Braces vs aligners: the advantages of clear aligners

People of varying ages are investing in teeth straightening at an exceptional rate. As individuals take ownership of their health, the desire to start orthodontic treatment with aligners or braces has increased for a number of reasons. Among the main oral malocclusion complaints:

• dental crowding
• bite problems
• gaps or diastemas

 Aligners or braces

There are a lot of options on the market, from hybrid providers to traditional "train-track" braces with regular visits to the dentist for tightening. The braces vs aligners debate is weighted in both camps, depending on the type of treatment, budget and timeframe you have.

Sometimes it can be difficult to understand the differences between the different types of orthodontics, so we'll talk you through the main differences between braces and aligners, which, though equally effective, have different characteristics.

What are braces?

 Braces are small metal pieces that are attached to the surface of your teeth with metal wire, which creates a connective arch. The arch works by connecting and applying continuous pressure on the dental pieces so that they progressively move the teeth into their correct position.

What types of braces are there?

There are several types of braces: metal, clear, lingual and self-ligating. Although their appearance and cost vary, their common feature is that they’re fixed.

In contrast, clear or invisible aligners - also known as dental or teeth aligners - are removable splints that are placed on top of the teeth and perform the same function as braces: correct dental malpositions by applying pressure.

Which is more effective: braces or aligners?

When it comes to dental aligners vs braces effectiveness, aligners are just as effective as braces in correcting orthodontic problems. In other words, rather than discussing the distinction between the capabilities of clear aligners vs metal braces, it’s more relevant to consider the method each uses to achieve said goal and the characteristics of each product.

Are aligners or braces more discreet?

Braces

The first point to consider when comparing removable invisible aligners vs braces orthodontics is their level of discretion. In general, braces are less discreet than aligners, since they are usually visible from the outside when a person smiles or opens their mouth.

That’s because they are placed on the vestibular side (visible part of the tooth), so whether they are metal (traditional or self-ligating) or clear (ceramic or sapphire brackets), they will always be less discreet than aligners.

Lingual braces, on the other hand, are the single exception to visible braces. They are placed on the lingual side (part of the tooth facing inside the mouth), so they are not as visible from the outside. You pay a premium for this additional technicality, with prices reaching up to £7,000 for them to be fitted on the inside of your teeth.

Aligners

As for the aligners, they tend to be more discreet than traditional braces. 

Firstly, due to their transparent appearance, instead of pieces of metal attached to the teeth, splints are made by casting a mould of your teeth.

The benefit of that is that they're made to adapt completely to the anatomy of your teeth, and since they’re transparent, they’re almost imperceptible to others. Aligners allow you to talk and smile without anyone noticing that you wear orthodontics, making them perfect for people who work with their image or simply for those who want to maintain their usual appearance while undergoing treatment. This feature is extremely important to many patients deciding between dental aligners vs braces. 

Removing aligners: benefits over braces

As mentioned, braces are a type of fixed orthodontics. Therefore, patients are unable to stop wearing them at any time until the treatment is finished.

What are the cons of fixed braces?

Well, they can’t be removed to practice sports with a risk of impact, nor can they be removed for dental hygiene or the consumption of certain foods, all of which we’ll address later. 

Benfits of Aligners

On the other hand, we have completely removable aligners. This makes things much easier, since you can take them off whenever you want, such as to eat or brush your teeth, or play sports. However, it should be noted that specialists recommend wearing the aligners for a minimum of 22 hours a day in order to successfully carry out all the necessary movements.

Are braces comfortable?

When comparing clear aligners vs metal braces, comfort is another important point to consider. Braces usually cause some discomfort since there can be chafing in the soft tissues on the inside of the cheek that can end up forming canker sores or, on some occasions, even deeper wounds if the wire becomes displaced and protrudes into the tissue. Luckily, some of these discomforts are avoidable thanks to special waxes that can block pokes and scratches.

