Hi, I’m Dr Michael Cai, the principal dentist of Pitt St Dental Centre here in Sydney CBD.

Last week, one of our long term patients, Marcus from Mosman, came in to discuss getting his crowded teeth fixed. He was trying to decide between braces and Invisalign. One of the questions he asked me was, “I heard about braces, I heard about Invisalign. What are the pros and cons of each treatment?”

This is such a common question. So, I decided to make this short video.

Let’s start with braces.

Braces have been used for over a hundred years. They are something that everybody’s very familiar with. The pros of having braces are that it’s less of a compliance issue. It’s always stuck in your teeth, so you can’t take them off, they are always working.

The con though is that they are less comfortable and less discreet than Invisalign clear aligners.

With Invisalign, it is a much more enjoyable process. You’ll be able to take them out when you eat. You can take them out if you have an important social meeting. It is less uncomfortable. But it does mean that you must be disciplined and wear them for 20 to 22 hours a day. Otherwise, the results won’t be perfect.

Invisalign has come a long way in the last 20 years. I’ve treated over a thousand patients with Invisalign, and I can confidently say that we can treat about 95% of cases with Invisalign. So if people want braces, in the majority of cases, it’s a personal choice, rather than case complexity.

Here at Pitt St Dental Centre, we provide both treatment options. We offer traditional metal braces, ceramic braces which are more discreet, lingual braces which sit on the inside of your mouth, as well as Invisalign clear aligners.

In terms of treatment time, whether it’s Invisalign or braces, what’s limiting us now is the biology of teeth moving, and not the treatment itself.

If you or your child are looking for a dentist to help realign the smile, we would love to look after you. 

Simply call us on 02 9223 4767, complete the form on our website, or send us a DM on social media, and we’ll help you organise a smile consultation. See you in the next video.

The content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. Pitt Street Dental Centre does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the content.

The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional personal diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a dental or medical condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or seen on the Site.

Services We Mentioned:

Related Articles