and cons of invisible braces and metal braces for adults.
Braces for Adults: Invisible or Metal?
Looking to straighten out some of those teeth? Braces are nearly always the answer. When you’re an adult, though, sometimes it’s hard to choose between traditional metal braces and the new invisible braces. Each have their own pros and cons.
Invisible Braces
Invisible braces are clear and slide over your teeth like a retainer, making small adjustments at a time in order to improve your smile. Every two weeks, you get a new, custom aligner to move your teeth to where they should be. The average treatment time is anywhere from a few months to a year and a half.
It all seems fine, but invisible braces are weak in that they don’t fix vertical teeth problems. That’s to say, if your teeth are at different heights, invisible braces can’t do much about that. It also isn’t very good with teeth that are rotated and any bite issues. Additionally, invisible braces cost about $500 more on average per year than traditional metal ones.
Overall, while they’re nicer to look at, they’re more expensive and can’t do as much correction as metal braces. Invisible braces are recommended mainly for those who only have minor alignment errors.
Metal Braces
Traditional braces are much more effective than invisible braces at correcting more severe alignment problems, bite problems, and rotated teeth. They also work much faster than invisible braces. With metal braces, you also have the option of getting clear or ceramic braces, but they certainly aren’t invisible.
While the alignment is better, metal braces can get chunky and cover most of your teeth for a few years. They can also cause stains from any coffee drinking or smoking. Metal braces are more for those who are looking for their teeth to be as straight as possible, as fast as possible.
Dr. Real isn’t an orthodontist, but he can point you in the right direction and let you know what braces might be best for your teeth. He can also educate you on how to best keep your teeth clean and healthy while you’re wearing them. If you’re thinking about braces, give Dr. Real a call for a consultation at (714) 525-2888.