Until the introduction of clear aligners as a treatment option in the late 1990s, most orthodontic patients were treated with traditional braces, brackets, and wires. While more and more patients are being treated with aligners, most patients are still treated with traditional braces.
Only you and your dentist can decide what is right for you. Here are some things to consider when making that choice.
Aesthetics
Lifestyle
Aligners can easily be removed when you eat and drink. Sometimes eating with regular braces can be a challenge when food gets stuck in the brackets and wires. Also, eating sticky, crunchy, or hard foods can cause brackets to pop off, requiring an emergency visit. One advantage of regular braces is you can drink with them on. Aligners need to be removed whenever you consume something other than water.
Hygiene
Patient Mindset
Severity of your Malocclusion
Comfort
Diet
You will need to reduce your intake of sticky and sugary foods when wearing regular braces and be extra diligent with oral hygiene. Teeth are more prone to decay and decalcification (white spots on the teeth) when wearing regular braces. As oral hygiene is much easier with aligners, this is less of an issue.