When it comes to straightening your smile, there are a number of factors that you have to weigh when choosing orthodontic treatment such as the duration of treatment time. So which treatment is faster, braces or Invisalign? Our Burnaby orthodontists explain.
Orthodontic Treatments
Braces are still a very popular treatment for crooked, gapped, or misaligned teeth, but it can be difficult to choose which option is right for you. For quite some time, ceramic braces seemed to be the most popular option, becuase they were nearly impossible for others to notice but they turned out to be less time-effective than metal braces.
While the speed of the process is highly determined by the type of issue you are dealing with, most experts seem to agree that clear aligners are the quickest way to straighten your teeth. The most known type of clear aligners is Invisalign, which gained a lot of popularity recently, both because they speed up the process, and because they are pretty much invisible.
However, there are plenty of other options that can work for you, based on the type of dental issues you are facing.
Things to Consider About The Speed of Treatment
There are a number of treatment options to straighten your smile, but there are also plenty of factors that go into the effectiveness and speed of treatment. Before we discuss the fastest orthodontic treatment, we would like to point out some factors that make determining the time frame, difficult.
Patient Expectations
The very first and foremost misconception about braces treatment is the specific timeframe – people think that any kind of braces aligns the teeth in the same time frame for every patient. It is not the case.
Every single patient is different from the other one. Every single patient has a different level of severity regarding his orthodontic problem. There are several factors that actually define a specific time frame of that patient regarding braces fastest treatment. Have a look at some of the important factors.
Severity of Orthodontic Issues
The specific severity of the issue defines a particular patient’s timeframe to be cured. It’s not about the braces or invisalign- it’s about the nature of orthodontic issues. If a person is having just a few misaligned teeth in just the upper row and the second person is having all of the teeth misaligned, obviously the first one is gonna recover first.
Age
The patient’s age is also a key factor assuming the exact timeframe and the fastest braces to straighten teeth. The younger kids are definitely going to get the quicker results with metallic braces as their growing jaws can be manipulated with ease and flexibility.
Patient Dedication
It does not matter either you go with braces or invisalign, you have to be disciplined. If a person is having braces and he wont stop drinking acidic things, the braces would become rusty and less effective. People have a misconception about flossing with braces – they think it is not possible to floss with a brace. They must watch a video guide to floss with braces.
In another case, if a person keeps wearing off the invisalign and doesn’t follow a proper invisalign schedule, he won’t be able to achieve the desired results quickly.
Invisalign Clear Aligners
Invisalign braces are becoming extremely popular nowadays, as they bring out many benefits to patients. Invisalign braces are simply clear plastic trays that are attached to the teeth the same way a mouthguard would and slowly moves them into the desired place.
The average adult patient is expected to finish treatment in about 1 year, but some of them even manage to do so in as little as three months, which makes them one of the fastest-working braces on the market.
But Invisalign does not only come with the benefit of being a fast solution for misaligned teeth. One of the reasons why patients choose this option is that they are almost invisible and people won’t notice if someone is wearing them. The trays can be removed for eating or brushing teeth, which makes it a much more convenient solution.
Invisalign braces are significantly more expensive than traditional braces, but the benefits they bring make them be worth the money and great value.
Traditional Braces
Traditional braces have evolved quite a bit since they first started and are still the most popular solution for people who would like to manufacture a straighter smile and they are the most affordable type of treatment and they come in many forms.
On average, it takes about 24 months to complete this orthodontic treatment. Some patients require less than 12 months, but there are also patients requiring up to 3 years of treatment before their teeth reach the desired position.
Ceramic braces are a more aesthetically pleasing solution for those who would like a more discrete appearance to their orthodontic treatment, as they are made out of a ceramic material that is close to the colour of the patient’s teeth, to make them less visible. But despite their aesthetic, ceramic braces are easier to break and are much more expensive than metallic braces.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are another form of treatment that is preferred by people who want a more concealed solution. They are attached to the back of the teeth and can not be seen from the outside of the mouth. They are far less noticeable than traditional braces.
Lingual braces are not suitable for all cases and can take longer than other types of braces (typically one to two years) although is a preferred fixed option, as they do not depend on the compliance of the wearer and are very discreet.
They are not hidden behind the wires and brackets and you can see your smile unfold during treatment and most patients see improvements in the first few weeks. One of the best things about having the bracket on the inside is that you can see your teeth.
Self-Ligating Braces
Similar to traditional braces, but much more effective in terms of duration, self-ligating braces are becoming more and more popular.
Treatment is expected to be finished around 6 months earlier than traditional braces and the patient is not required to visit their orthodontist as frequently. When the patient visits the orthodontist, the doctor simply adjusts the brackets, which causes much less discomfort and saves time. They also cause less discomfort than traditional braces and are much easier to clean.
Self-ligating braces don’t require elastics or rubber bands, as they use special brackets that help the archwire move and directs teeth into the ideal place. They are also much easier to maintain clean, as they do not have ties where food could get stuck in.