Invisalign or Braces?

Side by Side

Both move teeth the same way, with gentle, sustained pressure that lets the bone around each root remodel. The differences are in how that pressure is applied, what it's like to live with, and which movements each does best. For most adult cases the end result is similar, so the choice usually comes down to appearance, lifestyle and how much you're prepared to do yourself.

How Each One Moves Teeth

Fixed braces are brackets bonded to the front of each tooth, joined by a wire. The wire is tightened or changed at each visit, and it pulls the teeth along it. Because they're fixed, they work all day without any effort from you, and an orthodontist can control large and awkward movements very precisely.

Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners, each shaped slightly differently from the last, worn for one to two weeks at a time. Small tooth-coloured attachments bonded to some teeth give the aligners something to push against. The plan is designed digitally from an iTero Lumina scan, so you see the expected result before you start. Aligners only work while they're in, which is both their strength, because you can take them out, and their weakness, because you have to put them back.

When Is Invisalign the Better Choice?

For most adults with crowding, gaps, rotated teeth or mild to moderate bite problems, especially if appearance and comfort matter. It also suits people whose teeth have moved since braces when they were younger, which is often a short Lite treatment.

• Nearly invisible, so most people won't notice you're wearing them
• Removable, so you eat what you like and clean your teeth as normal
• Smooth plastic, with no brackets to rub and no wires to break
• Reviews every 6 to 8 weeks, with no adjustments in between
• You see a simulation of your likely result before you commit

If you have a job where appearance matters, a wedding or an event coming up, or you simply don't want to spend a year with metal on your teeth, aligners are usually the answer.

When Are Braces the Better Choice?

Severe bite problems, or problems with the position of the jaws, may need fixed braces, sometimes with jaw surgery. Braces are also more predictable for some specific movements, such as rotating a very twisted canine or premolar, moving a tooth up or down in the bone, or closing the space left by an extraction. And they're the honest choice for anyone who knows they won't manage 20 to 22 hours a day, because braces don't rely on willpower.

If your assessment shows that fixed braces are the right route, we'll tell you plainly, explain why, and talk through the alternatives, which may include a referral to an orthodontist. There's no point starting aligners on a case that braces would do better, and we'd rather you had the right treatment than any treatment.

Comfort, Eating and Cleaning

Aligners are smooth, so the main sensation is tightness for a day or two after each new set, which most people describe as pressure rather than pain. Braces can rub the inside of the lips and cheeks, especially in the first few weeks, and a broken bracket or a poking wire means an extra visit.

With aligners you take them out to eat, so nothing is off the menu, though you'll need to brush before they go back in and drink only water while they're in. With braces, hard, sticky and chewy foods are best avoided because they can break brackets, and food catches around the wires.

Cleaning is where aligners win most clearly. You brush and clean between your teeth exactly as before. Braces need more time and a few extra tools, and plaque left around brackets can leave marks on the enamel. Either way, keep up your hygiene visits: Airflow polishing reaches around brackets and attachments gently.

Time and Cost

For suitable cases, treatment times are similar: a few months for minor crowding or relapse, and typically 12 to 18 months for more complex movement, with most Invisalign treatments finishing within 6 to 18 months. Braces work whether or not you remember them; aligners finish on time only if they're worn for 20 to 22 hours a day.

At St Vincent Smile, Invisalign ranges from £3,750 for Lite to £5,250 for Comprehensive Plus, and every package includes refinements, Vivera retainers, whitening, scans, X-rays and a hygiene visit.² Our Invisalign cost guide explains which package suits which teeth. When you compare with a quote for braces, check whether retainers, reviews and any repairs are included, because they aren't always.

Retainers, Whichever You Choose

Teeth try to drift back after any straightening, so both options end with retainers, usually worn full-time briefly and then at night for the long term. With Invisalign here, Vivera retainers are included. After braces, you'll typically be given removable retainers, a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth, or both. Our retainers guide explains how to wear and look after them.

The best way to decide between the two is a free consultation. An iTero Lumina scan and simulation show what aligners could achieve for your teeth, and if your bite needs a different approach, we'll say so and explain the alternatives.

Questions

This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to say what is right for your teeth.