For adults in North Vancouver thinking about straightening their teeth
Invisalign clear aligners come out to eat and brush; braces stay on. Compare the two on looks, time, cost and care, then ask for a free consultation
Plain answers, side by side, and one short form to send when you're ready, with no referral needed.
From the dentists at Northshore Family Dental, North VancouverInvisalign or traditional braces
Invisalign means less change to your day than braces
Traditional braces are brackets and a wire fixed to your teeth until treatment ends. Invisalign is a series of clear plastic trays, each one moving your teeth a little further.
| Clear and removableInvisalign aligners | Traditional braces | |
|---|---|---|
| Hard to spot when you talk or smile | yes | no |
| Foods you can still eat | All of them | Not hard or sticky |
| Take them out for photos or a big day | yes | no |
| Hours a day you wear them | 20 to 22 | All 24 |
| How you move to the next stage | New trays at home | At adjustment visits |
| Typical length for adults | 12–18 months | 18–24 months |
| What it costs | Priced to your teeth | Priced to your teeth |
How you care for them
With Invisalign, you brush and floss the usual way
Both need care every day. The difference is what you have to clean around.
With traditional braces
- Brush around each bracket and along the wire, morning and night
- Thread floss under the wire, one gap at a time
- Check the mirror for food caught in the brackets after meals
- Press wax onto any bracket that rubs your cheek
- Book an extra visit when a bracket or wire comes loose
With Invisalign
- Take the trays out and brush every tooth with nothing in the way
- Floss straight down between your teeth, no threader needed
- Rinse the trays and brush after meals, so they go back in clean
- Smooth plastic trays, with no metal edges against your cheeks
- No brackets or wires to come loose between visits
In their own words
North Vancouver adults who chose aligners over braces
I'd put off straightening my teeth for years because I didn't want metal braces in client meetings. I wore my Invisalign trays right through tax season, and not one client mentioned them.
I had braces at fourteen and still remember the list of foods I couldn't eat. This time I take the trays out for lunch in the staff room, brush, and put them back in.
I was nervous about the cost and how long it would all take. At my free consultation the team explained both, answered every question and never rushed me. I chose Invisalign a week later.
Clear aligners start with a free consultation
Accepting new patients, with direct billing to most insurance plans.
Free Invisalign consultation for adults
Find out if Invisalign suits your teeth
We'll be in touch to find a time, then look at your teeth and set out your treatment time and cost.