Houston Orthodontist, Dr. Brad Jennings provides an insightful look into the differences between the Damon System and Invisalign.
The Damon System is widely viewed by dentists and orthodontic professionals as a high quality orthodontic treatment with a number of unique advantages. At the same time, it works in an entirely different way to the Invisalign system, so for most patients, choosing between treatments is a relatively straightforward process.
The main difference between the Damon System and Invisalign is that the Damon System use fixed brackets. However, this is far from being a conventional bracket design. Rather than exerting pressure on the teeth through the use of rubber ties or steel ties (remember the wires sticking out of your mouth when you had braces?) , the Damon System is built around a slide mechanism that performs the same function, but with minimal friction.
The reduced friction means that the bracket works more efficiently and the teeth move into place more quickly. Therefore, treatment times are shortened and the number of visits to the orthodontist reduced versus conventional braces.
Invisalign uses a series of clear, medical grade plastic aligners to straighten your teeth. Treatment time is usually 9-12 months for moderately difficult malocclusions. You must wear the aligners about 20 hours per day, essentially pretending they’re glued to your teeth like braces. You remove them when you eat and brush your teeth. Aligners are changed out about every 10 days.
So how do I choose between Damon braces and Invisalign?
There are some things that Damon braces does better as there are some things that Invisalign does better. There are also times where either one will give you the same result. There are times when I may even use Invisalign on the top teeth and braces on the lower teeth. A consultation with your orthodontic specialist should decide whether Invisalign or the Damon System should be your preferred treatment. It is important to remember also that the kind of treatment you use is only part of the picture. It is also important to ensure that you have a good relationship with your orthodontist so that they know exactly what you want from your treatment. If you are clear about your requirements, your orthodontist will be clear about what sort of treatment you need to achieve them.
For a free orthodontic consultation with Dr. Jennings, call (281) 497-7920 today!