What Makes Invisalign Different from Other Invisible Braces?

Invisible braces are popular among adults who want to correct their teeth without having others notice. Some opt for clear braces, others for aligners, such as Invisalign.

Clear braces work like traditional braces, except that they use ceramic brackets instead of metal ones. These match the color of your teeth, so they are not quite as apparent as traditional metal braces. The benefit of clear braces versus Invisalign is that they use arch-wires, which will align your teeth more efficiently. One significant disadvantage to clear braces is that you cannot use them on your lower teeth. Ceramic is harder than enamel and may damage your teeth.

Clear braces also can stain your teeth if you smoke, drink a lot of coffee, or eat curry often. While clear braces are less noticeable than metal ones, they are not going to be as subtle as Invisalign aligners, which are virtually impossible to detect.

Are Other Aligner Options Available?

Since Invisalign first offered an alternative to traditional braces, a few other clear aligner solutions have come onto the market. These include Clear Solutions and Smile Direct Club aligners.

Invisalign and Clear Solutions aligners follow a relatively similar procedure. You will meet with an orthodontist or dentist for a consultation. They will make an impression of your teeth, then scan it into the computer to design your customized trays. Just like Invisalign, you must switch out your Clear Solutions trays every two weeks. The main difference between the two is the material: Clear Solution uses soft plastic, while Invisalign is a product called SmartTrack.

SmartTrack is a very elastic type of plastic. After a couple of days, other aligners tend to slacken, losing their effectiveness in moving your teeth. SmartTrack’s elasticity allows it to maintain its grip on your teeth, giving you the best possible results from your aligners.

Invisalign also offers a unique feature for teenagers called a ‘compliance indicator,' which monitors to ensure that the patient uses the aligners for the full 20-22 hours a day, as required.

Weighing the Pros and Cons

Clear Correct aligners are less expensive than Invisalign, which can cost anywhere from $4,500 to $8,000. The most affordable option for aligners is Smile Direct Club.

Smile Direct Club offers a do-it-yourself treatment that is considerably less expensive than any other aligner on the market. Patients are responsible for getting the impressions done on their teeth. They can do this at a local Smile Center, or possibly even at home. Patients will also take photos of their teeth, which they will send to Smile Direct Club.

A health specialist at Smile Direct Club reviews these impressions and sends the patient alignment trays. Patients then are responsible for monitoring their own treatments.

The American Association of Orthodontists is resistant to endorse Smile Direct Club, partly because it puts a dent in its members’ revenues. But, more important, it removes the intervention of a health professional. Smile Direct Club offers 24/7 customer service, but patients don't receive any professional advice if a more complicated procedure is necessary.

That said, the Smile Direct Club aligners are very similar to those of Invisalign and Clear Solution, but the lack of professional intervention reduces their cost drastically. Smile Direct Club offers its treatment for a one-time payment of $1,850. If patients opt to purchase their retainers one tray at a time, they pay $85 per month, for a total price tag of $2,290 for a 24-month plan.

Part 1 - How Does Invisalign Compare to Regular Braces?

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How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign braces use clear aligners to shift your teeth into the desired position gradually over only about 6 to 12 months. You will receive a set of aligner trays that you change out every two weeks to align your teeth. Voila, it’s that simple!

Treatment begins with a consultation by an Invisalign-trained dentist or orthodontist. They will take some X-rays and some photos and of your teeth and face. Your provider also will make an impression of your teeth, which they can scan into a computer.

Using this 3D scan, your dental specialist will come up with an individualized treatment plan and move your teeth around in the software to strategize your alignment procedure. They will then use this information to order your Invisalign trays.

How Long Does it Take?

It usually takes three to four weeks after your first consultation to get your Invisalign trays. These trays are 25mm, made of a highly elastic and thermoplastic material called ‘SmartTrack.' You will use each aligner for two weeks before moving on to the next stage. Your teeth typically move 1/10mm with each tray.

Invisalign aligners only work on a few teeth at a time. You may have ‘attachments’ put in, which are plastic inserts that go behind your teeth and help hold the plastic aligners in place. If you have crowding, your healthcare provider might also suggest interproximal reduction. This reduction amounts to doing some sanding between your teeth to make more space.

