How do Invisalign and braces work?

Fixed braces work with brackets bonded to the teeth and wires running through them. Because the wire can apply controlled force and torque to the tooth in every direction, it is strong at managing root movements.

Invisalign consists of a series of clear aligners, planned on a digital model obtained from an intraoral scan, each moving the teeth in very small steps. The literature states that each aligner is designed to move the teeth by about 0.25–0.3 mm and that aligners must be worn for at least 20–22 hours a day. Small tooth-coloured “attachments” bonded to the teeth help the aligner grip the tooth better, widening the range of movements that can be achieved.

Which suits which case?

The table below summarises general trends; the outcome for each patient can vary with tooth shape, bone structure and patient compliance.

Who is Invisalign more suitable for?

• Teenagers and adults whose permanent teeth have fully erupted
• People with strong aesthetic concerns who want an invisible appliance for work or social life
• Those with mild to moderate crowding or spacing
• People who have had orthodontics before and whose teeth have shifted slightly
• Those who can show the discipline to wear aligners all day

Clear aligners also have an oral hygiene advantage: when the aligner is removed, teeth can be brushed normally and cleaned between.

When do braces come first?

• Severe crowding and cases requiring tooth extraction to create space
• Marked rotations of canines and premolars
• Situations where teeth must be moved bodily, parallel with their roots
• Teeth with short clinical crowns (little surface for the aligner to grip)
• Patients for whom keeping to the daily wear time would be difficult
• Bringing impacted teeth into the arch by pulling them out of the jaw

Today, the boundary between the two methods is not sharp. Orthodontic sources stress that, in complex cases, clear aligner treatments supported by a short period of fixed appliances, mini-screws or elastics are becoming increasingly common.

Is there a difference in duration, comfort and compliance?

Treatment time depends more on the severity of the problem than on the appliance. With clear aligners, staying on schedule depends on the patient wearing them for the recommended time; if aligners are not worn enough, the teeth fall “out of sync” with the plan and an additional aligner series (refinement) may be needed. With fixed appliances, compliance is more about oral hygiene and attending appointments regularly.

• Eating and drinking: Aligners are removed for meals; with fixed braces, hard and sticky foods should be avoided.
• Speech: There may be a slight lisp in the first days with aligners; people usually adapt quickly.
• Sensitivity: With both methods, a feeling of pressure for a few days after a new wire or aligner is normal.

What are the risks and limitations?

Both methods carry a risk of slight root shortening, gum inflammation, decay (especially with poor hygiene) and relapse after treatment. In clear aligner treatment, attachments may be bonded and, where necessary, a very small amount of enamel may be removed between teeth (IPR); these procedures are carried out in limited amounts as part of the plan. Whichever method is chosen, a retention (retainer) phase is essential at the end of treatment.

At our clinic, Invisalign and fixed orthodontic treatments are planned by our orthodontic specialist; the right method for each case is decided together after the examination and digital impressions.

How does treatment progress step by step?

1. Examination and records: An intraoral examination, X-rays and photographs are taken; gum health and decay are checked.
2. Digital impression: A three-dimensional model of the teeth is created with an intraoral scanner.
3. Planning: If Invisalign is chosen, the step-by-step movement of the teeth is simulated digitally; if fixed braces are chosen, bracket positions and the wire sequence are determined.
4. Active treatment: Aligners are usually changed at set intervals; with braces, adjustment appointments are made at regular intervals.
5. Progress checks: Whether the teeth are progressing according to plan is assessed; correction steps are added if necessary.
6. Retention: When active treatment ends, the retainer phase begins.

In clear aligner treatment, each check-up looks at whether the aligner fits the teeth fully. A gap between the aligner and a tooth can indicate that treatment is behind plan; the cause may be insufficient wear time, not enough space created or a short crown on the tooth.

Questions to ask yourself when deciding

• Does my lifestyle allow me to wear aligners for more than 20 hours a day?
• How important is visibility to me?
• Can I maintain my oral hygiene with a fixed appliance?
• Does my dentist foresee difficult movements in my case?

Can clear aligners be used for teenagers?

Clear aligner treatment can be used in teenagers whose permanent teeth have fully erupted. However, if the jaw relationship needs to be guided while growth is still continuing, planning together with functional or fixed appliances may be more appropriate. In young people, the most important factor is wearing the aligners consistently all day; family support also helps treatment progress as planned.

In summary, there is no single answer to “which is better”; the right question is “which is more predictable and more suitable for me in my case”. The answer only becomes clear after an examination, X-rays and digital planning.

Frequently asked questions

Related pages

Medically reviewed by: Dr. Dt. Mehmet Fuat BozabaSpecialist in periodontology · September 2026

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Sources: Proffit WR, Fields HW, Sarver DM. Contemporary Orthodontics, 5th ed., Elsevier Mosby, 2013; Naidu S, Suresh A. Invisalign – A Brief Overview. International Journal of Advanced Research 6(7):183–188, 2018; Bishara SE (ed.). Textbook of Orthodontics, W.B. Saunders, 2001.

This article is for information only; diagnosis and treatment planning can only be carried out by a dentist after an examination.