When making the choice to get orthodontic care, it can be tricky to decided how to choose between braces and teeth aligners. Here are some tips to help you make the decision a little easier.

How to Choose Between Braces and Teeth Aligners

When it comes to straightening crooked teeth and other teeth treatments, deciding to go for the traditional braces or teeth aligners can be a very tough one to make for a lot of people. Hence, they go about asking questions, doing research, and searching different sites to get better enlightened on how to make the better choice between both teeth straighteners.

In this article, we will shed more light on both teeth straighteners, and ultimately help you make the right decision.

Before we go into how you can decide which teeth straightener would work well for your teeth, we must explain both types of teeth straighteners first.

What are Braces?

Braces are ceramic or metal brackets that are made of rubber bands and wires; and are attached to each tooth (with the aid of dental cement) to move them to their right position in the mouth.

Pros and cons of braces

Pros

It is efficient for complex teeth conditions such as misaligned jaws, crooked teeth, tooth spacing and overcrowding, open bites, mismatched dental midlines, underbites, and overbites.
You can get braces in different types and rubber band colors.
It is inexpensive. Costs between $1800 to $4,750.
It is suitable for kids, teenagers, and pre-adults.

Cons

It is difficult to clean but easy to maintain.
It is prone to bacterial infection as a result of trapped food particles.
It causes irritation.
It restricts the wearer from eating some types of food. Examples are hard and sticky foods.
It brings discomfort during tooth brushing and flossing.
It can’t be removed while eating.
They are visible and can affect the self-esteem of wearers.
It requires constant visits to your orthodontist for treatment and check-ups.
Treatment in adults takes longer.
You can encounter problems with your braces. Problems such as broken wires, discolored teeth, snapped ligatures, sore mouth/teeth, and a removed bracket.
You wear one for as long as your orthodontist or dentist recommends.

What are Teeth Aligners?

Teeth aligners are thin and clear trays that are worn tightly on top of the teeth to ensure proper positioning of the teeth. Unlike braces, teeth or Byte aligners are not made of metals and wires but are made of visible acrylic or plastic material. These are custom-made to fit your teeth and mostly help with spacing problems.

Pros and cons of teeth aligners

Pros

They are easily removed. You can detach them to wash regularly.
They are not visible.
It is easier to brush and floss while wearing them.
You don’t require frequent visits to your orthodontist for checkups.
It is comfortable to wear.
You don’t have to worry about experiencing problems with your aligner.
You’d get a new one every two weeks.

Cons

You have to remove them before eating.
You might experience discomfort and inconvenience while taking them out and putting them back in.
It is not efficient for complex teeth issues.
It is expensive. Cost between $3000 and $7000.
Now that we have run you through both types of teeth straightening tools, it is time for you to decide which you are going for. Deciding that can still be a tad difficult for you even after this overview of both.

Factors to Aid your Teeth Straighter Decision

Longevity

One of the key factors that should determine which teeth straightener you should go for is how long you have to wear them. The longevity of braces treatment is between 6 months and 3 years. While the longevity of teeth aligner treatment is between 1 year and 18 months. Your choice of teeth straightener will now depend on how long you want to have the teeth straightener on for.

Removability

As earlier stated above, when it comes to being detachable, both are different. Braces are not easily detachable, and you are mostly required to have them on at all times. On the other hand, teeth aligners are easily detachable, and you can remove them before eating and brushing your teeth.

Cost

Setting a budget for yourself is another factor that can help you make the right decision too. The amount you budget for teeth treatment will determine if what you’d go for is either braces or aligner.

Maintenance

Maintaining the two teeth straighteners is different. For the aligner, maintenance is complex and can be tedious. For example, to take care of your aligners:

You have to brush your teeth before you put them back on.
You have to brush them with antibacterial soaps before wearing them.
You have to soak them in water and vinegar every day.
You have to rinse your aligner trays every day.
While for braces, the maintenance tips are simple:
Brush your teeth cum braces together with the required toothpaste, mouth wash, and floss.
Ensure you floss once daily.

Of course, there are a lot of things to consider when you’re weighing your teeth straightener options. But with the help of this article and further consultation with your orthodontist, you are on the right track to making the best teeth treatment decision of your life.