Which is more painful, Invisalign or braces

There are two main types of braces and these are metal braces and Invisalign. You can have standard metal braces or your dentist may offer you lingual braces, which are metal braces attached to the back of the teeth. Although this is a discrete way of having metal braces they may not be a suitable option for everyone! You could also opt for Invisalign, a clear, plastic aligner that is a great alternative for braces. Invisalign is hailed as the invisible brace, because of its discreet appearance. But what about pain? Do braces hurt? Is Invisalign pain normal? Let’s compare the two types of orthodontics options and discuss what discomfort or pain may be involved. 

Let’s start with Invisalign. Invisalign has become a popular method of alignment for many people with simple to moderate cases, and one of the reasons for this is the quick adjustment and reduced pain. 

Typically when people report their Invisalign hurts, it’s during the first 1-2 weeks of treatment. Invisalign hurts for 2 reasons typically, the first is that the teeth are adjusting to the pressure applied to them by the Invisalign aligner. The second reason may be that your gums, lips and tongue are adjusting to the aligner edges and attachments.  When your dentist fits your Invisalign, discomfort may be something you experience, however a large majority of our patients report that the discomfort they feel is less than they expected, and can be managed with over the counter pain medication. If you do experience prolonged discomfort due to the edges of your aligner the good news is your dentist can file them to increase comfort! It’s also worth noting that once the initial adjustment period is over, Invisalign begins to feel like it was always there. 

In summary, when it comes to Invisalign, there is little to worry about, with any orthodontics there will be some level of discomfort and this is because we are moving the teeth. However, not only does Invisalign settle quickly, but the pain or discomfort when pressure is applied with a new set of Invisalign aligners is typically less than metal braces. We also notice that the pressure you feel, feels less intense as your treatment goes on!

Now, for metal braces! There of course are the two types of metal braces, the lingual braces and the standard, we covered the difference above, but we’ll be talking about metal braces in general here. Metal braces are often given to children as it’s a fixed way of moving the teeth, giving all the control to the dentist. Children can also opt for coloured braces too if they wish. But, do getting braces hurt?

We typically see people experience slightly more discomfort and pain with metal braces in comparison to Invisalign. This, unlike Invisalign, can happen for several reasons including: the attachments and wires rubbing the inside of the mouth, the pressure of the teeth moving, Wires becoming loose or even broken wires and attachments. Now, not only is malfunction going to result in another dental appointment, it can be a little painful, and therefore following the right care is essential. 

Don’t be alarmed though, metal braces aren’t all bad, they’ve been used for many years and are safe and for the most part comfortable. Most patients are able to alleviate the discomfort or pain they feel with over the counter pain medications, and similarly to Invisalign, they quickly adjust to the feeling. 

Orthodontics is fantastic, it allows us to straighten smiles, prevent issues like gum disease, encourage a natural bite and increase confidence! Metal brace and invisalign discomfort is short lived and definitely not worth putting treatment off for. Should you experience pain or discomfort throughout your treatment your dentist will be able to recommend something to help with that. Our recommendation is to opt for Invisalign, as our patients are usually much happier with the experience, but you may find fixed metal braces will be better for your case. 

Got a question about Invisalign or fixed braces? Why not book a complimentary virtual consultation with Dr Manish Chitnis, Dental Concepts’s Principal Dentist to discuss your options! 

https://dental-concepts.com/virtual-consultation-with-dr-manish-at-dental-concepts/