A lot of progressions have been made in orthodontia in the past 20 years. Where formally, the only treatment option for straightening teeth was using metal appliances like conventional braces, now we have the ability to use less invasive and more comfortable methods. The use of clear aligners has skyrocketed in the past 5 years and now there are multiple options available even within the removable aligner family. If you’re like many, you may be wondering which option is best for you. We discuss the pros and cons of two leading brands, Spark Aligners, and Invisalign, we offer below:

Invisalign

Invisalign is the leading brand of clear aligners that brought fame to the clear aligner industry. This aligner technology hit the market in 1998 and by 2000 over half of the orthodontists were trained on this aligner system. Their patented clear material is used to create strong, durable, and invisible alignment solutions to orthodontia. The technology is called SmartTrack and is what is worn by most individuals who have clear aligner products.

Material

Invisalign is made with a revolutionary technology called SmartTrack. This thermoplastic is used to fit snugly to a patient’s teeth and nudge them in the right direction. Over time this material becomes barely noticeable to most patients and is easy to use. The material is strong and made to last.

Comfort

Contrast with metal braces, Invisalign has night and day differences. Many patients have a lot of discomfort with braces because of the nature of the appliances. The brackets and wires tend to rub patients’ mouths and can be painful. Contrast that to Invisalign where the only discomfort usually comes from the motion of the teeth moving into place and the clear aligner option is the easy winner.

Spark Aligners

Spark Aligners have come on the scene more recently. These aligners tend to boast some advantages over Invisalign. Spark Aligners are made with TruGEN material, which has been known to be clearer and fit better than other clear aligner brands. Spark aligners are famous for being the clearest aligners available, so it really is difficult to tell if an individual is wearing them. Another added benefit to Spark is that they don’t yellow as much as other aligners do.

Material

Spark Aligners is made with TruGEN technology. This technology has been developed by ORMCO as a competitor to other clear aligner sets. Some of the key benefits of this material include:

• Noticeably clearer than other clear aligner treatment
• Does not yellow as much overtime
• Boasts a tighter fit to the teeth (due to scalloped edges) which ensures that it will often be more comfortable than other sets
• Some argue Spark Aligners are more effective than competitors at moving teeth into place

Comfort

When sporting a dental appliance day in and day out for months at a time, comfort is obviously at the forefront of anyone’s mind. If you must wear something in your mouth every day, you want it to be comfortable. Spark Aligners boast some of the best comfort available in dental care. More comfortable than braces, these aligners fit tighter to the teeth than other leading brands. This causes them not to protrude as far and not jut into the gums. If you’re looking for an unnoticeable method of teeth alignment, Spark Aligners may be the right one for you.

Which is Right for You?

Both of these aligners offer incredible benefits over conventional braces. The near-invisible aligner systems are often easier to maintain and are much more comfortable than traditional braces. The best way to determine which clear aligner set is right for you, we recommend visiting our office for a free consultation as soon as possible to determine the best course of action.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Are aligners and Invisalign the Same?

It is beneficial to think of Invisalign as a type of clear aligner. In essence, all clear aligners are not Invisalign, but all of Invisalign are clear aligners.

Who Owns Spark Aligners?

Spark Aligners is made by Ormco and has come on the market very recently.

Which Aligner is Recommended by Orthodontists?

We’ve covered the options above and the pros and cons of each, if you’d like more information on what is right for you, please schedule a free consultation.