I am a member of the Invisalign Teen Mom Advisory Board. My daughter has received complimentary treatment from Invisalign®. All opinions in this post on Benefits of Invisalign vs Metal Braces are 100% my own.
In August we will find out if my daughter has completed her Invisalign treatment. All signs are pointing to yes, and that’s exciting for her. She started treatment in May 2016 so that would be 15 months of wearing Invisalign clear aligners.
While all results and treatment lengths can vary, her’s has been shorter than the typical 18 months – 3 years teens usually wear braces. In fact, I’ve learned it is quite common for Invisalign treatments to last closer to 12-15 months. Length of treatment is just one of the benefits of Invisalign vs Metal Braces, and I’m sharing others with you today.
Benefits of
Invisalign vs Metal Braces
#1 Less Pain with Invisalign than Metal Braces
A very welcomed benefit is less pain with Invisalign than metal braces. The Invisalign clear aligners fit nicely around your teeth, with no metal pieces cutting up the inside of your mouth and lips.
In the very beginning when my daughter started Invisalign, my daughter had some discomfort as she got used to wearing the clear aligners, but it wasn’t painful. Other than that, that’s the only time Invisalign clear aligners have bothered her since she’s been wearing them
#2 Travel and Busy Schedules Don’t Affect It
A friend mentioned once that she would have loved to have Invisalign for her son because he had to stay in his braces two extra months because he missed an appointment over summer vacation.
You don’t have to worry about extended treatment because of missed appointments with Invisalign. If you’re on vacation or your child is sick, it’s okay! There aren’t constant visits to adjust or tighten things to keep treatment on track.
#3 Less Orthodontist Visits
Going along with #2, you get to enjoy less overall visits with Invisalign vs Metal Braces. We’ve been going in every 3 months or so to pick up new packs of clear aligners. We are in and out in less 15 minutes which is awesome.
#4 Easy to Care For
When it comes to taking care of Invisalign clear aligners, there’s not much more to it than brushing them. You can buy a cleaning system and tablets that can be used daily, but you don’t have to. My daughter brushes and flosses as usual, and often says cleaning Invisalign is just like brushing two sets of teeth.
#5 No Food Restrictions
A big plus for Invisalign users is there are no food restrictions like there are with metal braces. Invisalign is removed when you eat or drink, so you can have anything you want as long as you brush your teeth before putting your clear aligners back in.
For more on our experience with Invisalign:
- Invisalign Hacks You Want to Know
- Invisalign Tips for Teens
- Invisalign Tips for Parents
- Benefits of Invisalign vs Metal Braces
- My Daughter’s Thoughts on Wearing Invisalign
- Mom Misconceptions About Invisalign
- When Invisalign Treatment Ends, What’s Next?
Are you considering Invisalign clear aligners but have some misconceptions holding you back? Let me know and I can try to answer based on our experience.
Elenna says
Are they affordable, will my insurance cover them , and much do I have to pay out of pocket
Lisa Collins says
Hi Elenna! I found Invisalign to be affordable and it depends on your insurance if they will cover them or not and how much you would need to pay out of pocket. You may be able to call them to find out what they cover and a local orthodontist may be able to let you know what is required up front. I hope that helps! – Lisa
Nathaniel Fogel says
I think the fact that they’re so much easier to maintain than normal braces is more than enough reason to get them over normal braces. As someone who had normal braces when I was a kid, one of the worst things about them was all the flossing and brushing I had to do to keep them clean. It would’ve been amazing to be able to just take my braces off and brush my teeth normally.
Susie says
I’m not sure if I completely agree with this. Though I understand where your loyalty lies (free Invisalign) I get it. I’d say anything not to have to pay the $6350 it cost me. So let’s start there. It’s more expensive than traditional braces. Also there if you miss an appointment you could be set back. When I go in I have to usually get a new attachment put on and I get new aligners so if I miss one I’ll be set back. Also your correct you can eat anything you want but there’s a time limit. You have to eat fast and get those suckers back in. Brushing and flossing every time. Also most insurances don’t cover it so save up.
Lisa Collins says
Hi Susie! First, yes Invisalign was provided free of charge but we did visit an orthodontist about regular braces beforehand and comparing the cost (if we had paid for Invisalign) it was still cheaper – but that is only comparing the two dentists we visited in our specific location and my daughters specific needs so it could very well be different for others.
As for setbacks, I wonder if that also varies by the situation? We never had trouble if she ever missed an appointment and if there was something that conflicted and made for an appointment being set later than preferred they would add an extra aligner to what she was taking home that day. (If that makes sense)
As far as eating, my daughter didn’t have to rush. I mean, she didn’t spend an hour over a meal or anything but she was never told she had to rush. She did have to brush/floss every time which is something she joked about helping her lose a few pounds because she avoided samples and quick snacks because of that lol!
There is a very good change my oldest son will be in braces or Invisalign in the next two years, if we go with braces I will have to come back and compare the two – as best I can since there mouths are different but you know what I mean. 😉