Weigh The Facts About Invisalign And Metal Braces With Our Glendale Dentists

Written by Dr. McKay on Mar 8, 2016

Adults and teenagers who want to improve their smiles using orthodontic treatments have more options than ever before. In today’s article our Glendale dentists will be discussing the attributes of traditional metal braces and Invisalign, respectively. Many people are not sure which of these treatments will work best for them, so we hope that this additional information will help you make an informed decision.


Both metal braces and Invisalign are designed to move a patient’s natural teeth into better alignment. The mechanisms by which these two treatments achieve results, however, are quite different.


Take a moment to picture traditional metal braces: the patient has metal brackets attached to his or her teeth, and these brackets are connected by metal wires. The wire provides the tension—the force—that moves the teeth. The brackets link the tooth to the wire, so that the tooth must move into alignment.


Now, with Invisalign there are no metal brackets or wires. In fact, Invisalign is completely metal-free. Invisalign treatment actually moves teeth using clear plastic aligners. These aligners are custom fit to wrap snugly around the patient’s teeth. The plastic resin of the aligner (rather than the wire of metal braces) provides the force that shifts the patient’s natural teeth. In order to move the teeth over time, the patient actually wears a series of aligners—the patient switches out aligners every two or three weeks. Every aligner is designed to move the patient’s smile a little more.


Many people choose Invisalign over traditional orthodontics because they like how seamlessly Invisalign aligners blend in with their natural smiles. Additionally, Invisalign aligners are removable, so it is very easy to care for your smile while undergoing Invisalign treatment.


Ultimately your dentist will be able to help you choose the orthodontic treatment that works best for you. So give our Glendale cosmetic dentists a call to schedule a consultation!