The short answer
For most adult cases — crowding, spacing, mild to moderate bite issues — clear aligners (like Candid Pro and SureSmile) work as well as braces. They're removable, nearly invisible, and easier to clean around. Treatment times are comparable. Costs are similar.
For complex bite corrections, severe rotations, or significant skeletal issues, traditional braces still have an edge in precise control over tooth movement. Some cases also benefit from a hybrid approach (a few months of braces, then aligners to finish).
Where aligners win
- Appearance during treatment. Most people won't notice you're wearing aligners unless you point them out. For adults in client-facing roles, this matters.
- Removability. You take them out to eat, drink coffee, and brush/floss. No food restrictions, no special flossing tools.
- Comfort. No metal brackets to irritate your cheeks or lips. Each new tray is uncomfortable for 1–2 days, then settles.
- Office visits. Less frequent — typically every 6–10 weeks instead of every 4 weeks.
- Predictable timeline. The treatment plan is mapped out in 3D from day one; you know what your final result will look like before you start.
Where braces win
- Complex tooth rotations. Severely rotated canines or premolars can be hard for aligners to fully correct. Braces have direct mechanical leverage.
- Skeletal bite corrections. Significant overbites, underbites, or crossbites that require jaw alignment changes. Braces combined with elastics still do this best.
- Patient compliance is a non-issue. Braces are on 24/7 — you can't take them out. Aligners require self-discipline (20–22 hours per day). For patients who know they won't comply, braces work.
- Lower cost in some cases. Traditional braces sometimes cost less than aligners for comparable cases, depending on the practice.
The middle path: hybrid treatment
For some cases — moderately complex bites, certain rotations — the best plan is a few months of braces to do the heavy lifting, then aligners to finish and refine. The patient gets the precise mechanics of braces where needed and the cosmetic advantage of aligners during the long, slow finishing phase.
If your case is borderline, ask whether a hybrid approach makes sense. Most aligner-only practices don't offer it.
On retention (this matters)
Whichever path you choose, you'll need a retainer for life. Teeth naturally try to drift back to their original positions for the rest of your life — this is called orthodontic relapse, and it's the most common reason orthodontic treatment doesn't hold.
For the first 6–12 months after treatment, you wear retainers nearly full-time. After that, nights only — but every night, indefinitely. People who skip retainers gradually re-crowd over 5–15 years and end up needing a second round of treatment.
I tell patients: if you're not willing to wear a retainer at night for the rest of your life, don't do orthodontic treatment in the first place.
On SureSmile vs. Invisalign
These are competing clear aligner systems with similar capabilities. Both work. Differences are in software workflow and pricing. SureSmile is made by Dentsply Sirona, the same company that makes our CEREC system. The doctor-driven workflow lets us control more of your treatment plan directly. Clinical outcomes between the systems are comparable for most cases.
If you've heard one is better than the other, it's usually marketing. Pick a dentist you trust; they'll use whichever system fits your case.