Braces vs. Alignment products – which is better?
One benefit in choosing an Alignment product (i.e.: Invisalign) over traditional metal braces is better oral hygiene. Because you can remove your aligner to eat, brush, and floss, the plaque and bacteria responsible for tooth decay have less of an opportunity to build up on your teeth. Because there are no wire brackets, there is less mouth irritation. You can, however, expect a bit of discomfort when you begin using each new aligner, which typically lasts for a few days and is more like pressure than pain. You must be willing to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day for them to be effective; though they are removable, you should place them right back in as soon as you have finished eating or brushing your teeth. Finally there is the cost to consider. The overall cost of treatment depends on the extent of the problem and length of treatment.
