Is there any functional difference between invisalign and braces?

[lexax]

I am planning to get tooth extraction + braces to pull my teeth back, can it also be done with invisalign? What are the disadvantages?

[Aaeolien]

Advantages to Invisalign
Can take them out to eat, less food stuck.
They are more or less invisible (attachments make them slightly more visible, but still less visible than traditional brackets)

Disadvantages,
You have to take them out every time you eat or drink anything other than water or other clear liquids and according to my significant other ("I should've just gotten regular braces, this is a pain in my butt") and yep thats a direct
quote she has used more than once in 2 weeks. LOL
Need to be vigilant with brushing and putting them back in after eating, drinking, snacking or you aren't making any progress.

Those are the big ones that I see. I had the option braces or invisalign and I am going with braces because of the in and out every time eat or drink (I like to sip my coffee all morning long, LOL)


As far as can invisalign accomplish your treatment with an extraction? I don't know for sure but I would think so.

[bbsadmin]

I don't think that most orthodontists would use Invisalign after extractions. It can be difficult to close spaces properly -- it takes a lot of finesse.

I had 4 extractions and traditional braces, and it STILL took an extra year to close the gaps!

[DrJasonKTam]

From a theoretical standpoint, most forces from braces can be done also with Invisalign. The issue however is how many orthodontists and dentists will actually be able to deliver the same types of results with both. For many years, both doctors and patients have claimed a superiority of results with braces. This was probably true, but less a limitation on what Invisalign can do as to what the doctor planned out with Invisalign.

We have treated many patients successfully with Invisalign who were told they are not Invisalign candidates, including patients needing 4 teeth to be taken out. Again, just like with braces, Invisalign is simply a tool being used to help direct the teeth. If planned properly, most orthodontic movements should produce results where the method used cannot be distinguishable. Hope that helps!

[invizzlerizzle]

cool ^

[C11]

From a theoretical standpoint, most forces from braces can be done also with Invisalign. The issue however is how many orthodontists and dentists will actually be able to deliver the same types of results with both. For many years, both doctors and patients have claimed a superiority of results with braces. This was probably true, but less a limitation on what Invisalign can do as to what the doctor planned out with Invisalign.

We have treated many patients successfully with Invisalign who were told they are not Invisalign candidates, including patients needing 4 teeth to be taken out. Again, just like with braces, Invisalign is simply a tool being used to help direct the teeth. If planned properly, most orthodontic movements should produce results where the method used cannot be distinguishable. Hope that helps!

Do you even treat people with TMJD (who've completed splint treatment) with Invisalign? One ortho said she could. Another who's supposedly a top TMJD treater says he can't. Thanks!

[DrJasonKTam]

From a theoretical standpoint, most forces from braces can be done also with Invisalign. The issue however is how many orthodontists and dentists will actually be able to deliver the same types of results with both. For many years, both doctors and patients have claimed a superiority of results with braces. This was probably true, but less a limitation on what Invisalign can do as to what the doctor planned out with Invisalign.

We have treated many patients successfully with Invisalign who were told they are not Invisalign candidates, including patients needing 4 teeth to be taken out. Again, just like with braces, Invisalign is simply a tool being used to help direct the teeth. If planned properly, most orthodontic movements should produce results where the method used cannot be distinguishable. Hope that helps!

Do you even treat people with TMJD (who've completed splint treatment) with Invisalign? One ortho said she could. Another who's supposedly a top TMJD treater says he can't. Thanks!

Generally it isn't advisable to correct TMJD with aligners in our experience because the way the teeth bite together with the piece of plastic between the upper and lower jaws may change the bite enough to exacerbate jaw issues. Even if teeth are settled during Invisalign treatment to relieve TMJD, once they are stopped, the bite will be in a different spot. Hope that helps!

[DeSnek]

Just my 2 cents, I was told by an orthodontist that there isn’t much difference functionally between the 2, but traditional braces were still recommended for more complex cases

[lildropofsunshine]

I've been told that either will do the job just as well as the other, and that it's completely up to me which I want to choose, and the only thing is that fine movements are easier to do with traditional braces.