Most patients have to use at least one set of refinement trays after finishing with the regular ones. Typically, your teeth won't be in the exact, desired position until you have used all of your trays. After you finish with them, you will schedule another consultation with your dentist or orthodontist. If your teeth still need adjusting, your healthcare specialist will make another 3D scan and order a set of refinement trays.

Refinement trays work the same as the original aligners. It usually takes three or four weeks to receive your refinement trays. And your first set of refinement trays are included in all Invisalign treatments, so you won’t have to pay extra for them.

Do You Have to Wear Invisalign 24/7?

During Invisalign treatment, you will be wearing your aligners 20-22 hours a day. You should take them out when you eat or drink anything other than water. You will also need to remove your aligners before brushing your teeth, at which time you should clean them.

If you participate in contact sports, then you should also remove them during competitions. In fact, Invisalign recommends its treatment versus braces if you are an athlete. With Invisalign, you don't risk getting cuts or sores if you are hit in the face or mouth during a game or meet.

After Invisalign treatment, you will need to wear a retainer to make sure that your teeth don’t move out of place. For the first two months, you should wear the retainer day and night. Afterward, you will only need to leave it in when you’re sleeping. You will eventually get the point where you only need to use it one to two nights a week. Get your smile on with Invisalign!

Part 3 - What Makes Invisalign Different from Other Invisible Braces?

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How Does Invisalign Compare to Regular Braces?

Traditional braces employ metal wires to move your teeth to an aligned position. Your orthodontist will glue metal anchors to the front of your teeth and attach an arch-wire. Your dental specialists will periodically tighten the wire to force alignment.

Metal braces can not only align your teeth but can also close gaps that could otherwise put you at risk for gum disease or infection. Invisalign can solve many of the same aesthetic issues as braces – including crooked or crowded teeth – but they don’t fix your bite. If your bite is off, your dental specialist likely will recommend traditional braces.

Adults typically opt for Invisalign because they are not as noticeable as metal braces. Teenagers usually wear braces, while older patients tend to prefer more subtle treatment. There are some cases, however, wherein traditional braces may be the only solution, particularly with more complicated dental issues.

Pros and Cons

Invisalign braces do not require the ongoing repairs and updates that traditional braces do. With the metal ones, wires can sometimes pop out, or anchors can detach from your teeth. Traditional braces limit what you can eat, keeping you away from chewing gum and especially hard or sticky foods, which can damage anchors or pull out wires.

Invisalign braces are an excellent teeth-straightening solution for serious athletes because you can remove them while playing sports. Traditional braces can cut the inside of your mouth, so if you play contact sports with metal braces, you will need to use a mouthguard.

Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign treatment does not require you to make regular visits to your orthodontist. You are responsible for changing out your trays at home. All you need with Invisalign is a little self-discipline to keep the aligners in at least 20 hours a day.

Weighing Costs and Benefits

Invisalign is typically more expensive than are traditional braces, averaging about $5,000. The cost of metal braces ranges from $1,800 to $5,000, depending on the complexity of your situation.

Both Invisalign and traditional braces will cause a certain amount of discomfort as they realign your teeth. But if you wear Invisalign trays, you don’t have to worry about cutting your mouth on anchors or wires. With traditional braces, you will sometimes have to use saltwater rinses to avoid infections when you develop cuts or sores.

Traditional braces make it more challenging to clean your teeth. You will need to brush carefully around the anchors and floss using special interdental brushes or threaders.

But Invisalign can put you at a higher risk for cavities because the trays cover your teeth completely. If you are using aligners, specialists recommend that you brush your teeth before reinserting them after eating or drinking anything but water. Otherwise, Invisalign aligners can trap food particles in your teeth, which may lead to staining over time.

While Invisalign does not restrict the foods you can eat, you must take out your aligners when you eat or drink, which some people consider an inconvenience. You must keep the aligners in your mouth for at least 20 hours a day to maximize effectiveness. Work with your dentist or orthodontist to choose the straightening treatment that’s best for you!

Part 2 - How Does Invisalign Work?

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10 Signs Your Natural Dentist is Truly Holistic

Choosing the right natural dentist for yourself and your family is no less important than choosing the right doctor. In fact, it might actually be more important from a prevention standpoint. This is because what is happening with and to a person’s teeth and gums is a harbinger for the health of the rest of the body down the road.

