Both clear aligners and braces straighten teeth. They just go about it differently. The right one for you depends on your teeth, your habits, and what matters most to you day to day.
The Quick Comparison
- Looks: Aligners are nearly invisible. Braces are visible, though clear ceramic brackets help.
- Comfort: Aligners are smooth plastic. Braces have brackets and wires that can rub at first.
- Food: With aligners, you take them out to eat anything. With braces, you avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods.
- Cleaning: Aligners come out, so you brush and floss normally. Braces take extra time and tools to clean around.
- Responsibility: Aligners only work if you wear them 20 to 22 hours a day. Braces work around the clock without any effort from you.
- Complex cases: Braces can handle nearly any case. Aligners handle most mild to moderate cases very well.
Aligners May Be the Better Fit If…
- You want treatment that most people won’t notice
- You’d rather not change what you eat
- You’re disciplined about wearing them and keeping track of them
- Your teeth are crowded, gapped, or have shifted since you had braces as a kid
Braces May Be the Better Fit If…
- Your bite problem is severe or involves significant jaw issues
- You know you’d forget to put aligners back in
- You’d rather not have to think about your treatment at all
What About Cost?
The cost of aligners and braces is often in a similar range, and it depends mostly on how complex your case is and how long treatment takes. Many PPO plans with orthodontic coverage help with either. At Siena Dental, we offer Invisalign and other clear aligner options at different price points, plus financing through CareCredit, Sunbit, and Compassionate Finance.
Not Sure? Start With a Scan
At an Invisalign consultation at Siena Dental, we take a quick 3D digital scan of your teeth, no goopy impressions, and show you a preview of how they could move. If aligners aren’t the right tool for your case, we’ll tell you.
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