Braces or clear aligners? An honest comparison
Reviewed by a registered dentist · Last reviewed 13 August 2026
Orthodontics is one of the biggest discretionary spends in dentistry, and one where marketing has outrun evidence. This guide sets out what each option genuinely does, what it costs in India, and the specific questions worth asking before you sign anything.
The options compared
| Option | Typical cost (India) | Typical duration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal braces | ₹25,000 – ₹60,000 | 12 – 30 months | Everything, including complex cases. Most predictable, least expensive. |
| Ceramic braces | ₹40,000 – ₹90,000 | 12 – 30 months | Same as metal but tooth-coloured. Slightly more fragile, can stain. |
| Lingual braces | ₹1,00,000 – ₹2,50,000 | 18 – 30 months | Complete invisibility. Harder to clean, affects speech initially. |
| Clear aligners | ₹60,000 – ₹2,50,000 | 6 – 24 months | Mild to moderate crowding and spacing in disciplined adults. |
Indicative ranges, not quotations. Metro clinics and specialist orthodontists sit at the higher end. See our medical disclaimer.
The honest trade-offs
Fixed braces
They work on everything, they work whether or not you are motivated, and the results are the most predictable. Against that: they are visible, cleaning around brackets is genuinely harder, and there is a real risk of white-spot decay marks around the brackets if oral hygiene slips. Expect soreness for a few days after each adjustment, and to avoid hard and sticky foods throughout.
Clear aligners
Nearly invisible, removable for eating and cleaning, and generally more comfortable. But they only work while they are in your mouth: 20–22 hours a day is not a suggestion. Take them out for long lunches and a 12-month plan quietly becomes a 20-month one. They are also less predictable for rotating round teeth, closing extraction spaces and correcting significant bite discrepancies, and most cases need small tooth-coloured “attachments” bonded to the teeth, so they are not entirely invisible.
What has to happen before treatment starts
- Gum health assessed and any gum disease treated. Moving teeth through inflamed tissue accelerates bone loss.
- All decay treated.
- Records taken: photographs, impressions or a scan, and X-rays — usually an OPG and a lateral cephalogram.
- A written treatment plan with the expected duration, the number of visits and whether extractions are needed.
- A clear statement of what is included: adjustments, breakages, refinements and retainers.
If you are being offered aligners without X-rays and a gum assessment, that is a red flag regardless of the brand.
Questions worth asking at the consultation
- Are you an orthodontist (MDS in Orthodontics), or a general dentist doing orthodontics? Both can be appropriate — complex cases benefit from a specialist.
- What exactly is wrong with my bite, and what will change?
- Will I need extractions? Why?
- What is the total cost, and what is not included?
- How many visits, and what happens if a bracket breaks or an aligner doesn't fit?
- What retainer will I need, for how long, and what does a replacement cost?
- What happens if the result isn't what we planned?
Retainers: the part people underestimate
Teeth drift back. This is not a failure of treatment; it is biology. Almost everyone needs a retainer indefinitely — typically full-time for a few months, then nights forever, or a thin wire bonded permanently behind the front teeth. Losing or abandoning retainers is by far the most common way a ₹60,000 treatment is wasted. Budget for replacements.
Is it only cosmetic?
Often it is largely cosmetic, and that is a perfectly legitimate reason. But there are functional cases too: severe crowding that makes teeth impossible to clean and drives decay and gum disease, a deep bite traumatising the palate, an open bite affecting chewing and speech, and jaw discrepancies. A good orthodontist will tell you honestly which category you are in rather than implying medical necessity where none exists.
Where an online consultation fits
This is one of the highest-value uses of a ₹199 consultation. Before you commit to a five-figure treatment, you can have a dentist look at your teeth on camera, review the treatment plan and quotation you have been given, and tell you plainly whether the option offered suits your case, whether the price is reasonable for your city, and what the plan does not mention. Twenty minutes here can save a great deal.
What it cannot do is produce a definitive orthodontic plan — that needs records, X-rays and measurements taken in person.
Got a quote for braces or aligners?
Have it reviewed independently before you commit — ₹199.
Book a consultationFrequently asked questions
Am I too old for braces?
No. Teeth move at any age if the gums and bone are healthy. Adult treatment is routine, sometimes slightly slower, and requires gum disease to be controlled first.
Do braces hurt?
Fitting them does not. Expect three to five days of aching and tenderness after fitting and after each adjustment, manageable with a standard painkiller and soft food. Ulcers from rubbing settle once the cheeks toughen; orthodontic wax helps in the meantime.
Can I get just my front teeth straightened?
Limited or “social six” treatment exists and can be appropriate for mild front-tooth crowding where the bite is otherwise sound. It is not appropriate as a shortcut where the bite itself is the problem — you get a straight-looking front and an unaddressed functional issue.
Will my teeth get weaker?
Properly managed orthodontics does not weaken teeth. Minor shortening of root tips can occur and is usually clinically insignificant. The real risks are decay and gum problems from poor cleaning during treatment, which are entirely preventable.