Invisalign vs braces: which suits you?

Invisalign vs braces comes down to how each one works and what your teeth need. Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners with no wires or brackets, while braces are fixed to your teeth until treatment ends. Invisalign can treat crowding, gaps and some bite problems in many adults and teens, while braces can suit some complex cases better. A consultation tells you which suits your teeth.

How does Invisalign work?

Invisalign is a series of clear, custom-made aligners that gently move your teeth into place. You wear each set for one to two weeks, about 22 hours a day, and take them out to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush. Each new set continues the movement planned for your teeth.

How are braces different?

Traditional braces use brackets bonded to your teeth and joined by a wire. They stay on for the whole treatment and are adjusted along the way. Because they can't be removed, some foods need to be avoided, and brushing and flossing around the brackets takes more care.

Invisalign vs braces at a glance

• Removable: Invisalign aligners come out to eat and brush. Braces are fixed in place.

• Wires and brackets: Invisalign has none. Braces use both.

• Food: with Invisalign, you take the aligners out to eat, so there's no food list. With braces, some foods need to be avoided.

• Cleaning: with Invisalign, you brush and floss as normal. With braces, cleaning around brackets takes more time.

• Complex cases: braces can still be the better choice for some complex bite problems.

Who is Invisalign suitable for?

Invisalign suits many adults and teenagers with crowded teeth, gaps or some bite problems. It's popular with people who want a less noticeable option for work, school or social life, and with anyone who'd rather keep eating the foods they enjoy. Your dentist will tell you whether it suits your teeth, and if it doesn't, they'll explain why.

What happens at an Invisalign consultation?

At Kinross Drive Dental, your consultation starts with a conversation about what you'd like to change. Your dentist checks your teeth and takes a digital scan. A digital simulation then shows how your teeth are planned to move, before you commit to anything. If you go ahead, you swap to a new set of aligners every one to two weeks, as your dentist advises, with Dental Monitoring check-ins that fit around work and school. Find out more on our Invisalign page.

Our dentists bring a range of experience to aligner treatment. Dr Tisa Kolarov is an Invisalign provider, Dr Aida Mildred Ortiz Solarte has further training in aligner orthodontics, and Dr Mashrufa Mitu has a particular interest in Invisalign. Meet them on our team page.

How much does Invisalign cost compared with braces?

It depends on how much your teeth need to move and how long treatment takes. At Kinross Drive Dental, you'll get a written quote at your consultation. You can spread the cost with our interest-free Invisalign payment plan, or with Afterpay, Humm or Fund My Dental, subject to approval. Health fund policies with orthodontic cover may pay part of the cost. See health funds and payment for more.

Where can you get Invisalign near Joondalup?

Kinross Drive Dental is in the Kinross Centre on Kinross Drive, about 8 minutes from Joondalup, 6 minutes from Clarkson, 4 minutes from Currambine and 3 minutes from Burns Beach by car. It's also a short drive for families in Iluka, Connolly, Ocean Reef, Mindarie and Ridgewood. We're open seven days, so consultations and check-ins can fit around work, uni and school. Call (08) 6201 6555 or book a consultation.