Comparing braces and clear aligners in London

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Assessment comes before the appliance

Choose a clinician and treatment plan before an aligner brand. Establish the movements needed, limitations involving teeth or gums and a realistic outcome.

The BOS directory ↗ can help locate providers; verify specialist status through the GDC. A professional directory supports the search but does not replace assessment.

Compare options for your case

Ask why braces, aligners or another approach are suitable. Discuss wearing requirements, restrictions, review arrangements and breakages. Removable trays do not mean every case can be managed entirely remotely.

Ask about extractions, interproximal reduction, attachments and risks. A computer simulation is a planning aid rather than a guaranteed result.

Obtain a meaningful estimate

There is no single London price for every case: cost varies with complexity and appliance type, as the NHS braces guide ↗ explains. Request a quotation after assessment.

Check both arches, investigations, routine reviews, extra trays, repairs, completion and retainers. Establish limits on included refinements and the contract duration. For instalments, compare the total and cancellation terms rather than only the monthly payment.

Maintaining the result

Ask about long-term retention, replacement retainers and future reviews. Adult orthodontics is generally private; children's NHS access depends on assessed need rather than simply wanting straighter teeth.

Avoid purchasing trays without an accountable clinician and a route to in-person help. Obtain the plan, informed consent and instructions for problems between appointments before paying. Select a proposal that explains the clinical objective and the whole course.