Yes! After days of staring at your crooked teeth or gummy smile every time you look in the mirror, you've finally decided to take the plunge and book an appointment with an orthodontist to do something about it.

It’s a massive first step but the decision-making has just begun. One of the most commonly asked questions to any orthodontist these days is “Braces or Clear Aligners? Which is more suitable for me?” 

Traditionally, braces were the only means to correct misaligned teeth but the introduction of clear aligners changed all that. One is not inherently better than the other. In most cases, both options are available. 

However, it is important to remember that aligners can treat most, but not all orthodontic problems. This makes the initial consultation with your orthodontist even more important as that’s the only way for you to make a decision which is most suitable to your individual needs and lifestyle choices.

Are the options weighing you down? Consider which of the following factors is most important to you.

• Cosmetics – Do you want to keep your treatment on the down low or are you loud and proud about the smile you’re working towards?
  
  
• Convenience – Are you able to make frequent trips to the orthodontist or work/school keeps you wanting more hours in the day? 
  
  
• Compliance – How much effort are you willing to put in for your treatment? Do you trust yourself to follow instructions?
  
  
• Comfort – Is potential soreness a serious concern? 
  
  
• Cost – Which treatment suits your budget more?

Let's talk pros and cons!

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장점:

• Appearance – For those who tend to shy away from showing their teeth, aligners are a boon. As the name suggests, they are clear and custom-made to fit your teeth, making it less noticeable than braces.
• Diet – Aligners are removable so your diet remains unaffected as you remove them to eat. Some foods are difficult to chew with braces on. However, aligners pose no such challenge.
• Hygiene – Again, with the removable aligners, it makes cleaning your teeth easy and thus, allowing you to maintain optimal oral hygiene. You can brush and floss as per normal.
• Appointments – Since the tooth movement is pre-planned by your orthodontist, the actual visits are fewer and shorter. This can be a big advantage in today’s busy schedules!
• Comfort – Although your teeth may feel a little tender as they begin to move, most patients report that aligners are quite comfortable as they rarely irritate the lips or cheeks. This may be suitable for those playing contact sports.
• Overall treatment time – Many studies have shown aligners to be equally or a tad bit faster in achieving results than traditional braces. But this depends on your particular case as advised by an orthodontist.
  

단점:

• Compliance – For the best results, you will need to wear the aligners for at least 22 hours a day. With this comes the need for extra compliance and care to achieve your desired results.
• Maintenance – Aligners need to be removed while eating or for cleaning. Some patients may find this cumbersome, especially in public if they feel shy or embarrassed. 
• Effectiveness – For some complex cases, your orthodontist may recommend braces over aligners for better results.
• Comfort – Even though there is a slight discomfort, patients have the option to remove them which defeats the purpose of having aligners.
• Lost/Misplaced aligners – It's easy to lose or damage your clear aligners. Some patients report losing their aligners when they dig into their pockets or it gets thrown away wrapped in a napkin. Sometimes they may end up being a chew toy for your pet if not taken care of!
• Hygiene – Although your diet remains the same, it is important to control your liquid intake, especially soft drinks or flavoured waters as these can seep into the aligners and cause rapid tooth decay. 
• Cost – In many cases, good quality aligners may cost more than braces with high digital lab fee (software patent, technicians, production costs). However, in a lot of cases the pricing may be not be too far off.