Invisalign® vs Braces: Which Suits Your Case?

Neither is better for everyone. Braces are fixed to the teeth, which gives an orthodontist more control over complex tooth movements and bite correction. Invisalign® aligners are removable and discreet, and can suit many mild to moderate cases in patients who will wear them consistently. Which one suits you is decided at a clinical assessment.

Liverpool Orthodontics offers Invisalign alongside metal, ceramic and lingual braces, so the recommendation can be based on what your teeth and bite need.

What is the difference between Invisalign and braces?

Braces are small brackets bonded to the teeth and joined by an archwire. The wire applies gentle, continuous pressure that moves teeth gradually into position, and the orthodontist adjusts it at review appointments. Braces come in several forms:

• Metal braces, with stainless steel brackets. The most widely used orthodontic appliance, and used across all levels of complexity.
• Ceramic braces, which work the same way but use tooth-coloured brackets that are less noticeable. Read more about metal and ceramic braces.
• Lingual braces, including Incognito™, which are custom-made and bonded to the back surfaces of the teeth so they are not visible from the front. Read more about lingual braces.

Invisalign is a clear aligner system. You wear a series of custom-made, removable plastic trays, and each set moves the teeth a small step before you change to the next. Treatment is planned digitally from a scan of your teeth, and Liverpool Orthodontics uses a digital intraoral scanner rather than impression putty. There is more detail on our clear aligners and Invisalign page.

How do Invisalign and braces compare?

This is a general comparison. How it applies to you depends on your teeth, bite and stage of growth, which is what the consultation assesses.

When are braces usually the recommended option?

• Complex tooth movements that need precise control in several directions at once.
• Significant bite correction, such as a large overbite, an underbite or a crossbite, where fixed appliances give the orthodontist more mechanical control.
• Impacted teeth, which sometimes need to be guided into position.
• Jaw discrepancies that are skeletal rather than dental. Some of these are treated with braces together with jaw surgery, planned with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
• Children and younger teenagers whose teeth are still developing.
• Situations where consistent wear is hard to rely on, since braces do not depend on the patient putting them back in.

Braces are not a fall-back option. For many cases they are simply the appliance that suits the movements required.

When is Invisalign usually considered?

Aligners can be used for a range of problems, including:

• crowding, including cases where extractions are part of the plan
• spacing and gaps between teeth
• excessive overbite, often using bite ramps built into the aligners
• mild underbites caused by tooth position rather than jaw position
• many crossbites affecting the back teeth

Aligners also suit people for whom removability and discretion matter, for example adults in client-facing roles, performers, or anyone who would rather take the appliance out to eat and clean. The condition that matters most is commitment. Aligners fit well when the case is within their range and the patient is ready to wear them most of the day.

Why does wear time matter so much with aligners?

Aligners only move teeth while they are in your mouth. Invisalign treatment is planned on the aligners being worn for 20 to 22 hours a day, which means taking them out only to eat, to drink anything other than water, and to clean your teeth.

If aligners are regularly left out for longer, the teeth fall behind the movements the plan expects. The next aligners may not fit as they should, and the plan may need to be revised. Braces avoid this question entirely, because they cannot be taken out.

That is why the orthodontist will ask about your routine, work and sport, and how you expect to manage wear, before recommending aligners. An honest answer is the quickest route to the right recommendation.

What should parents weigh up for a teenager?

For teenagers, the choice usually comes down to clinical suitability and how reliably aligners would be worn. Both braces and Invisalign can be used for teenagers whose teeth and bite suit them, and there is a version of Invisalign designed for teenagers whose teeth are still coming through.

Questions worth thinking through as a parent:

• Will your teenager keep aligners in for most of the day, including at school?
• How will aligners be stored and cleaned during school hours?
• Does your teenager play contact sport? Ask the orthodontist about mouthguards for either option.
• Is the bite problem one where braces give more control?

The orthodontist will go through these with you and your teenager at the consultation, and explain which options are clinically suitable before any decision is made.

What about adults?

Adults can be assessed for either option. Many adults ask about aligners or lingual braces because they are discreet at work, while others choose ceramic or metal braces because they suit the case. Treatment for adults is often about function and long-term dental health as much as appearance.

If you already have crowns, bridges or implants, orthodontic treatment is often still possible. Implants cannot be moved, so the plan is designed around them, and the practice coordinates with your dentist or other specialists where restorative work is planned.

Is Invisalign more expensive than braces?

Not necessarily. For straightforward cases the cost of the two is broadly comparable. More complex cases can be more cost-effective to treat with braces, because of the control they provide. In every case the fee depends on three things: how complex the problem is, which appliance is used, and how long treatment runs.

Liverpool Orthodontics gives you a written quote before treatment starts and offers flexible payment options. Private health insurance with orthodontic cover generally applies to both braces and aligners, subject to your policy, its annual limits and any waiting periods, so check your entitlements with your fund. Our guide to what affects the cost of braces explains the fee in more detail.

How is the decision made at Liverpool Orthodontics?

The consultation starts with your teeth, not with a product. The orthodontist examines your teeth, bite and jaws, considers your age and stage of growth, and asks about your routine and priorities. Photographs, X-rays or a digital scan may be taken.

You then hear which options are suitable for your case and why. Sometimes both braces and aligners are reasonable choices and the decision comes down to your preference. Sometimes one is clearly more appropriate on clinical grounds. Either way, you receive a written quote before treatment begins.

What should you ask at your consultation?

• Which options are suitable for my teeth and bite, and why?
• Is there anything about my case that makes one option more appropriate?
• What would each option involve day to day?
• How often would I need review appointments?
• What would the fees be for each option, and what payment arrangements are available?
• What happens after active treatment, and what retainers would I need?

No referral is needed to book. Read more in do you need a referral to see an orthodontist.

Frequently asked questions

Is Invisalign as effective as braces?

It depends on the case. For many mild to moderate problems, either appliance can be used. For complex movements, significant bite correction or skeletal jaw problems, braces generally give the orthodontist more control. The orthodontist will explain which is appropriate for your case.

Can Invisalign correct bite problems as well as straightening teeth?

Some bite problems can be treated with aligners, including many overbites and some crossbites. Significant skeletal bite problems are usually better treated with fixed braces, sometimes combined with jaw surgery.

Which is more comfortable?

Both can cause mild discomfort for a few days after they are fitted or adjusted, and this settles. Braces can rub the inside of the lips and cheeks at first, and aligners feel tight when you start a new set.

Do I need a referral to see an orthodontist about Invisalign or braces?

No. You can book a consultation at Liverpool Orthodontics directly, without a referral from a dentist or GP.

Will I need a retainer after either treatment?

Yes. Retainers are fitted at the end of active treatment with braces or aligners, because teeth tend to drift without them. Retention is a permanent part of orthodontic treatment.

Book a consultation

To find out which option suits your teeth, book a consultation with Liverpool Orthodontics. Call 02 9601 7655 or use the online booking form. The practice is at Unit 2, 90 Bathurst Street, Liverpool.