​As a parent, you are constantly weighing options whenever your child’s health, safety, and comfort are concerned. Choosing the best orthodontic treatment in Raleigh is no different. Your child's comfort, confidence among their peers, and the additional responsibilities they can handle across school and sports should all be considered. Research finds that teens tend to pursue orthodontic treatment mainly to improve their self-esteem, which means the decision between traditional metal braces and Invisalign clear aligners is the first big choice you and your teen face.  

Read on to compare braces and Invisalign side by side for how each option will affect your teen's lifestyle, how treatment timelines vary, and where to find the best orthodontist in Raleigh for braces treatment.

Clear Aligners vs. Traditional Braces: Understanding the Biggest Differences

Braces use small metal or ceramic brackets bonded to each tooth and linked together with a thin wire. This system places steady pressure on the teeth, nudging them into new positions over several months. Invisalign, on the other hand, uses a series of clear, custom-fit trays to achieve the same result. Instead of visiting an orthodontist every couple of months for a new wire, your teen wears each tray for about one to two weeks, then moves on to the next one in the set. Because clear aligners are a self-guided process, they tend to work well only for mild to moderate orthodontic issues.

Living with Braces vs. Living with Invisalign Aligners

With Invisalign, your teen can take the trays out to eat. This means there are no foods off-limits, and brushing and flossing stay simple because they don’t have to spend time getting around the brackets and wires of traditional metal braces. 

However, with this freedom comes responsibility. Since the aligners need to stay in for 20 to 22 hours a day to work properly, your teen will have to be very disciplined in remembering to put them back in right away after eating and brushing. Keeping aligners safe when they’re not in the mouth is another responsibility. A tray wrapped in a napkin can be thrown out or accidentally stepped on, so using the aligner case is very important. Invisalign Teen is a system that helps by providing wear-time indicators on every tray and free replacement trays for any that go missing. 

Damon braces, considered the best braces in Raleigh, are fixed in place, so the responsibility of remembering to put the aligners back in is gone. But your teen will need to skip sticky and hard foods that can snap a bracket, and clean carefully around the wires with a floss threader or a water flosser. 

To weigh the best fit for your child, ask yourself a few honest questions about your teen: 

  • Do they keep track of their belongings without reminders? 
  • Do they follow a daily routine on their own? 
  • Do they play a contact sport or a wind instrument that traditional braces could get in the way of? 

Comparing How Traditional Braces and Invisalign Differ in Cost, Comfort, and Treatment Time

Parents across Apex, Cary, Pittsboro, Holly Springs, and Morrisville come to us with three specific questions at the orthodontic consultation: Cost, comfort, and treatment time. 

  • Both braces and Invisalign are typically covered under most dental insurance plans. Both options tend to have some out-of-pocket expenses that can be managed with payment plans or financing. Depending on your insurance coverage, Invisalign can sometimes be slightly more. Many parents and teens find this trade-off fair, considering that clear aligners are more comfortable and are not noticeable. 
  • The smooth medical-grade plastic of Invisalign means your teen doesn’t have to deal with irritation along the cheeks and gums, which is common with traditional braces. 
  • Many teen orthodontic cases run somewhere between 12 and 24 months, but the length depends more on how complex the bite is and how closely your teen follows their treatment plan, whether that’s showing up for their regular appointments to adjust their braces or wearing their Invisalign aligners as much as they should. 

Choosing the Best Orthodontic Treatment Option for Your Teen

The bottom line is that braces tend to suit teens with complex alignment or bite issues, families who want a lower-maintenance routine, and kids who would rather skip managing a removable tray every day. While Invisalign tends to suit teens with mild to moderate crowding or spacing, those who feel self-conscious about a visible appliance, and kids who reliably keep their trays in. 

The best way to understand what your child needs is to choose the best orthodontist in Raleigh, who can recommend the most effective treatment after reviewing your teen's bite, stage of dental development, and daily routine. 

Finding the Best Orthodontist in Raleigh for Invisalign Teen and Damon Braces

From your child’s confidence to how long they’ll be in treatment, there is a lot riding on the choice between Invisalign and traditional braces. That’s why we make it our job to help parents and teens feel sure about it. We care for our patients the way we’d care for our own kids, with a gentle hand and a plan shaped around your teen's smile, schedule, and goals. 

Our clinic serves patients across Apex, Cary, Pittsboro, Holly Springs, and Morrisville and is guided by Dr. Alena Spielberg, who underwent orthodontic treatment as a kid, and the lift gave her confidence and the push she needed to set her on this path. She studied at Dickinson College and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, then earned her Orthodontic Certificate from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She sees every patient at every visit, so your teen works with the same orthodontist from the first scan to the day the braces or aligners come off.

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