Is Invisalign right for you?

Questions most frequently asked by patients considering orthodontic treatment with Invisalign versus fixed braces:

Which treatment option is least noticeable?

Invisalign is a clear tray worn over your teeth and virtually invisible.

Ceramic or "clear braces" are more esthetic than traditional metal braces. Both Ceramic and traditional metal braces are attached to the front surface of your teeth.

Lingual braces are attached to the tongue side of your teeth, so there is nothing to see.

Which treatment option is more comfortable?

Comparatively speaking, there is very little discomfort with Invisalgn treatment.

Fixed braces rub against your cheeks and lips if they are attached to the front surface of your teeth and rub against the tongue if they are on the lingual or tongue side of your teeth. Fixed braces can detach from your teeth and have wires that can distort and poke your cheeks or tongue, requiring an additional visit to the office for repair. Most discomfort caused by fixed braces subsides after seven to ten days.

Invisalign may employ small attachments on certain teeth during treatment. These attachments are covered by the aligners when properly worn, thus causing little, if any discomfort. There are very few, if any instances where additional visits are necessary with Invisalign and in some cases, there are less visits with Invisalign.

At the onset of treatment, both fixed braces and Invisalign may cause mild to moderate tooth tenderness which typically subsides within five to seven days.

Which appliance works better?

If a patient is a candidate for orthodontic treatment, they can be treated with either traditional, ceramic or lingual braces. Braces are braces and an experienced orthodontist should be able to straighten teeth with any fixed orthodontic appliance. The same holds true with Invisalgn with a small caveat - in some situations it may be necessary to use fixed braces for a short while to finish treatment started with Invisalign.

The most important "take home" point is that each person is an individual and needs to be treated as such. There are certain conditions that are best treated with Invisalign while others cases necessitate treatment with fixed appliances, for at least a portion of the treatment.

Dr Andolino will provide a careful analysis of your orthodontic needs and let you know at your complimentary consultation which treatment options are best for you.

Which appliance works faster?

There are several factors that determine treatment time. Having said that, patient cooperation is usually the primary determinant in finishing treatment within the time estimate provided.

Patient cooperation includes keeping regular appointments, avoiding restricted foods with fixed braces and wearing aligners a minimum of 20 - 22 hours each day.

Dr Andolino was the first orthodontist to offer Wilckodontics or Accelerated Orthodontics in New York City and one of the first to provide treatment with Acceledent in the Tristate area. If accelerated treatment is important to you, Dr Andolino will discuss how treatment with Acceledent or Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics can reduce treatment times by up to 50% at your complimentary consultation.

Is brushing and oral hygiene going to be difficult?

For your orthodontic treatment to be successful, Invisalign must be worn 20 - 22 hours each day. This means that Invisalign can be removed when you eat and when you brush and floss your teeth, therefore there are no dietary restriction and oral hygiene regimens remain the same.

Fixed braces can be damaged and break loose from the teeth if sticky, chewy, gooey foods are eaten. Foods of this nature must be avoided for the duration of your treatment. Proper oral hygiene is more difficult with fixed appliances as they can accumulate food and plaque if they are not properly cleaned.

Which option costs more?

The cost of orthodontic treatment depends on the severity of your case, the time involved and the appliance used.

Dr Andolino's fees are the same for Invisalign and labial braces. Dr Andolino uses the most technologically advanced fixed braces available. The Incognito lingual braces are custom fitted for each tooth of each patient and a robotic arm bends the wire used to deliver the exact prescription that Dr Andolino designs for your orthodontic needs. The fees for lingual braces reflect the additional laboratory fees necessary to fabricate your custom appliance, however, with financing or when the laboratory fees are spread out over the treatment time, the cost is not that much more than if you bought Starbucks latte every day!

Which option is best for me?

Dr Andolino offers a complimentary exam and consultation where he will carefully listen to your needs and concerns and offer the best possible treatment options to fit your lifestyle.