For decades, the only way to straighten your teeth involved spending several months or even years wearing metal braces. While they’re still extremely effective and used today, many adults and teens would rather skip treatment altogether than go to work or school with noticeable metal brackets and wires.
Thankfully, patients now have two discreet orthodontic options to choose from: clear aligners like Invisalign and lingual braces. But of course, this begs the question—which one is better?
In this Corner, Clear Aligners!
You Should Get Clear Aligners If…
- You like the idea of a removable option
- You don’t want any diet restrictions
- You want a 100% invisible treatment
You Should NOT Get Clear Aligners If…
- You don’t want to brush your teeth and clean your aligners after every meal
- You don’t want to keep up with wearing them for 20-22 hours a day
- You want to finish your orthodontic treatment as fast as possible
In short, while clear aligners like Angel and Invisalign practically disappear when worn, they do require more maintenance and discipline on the patient’s part.
Their Opponent, Lingual Braces!
You Should Get Lingual Braces If…
- You want a fixed treatment that you don’t have to think about
- You have a severe overbite that needs to be corrected
- You want your treatment to be over as soon as possible
You Should NOT Get Lingual Braces If…
- You want your treatment to be completely unnoticeable
- You don’t like the idea of your tongue sitting against the brackets
- You want the most affordable treatment
Basically, lingual braces, while hidden, aren’t quite as subtle as clear aligners, but they often lead to shorter treatment times.
And the Winner Is…
It depends!
*boos from the crowd*
This is always the most annoying answer to any question, but fortunately, choosing an orthodontic treatment doesn’t have to rely solely on you—your orthodontist can give you great insight as well.
The truth is that you can’t go wrong with either of these. Depending on your timeline, budget, and how your teeth need to move, your orthodontist can recommend either clear aligners or lingual braces so you get both the beautiful result and comfortable experience you desire.
About the Author
Dr. Isaak Yelizar graduated from the NYU College of Dentistry with the highest honors before going on to earn his orthodontic certification from St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. With him at the helm, SimpliBraces can offer a selection of treatments you won’t find at other offices. He’s able to provide Angel Aligners (a more affordable and comfortable Invisalign alternative) as well as Brava lingual braces.
If you’re ready to straighten your smile (while no one around you notices), visit our website or call (929)229-1009 to schedule a FREE consultation.