Aligners vs Traditional Braces: Which Orthodontic Treatment Is Right for You?

At Specialist Dental Services, we provide consultant-led orthodontic care for both straightforward and complex cases. One of the most common questions we’re asked is:

“Should I choose aligners or traditional braces?”

The honest answer is this: both are excellent tools. The right choice depends on your teeth, your bite, your goals, and sometimes on surgical or multidisciplinary considerations. Our role is not to sell a system, but to select the most biologically sound and predictable approach for your individual case.

Modern Orthodontics: More Choice, Better Outcomes

Orthodontic treatment has evolved dramatically. Today, patients benefit from:

• Clear aligner systems
• Metal and ceramic fixed braces
• Mini-screw (TAD) anchorage for complex movements
• Combined orthodontic–surgical (orthognathic) care where required
• Fully digital planning and 3D workflows

As consultant orthodontists, we routinely manage complex malocclusions, facial asymmetry, impacted teeth, bite correction, and multidisciplinary cases, working closely with oral surgeons, restorative dentists, periodontists, and general dentists.

Clear Aligners: Discreet, Digital, Powerful

Aligners are removable, transparent trays that move teeth in carefully planned stages. When designed and supervised properly, they can deliver highly accurate results — even in complex cases.

At Specialist Dental Services, we use multiple aligner systems, allowing us to choose the most suitable platform for each case:

• Invisalign
• ClearCorrect
• Smartee
• Angel Aligners

This flexibility matters. Different systems offer different biomechanics, attachment strategies, and staging options, which can be critical in advanced treatment.

How Aligners Work: The Treatment Flow

Aligner treatment follows a structured, consultant-led pathway:

1. Comprehensive assessment
   This includes digital scans, photographs, X-rays, and where necessary CBCT imaging to assess roots, bone, and jaw relationships.
2. Digital treatment planning
   Tooth movements are planned virtually, often incorporating advanced biomechanics, attachments, or mini-screws for anchorage.
3. Aligner wear
   Aligners are worn for most of the day and changed at prescribed intervals to guide tooth movement gradually.
4. Monitoring and refinement
   Progress is closely reviewed. Refinements are used where needed to ensure accuracy, bite stability, and optimal aesthetics.
5. Finishing and retention
   Final detailing ensures precise tooth positions and a stable bite before retainers are provided.

When Aligners Are Particularly Useful

• Patients seeking a discreet option
• Mild to complex alignment and bite correction
• Cases requiring digital planning precision
• Selected cases involving mini-screw anchorage
• Patients with professional or lifestyle preferences

Aligner treatment starts from £6000.

Traditional Braces: Precision, Control, Reliability

Fixed braces remain the gold standard for many orthodontic problems, particularly where absolute control of tooth movement is required.

At Specialist Dental Services, we offer both metal and ceramic braces, tailored to your clinical needs and aesthetic preferences.

Types of Braces We Offer

Metal Braces

• Highly efficient and robust
• Ideal for complex movements and bite correction
• Particularly useful in multidisciplinary and surgical cases

Ceramic Braces

• Tooth-coloured and more discreet
• Offer the same biomechanical control as metal braces
• Popular with adults seeking subtlety without compromise

How Traditional Braces Work: The Treatment Flow

1. Detailed assessment and planning
   As with aligners, treatment begins with full diagnostic records and bite analysis.
2. Bracket placement
   Brackets are bonded to the teeth and connected with archwires that guide tooth movement.
3. Adjustments and progression
   Wires are changed or adjusted over time to deliver controlled forces.
4. Advanced mechanics where needed
   Mini-screws may be used to provide anchorage for difficult movements such as space closure, vertical correction, or asymmetry.
5. Finishing and retention
   Final detailing ensures a precise bite, followed by long-term retention planning.

Braces Pricing

• Metal braces: from £3000 per arch
• Ceramic braces: from £4000 per arch

Mini-Screws (TADs): Expanding What’s Possible

Mini-screws, also known as Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs), allow us to move teeth in ways that were previously difficult or unpredictable.

They can be used with both aligners and braces to:

• Close spaces without unwanted side effects
• Correct deep bites or open bites
• Improve asymmetry
• Reduce the need for tooth extractions
• Improve surgical outcomes

Their use reflects a specialist, consultant-level approach to orthodontic biomechanics.

Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery: When Teeth Alone Aren’t Enough

In some cases, the underlying issue is the position of the jaws rather than the teeth. For these patients, orthodontic treatment is combined with orthognathic surgery to achieve optimal facial balance, function, and long-term stability.

We regularly manage:

• Pre- and post-surgical orthodontics
• Complex skeletal discrepancies
• Multidisciplinary planning with maxillofacial surgeons

Both aligners and braces may be used depending on the surgical plan and biomechanics required.

So… Aligners or Braces?

There is no universal “better” option — only the right option for you.

• Aligners offer discretion and digital precision
• Braces offer unmatched control and versatility
• Many complex cases benefit from specialist techniques such as mini-screws or surgical planning

At Specialist Dental Services, every treatment plan is consultant-designed, evidence-based, and tailored to your needs — not limited by a single system or approach.

Book a Specialist Orthodontic Consultation

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment and want a clear, honest assessment of your options, we invite you to book a consultation at Specialist Dental Services.

We’ll help you understand:

• What’s possible
• What’s predictable
• And what will give you the best long-term result

Because great orthodontics isn’t about choosing aligners or braces — it’s about choosing the right treatment, delivered at the right level.