Side by side
Invisalign vs Traditional Braces
Both move teeth. They differ in what they can move, what they look like while doing it, and how much of the outcome depends on you.
Invisalign vs Braces
| Invisalign | Braces | |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Clear, mostly unnoticed at conversational distance | Visible, though ceramic brackets are less so |
| Removable | Yes, and that is both the advantage and the risk | No |
| Compliance required | High. 22 hours a day or it does not work | None. They work whether you cooperate or not |
| Eating | Take them out, eat anything | Restrictions on hard and sticky food |
| Cleaning | Brush and floss normally | Harder, and decay around brackets is common |
| Complex bite correction | Good for most cases | Still better for severe skeletal cases |
| Typical length | Four to eighteen months | Twelve to twenty-four months |
| Office visits | Fewer and shorter | More frequent adjustments |
| Discomfort | Pressure for a day per aligner | Soreness for several days after each tightening |
Our take
For most adults, aligners win on every axis that matters to an adult. For a teenager who will lose them, or a bite that needs serious skeletal correction, fixed braces are still the right tool. We will tell you which one you are after we scan you, and the orthodontic consultation is free.
Invisalign
Invisalign moves teeth with a series of clear removable aligners. Adults choose it because nobody has to know it is happening.
Consider it if:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Gaps you want closed
- A bite that has shifted since childhood orthodontics
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is the part of our practice we are known for. It covers everything from a single chipped front tooth to rebuilding an entire smile.
Consider it if:
- Teeth that are stained, worn short, chipped or uneven
- Gaps you have never liked in photographs
- A gum line that shows too much or sits unevenly
How we help you decide
We take records, show you what we are looking at on screen, and give you a recommendation with the reasoning attached. Both options above get quoted where both are clinically reasonable, so you are comparing real numbers for your own mouth rather than averages from an article.
If one of them is clearly wrong for your situation, we will say so and explain why. Second opinions are welcome, and we give them straight.
Questions we get asked
How long does Invisalign take?
Simple cases finish in four to six months. Comprehensive cases usually run twelve to eighteen.
Can people tell I am wearing them?
At conversational distance, generally not. They are noticeable in close-up photographs and you take them out to eat.
Will it look obviously fake?
Only if it is designed that way. We work from your face, not from a catalogue shade. Most patients want to look like themselves on a good day.
How long does cosmetic work take?
A whitening case is two weeks. Veneers usually run three to four appointments over a month. Full mouth rehabilitation can span a year.
Not sure which?
Honest dentistry, since 1987.
We will tell you what needs doing now, what can wait, and what we would leave alone.
- Over 50,000 patients treated since 1987
- Comprehensive new patient exam including oral cancer screening
- Three doctors and a long-tenured team
- Most major dental plans accepted
Been told you need a lot of work somewhere else? Second opinions are welcome and we give them straight.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.