Dr. Weston A. Price discovered this during his travels to 14 isolated Traditional Societies in the early part of the last century. He wrote about his findings in the book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. Invariably, those cultures with the best dental health enjoyed the best overall health too.

Cultures that deviated from their native diet began suffering from tooth decay with chronic and degenerative diseases and physical malformations including crooked teeth and dental malocclusions manifesting in the next generation. Finding a natural dentist that will use nontoxic treatments and methods that will facilitate oral health without any harm to the rest of the body is tricky because many natural dentists who claim to be holistic are actually not.

They may define themselves as a natural dentist on their website and in their marketing materials, but in fact they might just sell supplements in their office with every single dental practice by the book conventional.

I remember one experience I had with a so called natural dentist who was nothing of the sort.  I traveled far out of town with one of my children to seek his opinion only to find that his definition of “holistic” was offering the parent a choice to opt out when it came to fluoride treatments!

That was it!

Everything else was completely conventional. Such a disappointment and a waste of time on my end. But, I am glad that I carefully asked questions during the consultation before putting my child in his care. Another dentist heavily marketing himself as natural in my area (and fooling a lot of people) requires x-rays for children on a very frequent basis.

There is no way for the parent to opt out and the receptionist even suggested to me over the phone that parents who skip x-rays are negligent. Given the study published in Cancer by Yale University’s Elizabeth Claus which found that those who have the most dental x-rays have the highest risk of brain tumors, this practice doesn’t seem so holistic does it?

The most important rule for selecting a natural dentist is not taking the dentist’s word for it!

Prepare a list of questions beforehand and insist on a consultation one on one with the dentist or at the very least, (nicely) grilling the receptionist before agreeing to any treatment for yourself or your children. Once you’ve found a natural dentist that seems promising, here are a few things to check off the list before deciding that your natural dentist is well and truly holistic.

#1: Natural Dentists Don’t Use Amalgam Fillings

Natural dentists don’t offer amalgams as an option. Period. The reason is that they value their health as much as their patients. Hence, they don’t even want mercury or the vapors it produces anywhere near their office unless they are gowned up with a mask.

If your dentist offers amalgams as an option, find another one immediately. The mercury vapors floating around the dental office alone should be reason enough to not want to ever go there even if you don’t choose amalgams yourself.

#2: Natural Dentists Don’t Offer Fluoride Treatments

Natural dentists are well aware that fluoride reduces a child’s IQ. It can also lead to white spots on the teeth, increase the risk of fractures by weakening the bones, and harm the thyroid. No truly holistic dentist in his/her right mind would ever offer this type of damaging treatment to a child. Even if a dentist offers the parent a choice to opt out of fluoride treatments, simply having the option in the first place is a red flag that the dentist is not really holistic.

#3: Natural Dentists Avoid Crowns

Truly natural dentists are very conservative with their drilling practices. This means when a cavity requires filling, holistic dentists leave as much of the tooth intact as possible and use non-toxic filling material.

If the cavity or hole is large, an inlay should be considered. Since crowns typically involve removing up to two-thirds of the tooth, a holistic dentist would use this type of dental restoration only as a last resort. If your dentist is crown happy, find another one.

#4:  Natural Dentists Don’t Offer Sealants

Sealant materials are generally made with hormone disrupting Bisphenol A (BPA). A truly natural dentist would never consider using this material with any patient let alone a child.  Don’t be fooled if a dentist says that “BPA Free” sealants are safe to use either.

In that case, the cousin chemical BPS is used which is just as bad. According to Rene Vinas, a researcher at the University of Texas who conducted a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, BPS is essentially the same as BPA.

#5: Natural Dentists Use X-Rays Sparingly

The natural dentist who cares for my family won’t do an x-ray on a child ever until he/she is 13 years old.  While this is probably an unusual practice even for natural dentists, beware of those who insist on a round of bitewings with every cleaning or even once a year. Radiation exposure is cumulative over a lifetime so the fewer x-rays, the better.

Digital x-rays are only about 50% lower in radiation on average than the old time dental x-ray machines, so don’t buy the argument that the radiation is insignificant from these devices. As mentioned earlier, a study published in Cancer by Elizabeth Claus, of Yale University, suggests those who have had dental X-rays often have a significant rise in the risk of developing a brain tumor.

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