According to a 2026 WifiTalents report, 80% of teenagers in the United States are currently under the care of an orthodontist. But what exactly does this orthodontic work look like? An expander? A colorful set of braces and rubber bands? How about a new tray of Invisalign?
Orthodontic treatments focus on correcting misaligned teeth and jaws to improve aesthetic appearance and oral health. Two of the most commonly used appliances include metal braces and Invisalign. Over 4 million people in the U.S. are wearing braces at any given time, and over 22 million Invisalign patients are treated worldwide, according to the same report.
Owner of Culver City Orthodontics Dr. Krisena Borenstein explained the key differences between functionality, aesthetics and comfort of braces and Invisalign.
“Teeth move by constant pressure being placed on them,” Borenstein said. “With Invisalign, it’s more of a pushing force that’s moving the teeth, and with braces, we get a little bit more of a pulling force … Invisalign obviously is more aesthetic than braces. It’s not as visible as braces, although, many times with attachments, Invisalign becomes a lot less invisible than people think.”
Sadie Kay (’31) goes to Smiley’s Dentistry in Brentwood and currently wears Invisalign. She said she typically gets her Invisalign checked every four months and that she needs them for another half a year.
“I personally think Invisalign could be more annoying than braces because you have to take it out, put it in, take it out,” Kay said. “But I do prefer it because there’s no food restrictions, and I think it’s a lot less painful. When I’m done with Invisalign, I’ll need to wear a retainer at night and then that’ll be it.”
Seventh grader Ariana Gross has had an expander, Invisalign and currently has braces. She goes to Kahan Orthodontics in Tarzana about every two months. Gross said her mom’s work as a speech therapist influenced her path with orthodontic intervention.
“On my Instagram, I do get like ads for different orthodontists and that they recommend getting Invisalign,” Gross said. “But personally, I don’t prefer it because I’m an eco-friendly person, you know, Invisalign’s plastic.”
Over the 15 years Borenstein has been practicing orthodontics, she said she has observed many shifts in trends with braces and Invisalign.
“When I first started practicing … everyone was getting braces,” Borenstein said. “But then a few years into my practicing, more and more people were getting Invisalign and a lot of people were seeing the benefits … Now in the last few years, we’re starting to see kids choosing braces.”
With the constant influence of social media on younger generations, Borensetein said, patients’ perceptions of the two appliances often revolve around aesthetics and appearances.
“There’s a lot of TikTok things on braces and kids want that. They think they look cute in their braces, and,” Borenstein said, “I have some patients who don’t want to get their braces off. That being said, I have a whole handful of patients that think that getting braces is social suicide and they hate the idea of getting braces and feel like it looks really nerdy and gross … I totally attribute that to peer pressure or whatever they’re exposed to.”
In a survey sent out to the Archer student body, students were asked how they think social factors influence the way teenagers view braces and Invisalign. Whether it is graphic novel “Smile” by Raina Telgemeier or in Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” music video, media often portrays orthodontic work as a symbol of youth, awkwardness and transformation. Two student responses discussed the impacts of media on social perceptions of orthodontic work.
“I feel like there’s a bad connotation around braces, that they’re ‘ugly’ or unattractive, whereas Invisalign is supposedly ‘invisible’ (not true),” one respondent wrote. “Teenagers might be embarrassed to have braces. In the media, I feel like braces are often associated with the nerdy character (who knows why), and often that character will be made fun of.”
Kay described her personal observations of this phenomenon. For example, one of her friends constantly felt worried about social ramifications from her braces.
“I’ve never had any experiences of noticing other kids being put down because of having Invisalign or braces. But I do know there are kids who are ashamed of them,” Kay said. “I had a friend who wore a mask much further to when COVID was no longer a problem because they were ashamed of their braces.”
When reading through the Archer survey responses on their thoughts on braces and Invisalign, Kay said she was surprised by how many people had orthodontic work and felt strongly about it.
“I love all the comments and opinions,” Kay said. “I feel like it’s like showing that there’s this whole world that no one really talks about or brings up.”
