Short answer
Clear aligners suit crowding, spacing and mild to moderate bite issues, and appeal to adults who want something removable and discreet. Fixed braces handle a wider range of movements and do not rely on you wearing them. An orthodontic assessment tells you which suits your case.
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How each one moves teeth
Aligners are a series of removable trays, each shaped slightly ahead of your current tooth position. Fixed braces use brackets bonded to the teeth and a wire that applies continuous force.
Both work gradually. The difference is who controls the wearing time — with aligners, you do.
Where aligners are strong
They are far less visible, come out for meals and brushing, and mean no food restrictions. For adults in client-facing work, that discretion is often the deciding factor. Cleaning is also easier because you brush your teeth without brackets in the way.
Where fixed braces are strong
They work continuously without depending on compliance, and they can achieve some movements — significant rotations, large bite corrections — more predictably. For complex cases and for patients unlikely to wear trays consistently, they remain the more reliable tool.
The part people forget: retention
Whichever route you take, teeth drift back without retention. A retainer afterwards is not optional if you want to keep the result. Build it into your expectations from the start.
Common questions