Invisalign: Pros and Cons for Adults

The Pros

Aesthetics

Perhaps the most apparent benefit of Invisalign over metal braces is its transparent appearance. The plastic trays are almost completely clear, allowing them to blend into your natural smile. Most of our patients agree that unless someone knows you are in treatment, they won’t be able to notice. You will also receive new trays regularly, which will ensure you are always wearing a crystal-clear Invisalign aligner. 

Flexibility

The Invisalign trays are completely removable, and can usually adapt to your lifestyle. While the normal recommended wear time is 20 hours per day, we understand that life isn’t always routine. If you have an important work event or a fun family trip, simply take out your Invisalign and live life to the fullest. You have the freedom to choose when and how you wear your Invisalign trays, and our office team is always available to help guide you through protecting your smile while adapting to life’s events. Keep in mind that if you remove your trays for a prolonged period of time, we may have you wear that tray for longer than one week to ensure the movements are fully expressed. 

Comfort

All of our adult patients agree that Invisalign is exceedingly more comfortable than the metal braces they remember from childhood. While there are no bulky brackets or poking wires, Invisalign is still moving your teeth which can cause some slight soreness that takes a few days to get accustomed to. Compared to braces, however, Invisalign will not be giving you any additional blisters, sores, or cuts. The plastic tray is perfectly trimmed to your unique gumline, and while slightly tight, should fit completely comfortably. 

Hygiene

The most important benefit of Invisalign is being able to maintain excellent hygiene. Metal braces have brackets and wires that are bonded in place, which means you have to clean around and in between them. With Invisalign, you can remove your aligners completely and brush and floss your teeth like normal. During orthodontic treatment, we typically recommend brushing one additional time per day, and using Invisalign allows this additional step to be quick and easy. 

The Cons

Commitment

While being a very flexible treatment option, Invisalign also requires a fair amount of commitment. In order to achieve ideal results, the trays need to be worn 20 hours per day on average. Since Invisalign is removable, it’s up to you to remember to wear them regularly. Additionally, in order to ensure the health of your teeth, you will remove them for any kind of food or drink that isn’t water. While it only takes a few seconds to remove the trays, it takes a few weeks to get into a regular routine.

Attachments 

Almost all of our Invisalign adult patients have what are called “attachments.” These are tooth-colored composite bumps that are bonded directly to your teeth. While small, they can sometimes be noticeable when looking up close. For most cases, these attachments should not be noticed by observers and will blend in naturally with your tooth color. When receiving your first set of Invisalign attachments, they may rub against the inside of your lips while eating. This feeling should go away within a few days as your body adapts. In some cases, we are able to place the attachments that go on your top front teeth behind your teeth for optimum aesthetics. When you’re in for your complimentary consultation, ask our doctors if you’re eligible for these hidden attachments!

Speech

Invisalign results are achieved by wearing the plastic tray 20 hours per day, which means you may have to wear them during normal conversation. For the first 3-7 days, you may speak with a soft lisp due to the top edge of the tray. As you continue to talk with the Invisalign on, your tongue will naturally learn proper placement, and you will begin to speak normally. If you find yourself preparing for an important lecture or vocal performance, we would suggest removing the trays completely and resuming your normal wear later that day. 

Further Questions

Together, we’ve covered the most common pros and cons of using Invisalign for orthodontic treatment. We treat over 90% of our cases with Invisalign and the results are excellent. In fact, we find Invisalign to be far more effective than traditional braces in treating almost any case type. While most adults tend to favor Invisalign, we recommend using whichever option you are most comfortable with. Since treatment typically takes between 6 and 18 months to complete, we want to ensure you are confident in your decision. If you have any additional questions about the different treatment options, please reach out to our team or your local orthodontic office!