Which orthodontic treatment type do you need? That’s the question on every new patient’s mind. Every case requires a personalized approach to determine the best path to success, and after years of making patients smile, Dr. Chamberlain can help you choose the treatment option that will work best for you. Let’s break down the differences between LightForce braces and Invisalign clear aligners so you know what to expect when you visit us for your consultation.
Invisalign vs. LightForce: How They Work
You’ve probably heard the common comparisons between clear aligners and braces – that clear aligners use clear plastic trays to straighten your smile, while braces use brackets and wires. However, the treatment differences are a bit more complicated than that.
Aligners and braces work slightly differently to give you the results you’ve been dreaming about. Here’s how they work.
Push vs. Pull
Because braces use fixed brackets and wires to correct orthodontic problems, they exert a continuous, steady pressure that pulls your teeth into alignment. Clear aligners, on the other hand, use trays to push your teeth in line.
This means the two treatments often work best for opposite conditions. For example, we often treat open bites – conditions where the upper and lower front teeth don’t touch vertically – with clear aligners, whereas we typically treat deep overlapping bites with braces.
Predictability
Aside from the type of force each treatment exerts on the teeth, braces and clear aligners also differ in terms of predictability. While both are excellent treatment options for all sorts of conditions, clear aligners are slightly less predictable than braces because they are removable.
That means that conditions with a high degree of complexity may get better results with LightForce braces than Invisalign, while Invisalign is a great choice for more general alignment or touch-up treatment.
Orthodontic Conditions & Treatment Options
So, which orthodontic treatment type will work for you? Here are a few general guidelines for different treatment scenarios.
Phase I Orthodontics
Treatment: Case-by-Case
Some kids need early intervention, and for those who do, it’s important to guide their teeth in the right positions before later orthodontic treatment finishes the job. Because patients are younger, the treatment option we choose for this stage often comes down to lifestyle.
Braces for Expansion and Impaction Prevention
Braces are a stable, predictable option, which is perfect for more structural alterations like palatal expansion (to create more space in the mouth) or impaction prevention (to guide teeth next to potentially impacted teeth into more natural positioning). We need a higher level of control to accomplish these goals, and fixed appliances help us ensure kids stay compliant from start to finish.
Invisalign First for Premature Loss of Baby Teeth
In other cases, a child may lose a baby tooth earlier than expected. This could cause the surrounding teeth to drift into the open space and block the eruption of permanent teeth down the road. Invisalign First clear aligners effectively restore room for incoming permanent teeth to erupt into place by shifting the adjacent teeth back to their correct positions one by one.
Open Bite
Treatment: Invisalign
When your front teeth don’t overlap in the front, you have what we call an open bite. In these cases, we recommend Invisalign aligners because of how they push, rather than pull, your teeth into alignment. Aligner trays naturally add a layer of plastic between the back teeth that acts as a wedge. By pushing on the back teeth, the upper and lower front teeth are able to drop into place and close the gap.
Deep Bite
Treatment: LightForce Braces
When your front teeth significantly overlap your bottom teeth, you have what’s called a deep bite. Dr. Chamberlain recommends LightForce braces for these cases because they apply a pulling force to the teeth, as opposed to the pushing force of clear aligners. This extrusive tugging movement is more effective for leveling the teeth into the correct vertical positions, making it a more efficient treatment option for deep bite cases.
Crowding
Treatment: LightForce Braces
If your teeth are squished together and misaligned, Dr. Chamberlain is likely to recommend fixed braces to treat your crowding. Because we can attach a bracket to each individual tooth in the exact right position, LightForce braces unravel the teeth using continuous force that isn’t interrupted by aligner removal. The added reliability and consistency of tooth movement improve treatment outcomes and shorten treatment times.
Spacing
Treatment: Invisalign
If you notice gaps between your teeth, Invisalign is likely your best option for treatment. Clear aligners push your teeth in line rather than pull them, which makes it easier to push the teeth together to fill the spaces. Additionally, with Invisalign, we can begin correcting spacing from the very first tray, whereas with braces, we would have to progress to stronger wires before closing the space.
Anterior Crossbite
Treatment: Invisalign
An anterior crossbite is a condition where one or more of your upper front teeth sit behind the lower front teeth when your mouth is closed, which can cause excessive wear and tear to your enamel as the teeth grind against each other during normal function. For these cases, we often recommend Invisalign clear aligners because the full coverage plastic trays protect the biting surfaces of the front teeth and allow us to start using rubber bands for bite correction earlier in treatment.
Posterior Crossbite
Treatment: LightForce Braces
If one or more of your upper back teeth sits inside the lower back teeth when biting, you’ll need posterior crossbite correction. Dr. Chamberlain will widen the upper arch with an expander to improve your bite. We commonly combine expansion appliances with LightForce braces to take advantage of the higher level of control over tooth movement and expression.
Interdisciplinary Treatment
Treatment: LightForce Braces
When your treatment plan includes implants or restorative work like enlarging small lateral incisors, precision and collaboration are key. LightForce’s 3D digital workflow makes it easier for Dr. Chamberlain to work with your dentist or restorative specialist to deliver esthetic, long-lasting results. With customized bracket positioning and predictable tooth movement, Dr. Chamberlain can provide ideal spacing and alignment, so your dentist can deliver the best possible outcome.
Surgical Orthodontics
Treatment: LightForce Braces
When Dr. Chamberlain collaborates with an oral surgeon, a 3D smile design makes the planning process seamless. Our digital setup guides both tooth movement and surgical planning, so accuracy is everything. With LightForce, Dr. Chamberlain can map out how your teeth will move with extreme precision, helping your surgeon prepare with confidence.
Braces also make the surgery itself easier. Your surgeon can use the brackets and wires for fixation during the procedure, which isn’t possible with aligners. Recovery is often smoother, too—braces allow for easier splinting and fewer complications post-op. After surgery, Dr. Chamberlain can create bends in finishing wires to complete the final detailing phase, which is typically faster than waiting on a new set of aligners.
Find Your Fit with Chamberlain Family Orthodontics
Every case is different. The best way to determine which treatment will work best for you is to visit Chamberlain Family Orthodontics for an accurate assessment. If you’re ready to take the first step toward your new smile, schedule a free consultation with our team in Redlands or Beaumont, and we’ll see you soon!
