How Long Does Pain Last with Aligners or Braces?

New age aligners as well as traditional braces can straighten your teeth and align your bite efficiently. Orthodontists traditionally use braces as well as aligners for mild dental alignment corrections and to provide relief from a variety of malocclusions. While both these methods are proven and tested when it comes to efficient treatment, the invisible aligners hold an advantage over the traditional metal braces due to their aesthetic appeal and practicality.

While each of the treatment methods has its advantages and drawbacks, the common questions asked by the patients are- “How long does aligner pain last?” or “How long do braces hurt?”.

Let’s understand in detail the pain caused by these treatment methods and which is an efficient and pain-free method- aligners or braces.

Aligners vs Braces:

Even before undergoing treatment for various dental problems, the patients are keen to know which mode will provide them lesser pain. It is fair to say that nobody wants to endure excruciating pain. And if there was an option to get straighter, healthier, and more attractive teeth without any pain, everyone would opt for it. The good news is that neither traditional metal braces nor more recent aligners are linked to long-term pain.

Do Braces Hurt?

Both children and grownups who wear traditional braces experience dull to moderate pain. As the braces’ wires start to work and apply pressure, you can also feel slight unease which will eventually go away with time.

The first few days of wearing metal braces are often the most unpleasant. After that, most people’s discomfort should start to lessen and become much easier to handle. Your orthodontist may modify your dental braces periodically, which could cause some discomfort. As your teeth acclimatize to these changes, the pain would subside.

Do Aligners Hurt?

Although aligners are usually more pleasant than braces at their initial stage, many users have reported some mild soreness just after putting them on. As the aligners begin to apply pressure on teeth, patients may experience pressure like that of braces.

The majority of users of dental aligners also agree that the initial few days are the most painful. Once the aligners are set into your teeth and you are habituated to wearing them around, the pain becomes negligible and you may even forget that you have a device around your teeth.

Removal and replacement of aligners can also cause mild soreness, especially if you do it regularly. However, this varies from patient to patient, and many people feel nothing throughout this procedure.

Other Factors

Some patients experience a similar kind of pain for both braces as well as aligners during the initial days of treatment. Most people experience short-lived pain, with soreness only occurring occasionally, such as during adjustments by your orthodontist.

When considering braces or aligners, adults frequently question if they will hurt them more than teenagers. In general, the discomfort you endure won’t be any different from what a younger patient will go through.

Similarly, patients who have more misalignment require larger overall adjustments. Your orthodontist won’t attempt to create significant changes overnight. Instead, they’ll make gradual adjustments to your braces over time and this gradual procedure might cause minute niggles each time.

In conclusion, the pain either through aligners or braces is just a temporary one and in most cases doesn’t last beyond a week. Several patients have reported no major pain during either treatment method. The pain varies from case to case and the slight niggle is worth it when you see the kind of results these dental alignment methods provide.