Braces vs Aligners Update - Which is Best?

We get asked this question a lot, and understandably so! A recent study published May 2023 titled "One-Sixth of Patients Needed to Switch From Invisalign to Fixed Appliances to Complete Their Orthodontic Treatment" is some good insight.

Here are some other insights in the study:

• The 500 patients in the study who began treatment with Invisalign required an average of 2.5 refinements.

• Only 6.0% completed Invisalign treatment without a single refinement.

• The average duration of treatment with Invisalign was 22.8 months, 5.1 months more than that estimated at consultation.

• An additional 16.5 aligners were required for patients who switched to braces, and an additional 6.9 months for braces.

• Invisalign is only as good as its effectiveness, and orthodontists are currently underestimating the length of treatment during the consultation. 

• Patients accepting Invisalign treatment should be prepared to receive 2 to 3 refinement scans and have a reasonable expectation that braces may also be needed.

Conclusion: aligners are a good option, but it's good to be as informed as possible before making a decision of what's best for you.