10.06.2025
Fixed brace or aligner? What the evidence shows
Aligners move teeth reliably when it comes to tipping, mild crowding and closing gaps in the front region. For bodily movements of whole teeth, for rotations of rounded teeth, for changes to the bite position and for pronounced findings, the fixed appliance is still more precise and more predictable.
The second difference is not technical but human: aligners only work while they are worn – 20 to 22 hours a day. The fixed brace works whether you want it to or not. In adolescents this is often the decisive argument.
In terms of treatment time, the two methods differ little for comparable findings. What does differ is visibility, ease of cleaning and the number of check-up appointments.
A serious answer therefore requires an examination of the findings. Anyone who is recommended a method without an examination has not received a recommendation, but a sales pitch.