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One of the most common questions from patients is whether they should opt for traditional braces or Invisalign to straighten their teeth. In the past, traditional braces would have been the more chosen approach, but the technology of “invisible” aligners has come a long way and, in most cases, clear aligners such as Invisalign are actually better for patient treatment.

What makes Invisalign or other clear aligns better then braces? The most obvious advantage is in the aesthetics. Traditional braces are a set of metal brackets that are placed on the patient’s teeth with an adhesive, and connected together by wire. It is easy to see when someone has braces in their mouth, and treatment typically lasts between 12 and 18 months. Clear aligners are referred to as “invisible braces” due to their unnoticeable appearance in a patient’s mouth. Clear aligners are a plastic transparent device worn over the teeth similar to a mouthguard but much thinner.

How much do clear aligners cost?

The cost of clear aligners is also often better than the cost of traditional braces. In the most complex case that can be treated with aligners, the cost will usually be somewhere around $6000. If a patient only needs tooth alignment on certain teeth the cost can be much lower. At Central Brisbane Dental we provide clear aligners starting from $2599. You can come in for a free consultation to determine your suitability and cost for your teeth straightening. Traditional braces will generally have a higher initial cost as treatment options for traditional braces usually start from $5000, but can get more expensive and require specialist orthodontic treatment which can become costly.

Do I have to use Invisalign?

At Central Brisbane Dental, we actually prefer to use a brand of aligners called ClearPath. We’ve found that ClearPath aligners are superior to other aligners for a few reasons. Most importantly, ClearPath has a patented grip technology that means we don’t need to glue any notches to the teeth in order to aid in the straightening process. This leads to a less invasive solution for patients and an even further “invisible” looking aligner treatment. ClearPath aligners also allow us to treat complex cases, however your specific treatment will need to be discussed with one of our dentists.

Frequently Asked Questions about Clear Aligners

How quickly do teeth move with clear aligners?

Your teeth will begin to move right away as soon as you start wearing your aligners. Every two weeks you will use a new set of aligners which will continue to gently move your teeth over the course of your treatment. Depending on the complexity of your case, you could have straight teeth in as little as 6 months.

Do I have to wear my aligners 22 hours a day?

It is important that you use the aligners as directed. Aligners should be worn even during sleep. It is ok to take aligners out during meal times and this accounts for the two hour window you have in each day. Wearing your aligners might feel a little strange at first, however this feeling should go away after a short period of time. Each time you start a new set of aligners you may experience a feeling of noticing the aligners but each time this should pass. If you feel that you are in pain or discomfort in anyway, you should consult your dentist.

Do aligners change your face?

Any orthodontic procedure will have some impact on the shape of the face. This of course depends on many factors such as the complexity of the straightening process. When your teeth are misaligned and crooked, this is actually also altering the shape of your face. Straightening your teeth will allow your face to rest in its more natural position so you will likely notice some changes to the shape, particularly around the mouth, but this should be for the better.