Invisalign® vs. Traditional Braces – Baton Rouge & Metairie, LA
Invisalign® vs Traditional Braces
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Invisalign vs Traditional Braces
At Pearl Dental Group, serving patients in Baton Rouge and Metairie, LA, we’ve seen how Invisalign® for teens offers clear benefits compared to traditional braces. With Invisalign, teens wear smooth, nearly invisible aligners instead of metal brackets and wires, making treatment far more comfortable and discreet. Because the aligners are removable, they can enjoy all their favorite foods without restrictions and keep up with proper brushing and flossing for better oral health. Fewer adjustment visits are needed compared to braces, which saves busy families valuable time. Whether at school, playing sports, or participating in band or cheer, Invisalign gives teens the confidence and flexibility they need while achieving a beautiful, straight smile.
The Clear Choice for Teen Orthodontics
At Pearl Dental Group we invite you to schedule a FREE Invisalign® consultation for your teen. During the visit, our experienced dental team will take a digital scan and create a 3D smile simulation to determine if Invisalign clear aligners are the right choice. We’ll also answer any questions, explain the orthodontic process, and review flexible financing options to make treatment affordable. While Invisalign requires your teen’s participation and commitment, our supportive approach helps ensure a smooth experience and a transformed, confident smile.
Here are a few things that you should know about the lifestyle differences with Invisalign® vs. traditional braces for teens:
Costs:
At Pearl Dental Group in Baton Rouge and Metairie, LA, we make Invisalign® treatment more affordable compared to many orthodontic specialists—while offering the very same product. Invisalign clear aligners are custom-made by the manufacturer, which means whether you see a dentist or an orthodontist, the aligners themselves are identical. The difference comes down to cost and convenience. Our team provides the same high-quality Invisalign system with personalized care and advanced digital technology, but at a more budget-friendly price. With flexible financing options available, we make it easier for teens and families to get the smile they want without overpaying for the same treatment.
Time:
One of the biggest advantages of Invisalign® for teens is the reduced time spent in the dental chair compared to traditional braces. With braces, frequent adjustment appointments are required to tighten wires and make changes throughout treatment. Invisalign, however, uses a series of custom-made aligners that are simply switched out at home every one to two weeks. This means fewer in-office visits—typically every 6 to 8 weeks—just to monitor progress and ensure everything is moving as planned. For busy teens and parents, this convenience makes Invisalign a more flexible and time-saving orthodontic option.
Aesthetics:
Invisalign® offers a major aesthetic advantage for teens compared to traditional metal braces. The clear aligners are virtually invisible, allowing your teen to straighten their teeth without the noticeable brackets and wires that can affect confidence during school, sports, or social events. Because the aligners are discreet, most people won’t even realize your teen is undergoing orthodontic treatment, giving them the freedom to smile naturally throughout the process.
Eating:
With Invisalign®, eating is much easier compared to traditional braces. Since the aligners are completely removable, teens can continue enjoying all their favorite foods without worrying about damaging brackets or bending wires. There are no dietary restrictions—popcorn, chewy snacks, and crunchy foods are all still on the menu. After meals, your teen simply brushes, rinses, and pops the aligners back in place. This flexibility not only makes mealtime more enjoyable, but it also helps maintain better oral hygiene throughout treatment.
Oral Hygiene:
At Pearl Dental Group in Baton Rouge and Metairie, we know how important oral hygiene is during orthodontic treatment. That’s why Invisalign® for teens is such a great option compared to traditional braces. Since the clear aligners are removable, your teen can brush and floss normally without struggling around metal brackets and wires. This makes it easier to keep teeth clean, reduce the risk of cavities, prevent gum irritation, and avoid staining throughout treatment. With Invisalign, our patients not only enjoy a straighter smile but also maintain better overall oral health during the process.
School Activities:
At Pearl Dental Group we often recommend Invisalign® for teens who are active in school, sports, and extracurricular activities. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign clear aligners are smooth, comfortable, and removable, so there are no metal brackets or wires to cause mouth injuries during contact sports or while playing musical instruments. Teens can take out their aligners for big events, yearbook photos, or performances, giving them more confidence in front of their peers. With Invisalign, treatment fits naturally into your teen’s busy school and activity schedule—without slowing them down.
After Braces:
We remind all patients that finishing Invisalign® treatment is just the beginning of maintaining their new smile. After Invisalign, teens will need to wear a retainer to keep their teeth from shifting back to their original position. The good news is that because they’ve already gotten used to wearing clear aligners every day, transitioning to a retainer is usually simple and comfortable. With consistent retainer use, your teen can protect their investment in a beautiful, healthy smile for years to come.
Definition of Invisalign® Terminology
With Invisalign® treatment, the patient will receive a series of aligner trays and swap out each one for the next one in the series every two weeks in order to gradually straighten the teeth.
ClinCheck® software allows professionals to map out the straightening process the patient’s teeth will go through with Invisalign® in great detail.
Incisal ridges are the portion of the crown of the tooth that makes up the incisal portion and can be a direct cause of overbite if they are extended too far.
Malocclusion is the condition in which the upper and lower teeth do not meet properly when the bite is closed. Conditions of malocclusion can include overbite, underbite, crossbite and open bite; all of which are treatable with Invisalign®.
Smart Track® Material
Smart Track® material is in Invisalign® aligners to increase comfort, improve control of movement, increases the speed of treatment and applies a gentle force to the teeth over time.
Vivera® retainers are a type of retainer that consists of clear plastic material and helps to maintain orthodontic corrections after a treatment.
The blue compliance indicator is a small blue dot on the aligners that will fade from blue to clear in order to indicate if the patient is wearing the aligner for the proper amount of time and where the patient is in the Invisalign® process.
The gum line is the line in the mouth where the teeth and gums meet. If a patient struggles with gum recession, then the gum tissue around the teeth may begin to wear away.
An iTero Element® scanner allows professionals to create a 3D image of the patient’s teeth in minutes and predict what it will take to move the teeth into proper alignment.
An overbite is a type of malocclusion that occurs when the upper teeth jut out over the lower teeth, covering them and causing other issues.
SmartForce attachments are small attachments that professionals place on the patient’s teeth before placing aligners to help move the teeth.
Smile-Scan analyzes the way a patient smiles by measuring the position of the mouth and eyes before giving a score.
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