South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
Treatment comparison · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
Clear aligners or ceramic braces: two discreet ways to straighten teeth
Adults who want straighter teeth without a mouthful of metal usually narrow the choice to two options. Clear aligners are removable transparent trays changed every week or two. Ceramic braces work like conventional fixed braces but use tooth-coloured brackets so they are less conspicuous. Both can produce a good result; they ask different things of you along the way.
Decision guide
Which is right for you?
Choose Clear aligners if…
- Your teeth are mildly or moderately crowded, spaced or rotated, and your bite is broadly sound.
- You want to be able to remove the appliance to eat, brush, present or attend an event.
- You would rather fewer in-person visits, with check-ins every six to eight weeks.
- You are disciplined enough to wear trays for around 22 hours a day without reminders.
Choose Ceramic braces if…
- Your orthodontist has said the movements needed are complex, such as correcting an overbite or moving roots substantially.
- You know you would forget or resist wearing removable trays and would rather have nothing to remember.
- You accept a small, tooth-coloured bracket on each tooth in exchange for constant, uninterrupted force.
- You are comfortable with monthly adjustment appointments for a year or two.
At a glance
Side by side
| Feature | Clear aligners | Ceramic braces |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Transparent trays that most people will not notice at conversational distance | Tooth-coloured brackets with a thin wire; noticeably more discreet than metal but still visible |
| Removability | Taken out to eat, drink anything but water and clean your teeth | Bonded to the teeth for the whole course; only the orthodontist removes them |
| Comfort | Smooth plastic; pressure for a day or two after each new tray | Brackets can rub the lips and cheeks, especially in the first weeks |
| Typical duration | Roughly 3 to 20 months depending on the plan chosen | Usually 12 to 24 months |
| Complex movements | Well suited to mild and moderate cases; some severe cases need fixed appliances | Handles the full range, including bite correction and large rotations |
| Daily care | Trays rinsed and brushed separately; normal flossing continues | Careful cleaning around each bracket; interdental brushes usually needed |
| Fee at Wimpole Street | From £2,000 | Not provided by Medical & Dental; quoted by a referred orthodontist |
| Staining risk | Trays are replaced before they discolour | Elastic ties around brackets can pick up colour from curry, coffee and wine |
| Best suited to | Adults and older teenagers wanting the least visible, most flexible route | Moderate to complex cases where fixed control matters more than removability |
In the chair
What the treatment involves
Clear aligners
A digital scan of your teeth is turned into a staged 3D plan showing every movement from start to finish, which you review before anything is made. A series of trays is then manufactured, each moving the teeth a fraction of a millimetre. You swap trays on schedule at home and attend for a brief check every six to eight weeks so the dentist can confirm progress and add small tooth-coloured attachments or refinements if needed. When the final tray is reached, retainers are made to hold the result.
Ceramic braces
After records and X-rays, the orthodontist bonds a ceramic bracket to each tooth and threads a thin archwire through them, held by clear or white elastic ties. The wire is tightened or replaced roughly every four to six weeks, applying steady pressure that the teeth follow. Because nothing is removable, movement continues around the clock and the clinician has fine control over root position and bite. At the end the brackets are removed, the enamel polished and retainers fitted.
Fees
Cost and longevity at Wimpole Street
Clear aligner treatment at Wimpole Street will start from £2,000. We plan cases in three tiers by complexity: Easy Align for short courses of up to about four months (from £2,000), Smart Align for up to around 17 months (from £4,000) and Ultimate Align for longer, more involved cases (from £5,980). Retainers are discussed as part of the plan.
Ceramic braces are not something Medical & Dental provides. If your assessment suggests you need them, we will say so and refer you to a specialist orthodontist, who will give you their own fee. Whichever route you take, the result relies on wearing retainers afterwards; teeth drift back without them.
All prices are indicative and are confirmed in a written treatment plan at your consultation. Fees are the same at every Medical & Dental clinic.
Weighing it up
Strengths and trade-offs
Clear aligners
Strengths
- Very hard to spot, even close up
- Removable for meals, cleaning and important occasions
- No wires to rub or break
- Fewer and shorter appointments during treatment
- Digital preview of the expected outcome before you commit
Trade-offs
- Results depend entirely on wearing the trays for around 22 hours a day
- Some complex movements are beyond what aligners can reliably achieve
- Trays must be removed for every drink other than water
- Easy to mislay a tray when eating out
Ceramic braces
Strengths
- Works around the clock with no compliance required
- Manages severe crowding, rotations and bite problems
- Considerably less obvious than metal brackets
- Well-established technique with predictable mechanics
Trade-offs
- Still visible, particularly the wire
- Ceramic brackets are bulkier and more brittle than metal
- Hard, sticky and very chewy foods need to be avoided
- Brushing is slower and gum inflammation is common if cleaning slips
- Not offered at Medical & Dental, so requires a referral
FAQ
Common questions
No. Ceramic brackets blend with the tooth colour and are far less noticeable than metal, but the wire and the brackets themselves can still be seen. Aligners are the closer of the two to invisible.
For a mild case, aligners are often quicker, sometimes finishing within a few months. For complex cases the timelines converge, and fixed braces may reach a better final position because they apply force continuously.
Both create pressure when the teeth are moving. Aligners avoid the rubbing that brackets cause on the inside of the lips, so most people find them more comfortable overall, though each new tray can feel tight for a day or two.
The brackets themselves are stain-resistant, but the small elastic ties holding the wire can discolour with coffee, tea, red wine or turmeric between adjustments. They are replaced at each visit.
No. We provide clear aligner treatment and retainers. If a fixed appliance is the better clinical answer for you, we will explain why and refer you to a specialist orthodontist rather than compromise the plan.
Yes. Scans and aligner consultations are available now at South Kensington and St Paul’s, and your reviews can move to Wimpole Street from 1 October 2026 without restarting anything.
Marylebone, W1
Wimpole Street opens 1 October 2026
Register your interest and we will contact you when the Marylebone diary opens. If you would rather not wait, the same clinicians can see you at South Kensington or St Paul's now.
Related treatments at Wimpole Street
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
Until we open
Need an appointment before 1 October 2026?
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
