Wish you had straighter teeth, but don’t want to wear traditional metal braces? Our cosmetic dentists in Ann Arbor, MI, may recommend Invisalign® braces. These nearly invisible aligners can straighten your teeth in as little as 12 to 18 months.
Pros and Cons of Invisalign® Braces
To truly know if you’re a , you’ll need to schedule an appointment with our office. In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about the pros and cons of this orthodontic treatment.
Pros
- Aligners are nearly invisible
- No metal on your teeth
- Removable
- Straighten teeth in as little as 12 to 18 months
- Eat an unrestricted diet
Cons
- You must wear aligners 20 to 22 hours a day
- Invisalign exerts pressure on teeth
- You may need attachments
Pros of Invisalign
There are many advantages to choosing Invisalign over traditional metal braces. For example, many of our patients appreciate that Invisalign clear aligners are subtle enough to go unnoticed by friends, family, and co-workers.
If you think you would feel self-conscious with metal on your teeth, ask one of our dentists if you’re a candidate for . It’s never too late to get the smile you’ve always wanted.
Another benefit of wearing Invisalign is that it’s removable so you’re able to continue eating your favorite foods during treatment. Unlike braces, you’ll be able to eat foods that are sticky or otherwise hard to chew without the fear of ruining one of your brackets.
Invisalign is a perfect option for teenagers and adults. Whether you’re trying to impress a date or land the perfect job, Invisalign can help you feel confident during orthodontic treatment so you always make a great first impression.
Cons of Invisalign
One of the drawbacks to Invisalign is that you must wear the nearly invisible aligners 20 to 22 hours a day. This means that you’ll only be able to take out your clear aligners to eat and brush your teeth. After you eat, you’ll also need to brush your teeth so you don’t stain your Invisalign clear aligners.
Learn More: How to Take Care of Invisalign Aligners →
Since Invisalign only works when the aligners are worn consistently, it’s important that patients have the willpower to complete their treatment as directed by our dentists. For this reason, we typically don’t recommend Invisalign aligners for children. Unlike teens and adults, young children lack the self-discipline to wear their aligners consistently.
Depending on the complexity of your case, you may need SmartForce® attachments on your teeth so the aligners have something to push against. In general, you won’t need these attachments if you only need to straighten a few front teeth. However, it’s important that you request a consultation with one of our dentists so you have a better idea of what to expect.
Invisalign works by exerting pressure on your teeth to move. This means that you’ll feel slight discomfort during the first few days of wearing new aligners. However, many of our patients feel that temporary discomfort is worth having a beautifully straight smile.
Schedule an Appointment With Us
Want to learn more about Invisalign? Request a consultation with one of our dentists to learn if Invisalign is right for you. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
Our Invisalign dentists in Ann Arbor, MI, will be able to determine whether you’re a candidate for clear aligners. To request an appointment, call Enhance Family Dentistry & Orthodontics at (734) 821-7676. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.
