Flashing a pearly white smile is the easiest way to boost one’s own confidence. It is also the first thing that a person notices about you when they meet you for the first time. But, if your teeth are crooked or protruding, it can make you feel self-conscious and not the best version of yourself. And if deformities are left unchecked, they can catapult into problems like tooth decay and inflammation of the gums. The best way to correct your teeth is by wearing braces. But, they don’t always look the best and as an adult, nobody wants to have wires across their teeth. So your best bet is to get lingual braces or Invisalign. But what is the difference between the two and between lingual braces and Invisalign, what will work better for you? Let’s take a look.
Differences Between Lingual Braces and Invisalign
Let’s take a look at how lingual braces and invisalign differ from one another in how they work, how they look and of course, what the lingual braces and invisalign cost difference is.
What Are Lingual Braces?
Braces are the most common orthodontic procedure that millions of Americans go through every year. While traditional braces are put over the teeth with cement and brackets, held together by wires and elastic bands, lingual braces are placed on the inside of the teeth. A digital scan of the mouth is taken to custom make the wires and brackets of the lingual braces to fit snugly to every tooth.
Benefits of Lingual Braces
- Lingual braces are particularly useful for adults and working professionals who have to be more conscious of their appearance, as well as those engaged in professions like media wherein they need to be in front of cameras a lot.
- Lingual braces work like traditional braces as they exert pressure on the teeth to help push them in a particular direction.
- They are cemented to the back of the teeth, making them more aesthetically appealing.
- Lingual braces are especially useful for musicians who play instruments like the flute or saxophone, as there is lesser chance of discomfort due to braces coming in contact with the instrument.
- Unlike traditional braces, as the cement is applied on the inside, if there is any discoloration due to it, it will not be visible on the outside.
Cons of Using Lingual Braces
- Lingual braces being on the inside of the mouth are in constant contact with the tongue. This can make the tongue sore and raw as it scrapes against the metal.
- Teeth also need to be cleaned thoroughly from the inside to ensure no food particles remain lodged in the braces.
- You may also develop a temporary lisp while getting used to the braces, as the tongue adjusts to being in constant contact with the braces.
How Much Do Lingual Braces Cost?
Being the most aesthetically viable option and given the fact that each bracket and wire is custom made, lingual braces come with a hefty price tag. Of all the traditional braces, these are the most expensive, costing between $8,000 and $10,000 for the entire treatment. However, your insurance provider may cover dental procedures and help reduce part of the cost.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is the latest orthodontic invention to help give you the perfect pearly white smile, without anyone getting to know that you are undergoing a procedure. Invisalign braces, as the name alludes, are entirely transparent braces. They have been designed keeping in mind aesthetics, allowing people to repair their teeth without feeling like their mouth is full of metal. They are custom made to every patient by taking a scan of their teeth which helps them fit snugly. They push the teeth in a particular direction and are replaced every few weeks with a new brace, made after taking a new scan of the teeth.
Benefits of Invisalign
Being transparent, wearing Invisalign braces is almost like wearing no braces at all. These make the ideal solution for people in media industries, as well as adults who do not want to wear chunky metal braces. The Invisalign brace is changed every few weeks as the teeth align a little better. They are also removable and can be kept aside while eating, drinking and brushing teeth, which results in next to no staining of the brace. As they can be removed during brushing, the teeth can be thoroughly cleaned and flossed, minimizing the risk of food particles getting stuck in teeth and causing tooth decay.
Cons of Using Invisalign
These are only meant for adults, not for children or even teenagers. Being a more cosmetic and aesthetic solution, they come with a hefty price tag. There is a potential to lose or damage them as they can be removed at will. Invisalign will also not work for overcrowded teeth or extremely crooked teeth and is more suited for teeth which require less orthodontic repair.
How Much Does Invisalign Cost?
Invisalign is an expensive treatment but insurance can cover part of the cost. As it is a treatment meant for not very severe orthodontic cases, the duration of the treatment will be lesser and would, on the whole, cost between $5,000 to $7,000.
Final Word on Lingual Braces vs Invisalign
Your face and smile makes the first impression on a person in any interaction. Not having the smile you like can lower your confidence and self esteem. Various orthodontic issues like overcrowding of teeth, a deep bite, crooked teeth can all be fixed with the help of braces. Apart from conventional braces, there are now new braces which fix your teeth without being prominently displayed when you smile.
Linguistic braces are a kind of brace that are fixed on the inside of your teeth. Invisalign is transparent, which makes it virtually impossible to be seen by people. In the lingual braces versus Invisalign battle, go for the former if you would like to have a fixed brace and for the latter if you wish to have the freedom to take your brace off at will.
Both of these work best, predominantly for orthodontic cases which are not very severe. If you have overcrowded teeth or an underbite, neither of these solutions may work for you so always be sure to check with your dentist.