Patients also tend to notice some pressure on the teeth after each adjustment. This is another difference between aligners and braces, because the movements with braces are more abrupt than those made by the aligners, they can lead to discomfort in the dental arches and even minor headaches or earaches.

Are aligners comfortable?

The aligners are made of a rigid and robust medical quality plastic, so their surface is smooth and delicate with the mouth’s soft tissue. Because of this, it’s usually more difficult for chafing and sores to form with invisible aligners vs with braces.

As for the pressure, it’s possible to notice some when changing from one aligner to another. However, since the changes are very frequent, this sensation is hardly noticeable and is very light.

Orthodontic Hygiene

Braces

Maintaining oral hygiene is another major concern for those who undergo orthodontic treatment, and another key difference between aligners and braces. With braces, daily oral hygiene is a bit more difficult. When we wear braces, the dental surface is no longer normal and requires more attention to detail when cleaning. In addition, another dental hygiene essential is floss. Flossing becomes much more difficult with a metal arch blocking the spaces between the teeth.

Cleaning your aligners

If you’re still asking if clear aligners are easier to keep clean than braces, this section might answer your questions. The complications of good oral hygiene don’t exist with aligners. When you brush your teeth and floss, it's as simple as removing the aligners, allowing you to brush just as before.

What you can't eat with braces

With braces, you have to be especially careful with certain hard foods such as some breads, candies and any other food that is eaten by tearing with incisors and canines, such as apples. This is because braces are glued to the dental surface with a special glue, so if you apply too much force, they can come off. If this happens, you’ll have to go to the clinic to glue them again and, therefore, lengthen the duration of orthodontic treatment.

In addition, the consumption of sticky foods such as candies or sweets can also be an issue since they’re difficult to clean. Finally, certain foods should be avoided when wearing clear, ceramic or sapphire braces. Orthodontics with coloured braces that mimic the natural shade of tooth enamel can easily be stained by the consumption of tea, coffee or certain spices.

This restricted diet is another reason more people are choosing invisible orthodontics when contemplating teeth aligners vs braces.

Eating with aligners

This is another major difference between braces and aligners - with aligners, you can enjoy any type of food, no problem. When you eat food, you only have to take out the aligners and store them in their box until it’s time to put them back in after brushing your teeth.

The only time we recommend being a little extra cautious is when the treatment involves the use of attachments, since these can also come off when chewing very hard food. However, treatment can continue without problem for a few days even if an attachment has become dislodged with teeth aligners vs with braces, where they need to be fixed immediately. Regardless, it’s important to notify your orthodontist and fix any broken pieces as soon as possible.

Clear aligners vs metal braces: what type of orthodontic treatment is best for me?

Braces have been the most common and well-known orthodontic option for many years. So it is not surprising that many people opt for braces vs. clear aligners when they’re unaware of the alternatives. However, today orthodontics has evolved drastically and you should consider all the options on the market.

As we’ve mentioned, the effectiveness of aligners vs braces ends up basically the same, but aligners have many additional advantages.

Impress: specialists in invisible orthodontics

If you plan to start an invisible orthodontic treatment, you’ll be in good hands at Impress. In addition to all the advantages mentioned above, with Impress you can enjoy other benefits. Like having the chance to follow your treatment from the comfort of your sofa with the Impress app. With this revolutionary method, follow-ups are done by monitoring your progress through the app alongside clinic visits. This way, face-to-face visits are reduced, avoiding the bother of frequent commutes.

At Impress we offer different types of treatments, depending on your needs and the complexity of your case, each with fixed prices and no surprises. Additionally, we also have financing options in case you’d prefer to pay for your orthodontic treatment in instalments.

If you want to know for sure if clear aligners are better than braces for you personally, and if you’re interested in learning more about our treatment plans for adults or adolescents, get in contact with us by phone or WhatsApp at +44 20 3808 1072 or, book an appointment online through our website.

Visit us at your nearest Impress clinic to evaluate your case and discover the treatment that’s best for you. We can’t wait to meet you!

Updated: September 2025