Compliance is easier with braces, right?

The biggest reason I hear parents choose braces over Invisalign is compliance. They worry that their child won’t wear the appliance as much as they should, and they are comforted by the fact that the brackets and wires are fastened to the teeth. But is it really easier to be compliant with braces? In reality, both braces and Invisalign have compliance issues. With Invisalign, it is true that your treatment outcome is very much tied to how compliant you are at wearing your trays. However, there are also major compliance issues with braces, and the consequences of being non-compliant with braces are usually much worse than with Invisalign.

The consequences of being non-compliant with braces are usually much worse than with Invisalign.

So what are the compliance issues with braces?

• • Brushing and flossing are much more difficult with braces. The metal brackets and wires can trap food and plaque, making it difficult to keep the teeth clean.

• • In order to fully clean all that trapped debris and plaque, brushing and flossing should take upwards of 10 minutes twice daily. How many teens are willing to do this?

• • If braces are not cleaned properly, the teeth can become damaged and decayed, and the gums can become puffy and diseased.

• • If bands or other appliances are not worn as directed, braces treatment might not be effective.,

• • Foods such as hard candy and popcorn, can damage or pop off brackets and should be avoided.

The picture shown above is a visual example of what happens when we are not compliant braces. There are probably more compliance issues with braces than Invisalign, and the consequences are more severe. Something else to keep in mind–I have never seen an Invisalign patient develop white spots on their teeth, or start having puffy gums, or an uncharacteristic amount of new decay after treatment.

I have never seen an Invisalign patient develop white spots on their teeth, or start having puffy gums…

Problems can happen if trays are worn without rinsing or brushing the teeth, but the severity of these problems are much less than with braces. So, which would you choose?