Both Invisalign and fixed braces can straighten teeth well. In London they also start at about the same price. So the choice usually comes down to 2 things: what your teeth need, and whether you will wear aligners for 22 hours a day.
Fixed braces can treat almost any case. Invisalign suits mild to moderate cases best, and it is nearly invisible. If your case is complex, or you are not sure you will wear aligners all day, fixed braces are the safer choice.
How each one works
Fixed braces
Fixed braces are small brackets glued to the front of your teeth and joined by a wire. The wire puts steady pressure on the teeth and moves them slowly into place. You see the orthodontist every few weeks to have the wire adjusted. Treatment usually takes 1 to 2 years.
There are 3 main types:
- Metal braces are the most common and the most visible.
- Ceramic braces work the same way, but the brackets are tooth-coloured or clear, so they are harder to see.
- Lingual braces are fixed to the back of the teeth, so they cannot be seen from the front. They cost more, and fewer practices offer them.
Invisalign
Invisalign uses a series of clear plastic aligners (trays) made to fit your teeth. You change to the next aligner every 1 to 2 weeks. Each one moves your teeth a small step. You take them out to eat, to drink anything except water, and to brush your teeth. Then you put them straight back in.
You need to wear them for 20 to 22 hours a day. Check-ups are usually every 6 to 8 weeks. Treatment can take from about 6 months for small changes to 18 months or more for bigger ones.
Invisalign is one brand of clear aligner. Other brands work in a similar way.
Which cases each one suits
Fixed braces can treat mild crowding, severe crowding, bite problems and teeth that need to move a long way. The orthodontist has close control over each tooth, so many orthodontists prefer fixed braces for complex cases.
Invisalign can now treat many more cases than it could when it was first sold. But some cases are still better with fixed braces, for example large bite corrections, teeth that need to turn a lot, or severe crowding. Ask for an assessment from a clinician who offers both, so they have no reason to push one.
Cost in London
These are the median starting prices that London practices publish on their own websites:
| Treatment | Median starting price | Middle half of practices | Practices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal or fixed braces | £2,498 | £1,750 to £3,205 | 240 |
| Ceramic braces | £2,995 | £1,998 to £4,000 | 81 |
| Lingual braces | £4,500 | £3,500 to £5,995 | 59 |
| Invisalign and clear aligners | £2,500 | £1,890 to £3,300 | 752 |
Source: dentist-london.com, lowest published price per practice, October 2026. Prices are what practices advertise, not quotes. Prices are for private treatment.
A starting price usually covers a simpler case. A complex case costs more with either option. Ask whether the price covers both upper and lower teeth, all appointments and retainers. Our Invisalign cost guide explains what an Invisalign quote should include.
Who can get NHS braces
NHS orthodontic treatment is free for under-18s who have a clear clinical need. The NHS uses a scale called the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) to decide.
The IOTN has 2 parts. The dental health part grades the problem from 1 (no need) to 5 (very great need). The appearance part scores how the teeth look from 1 to 10. NHSBSA guidance says NHS treatment is normally for:
- dental health grade 4 or 5, or
- dental health grade 3 with an appearance score of 6 or more
Your child’s dentist refers them to an orthodontist for this assessment. NHS braces are usually fixed metal braces. Waiting lists for NHS orthodontists can be long, so ask for a referral early if you think your child may need one.
Adults usually pay for braces. The NHS treats adults only in rare cases with a serious clinical problem, often in a hospital. Most adults pay privately, whichever type they choose.
Daily life with each one
How it looks. Invisalign’s biggest advantage is that most people will not notice you are wearing it. Metal braces are easy to see. Ceramic braces are in between.
Eating. With fixed braces, you need to avoid hard and sticky foods, which can break brackets or get stuck in the wire. With Invisalign, you take the aligners out to eat, so you can eat anything. You must clean your teeth before you put them back in.
Cleaning your teeth. With Invisalign, you take the aligners out and brush as normal. With fixed braces, you have to clean carefully around every bracket, often with small interdental brushes. If plaque builds up around the brackets, it can leave white marks on the teeth after the braces come off.
Wearing them enough. This is where Invisalign most often goes wrong. Aligners only move teeth while you wear them. If you often leave them out, forget to put them back, or lose them, treatment takes longer or the result is worse. Fixed braces work all the time, whatever you do.
After treatment. Both need a retainer afterwards, usually for the long term. Without one, teeth tend to move back.
How to decide
If your clinician says fixed braces are better for your teeth, take that seriously. They have seen your teeth, your bite and your X-rays.
If both options would work, the question is what matters more to you. If appearance during treatment matters most, and you will wear aligners all day, Invisalign is a good choice. If you are not sure you will wear aligners enough, choose fixed braces.
Start with a consultation at a practice that offers both. Our Invisalign in London and orthodontics in London directories list practices by borough.
Prices are published starting prices from London practice websites, read in October 2026. Always ask for a written quote before you start treatment.