- Consult
- Records
- Bond
- Adjust
- Debond
- Retain
This decision happens at the records stage — with a scan and a specialist, not a brochure.
braces win on control and compliance-proofing; Invisalign wins on invisibility and food freedom. Prices overlap heavily. Complex bites lean braces; disciplined adults with mild-to-moderate cases lean Invisalign.
| Braces | Invisalign | |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Visible (ceramic is discreet) | Nearly invisible |
| Compliance needed | None — works 24/7 | 20–22 hrs/day, every day |
| Case range | Everything, incl. complex bites | Mild–moderate best; some limits |
| Food rules | Hard/sticky/chewy restricted | None — trays come out |
| Cleaning | More effort around brackets | Normal brushing + tray care |
| Comfort | Occasional poking wires | Smooth; pressure days on new trays |
| Coquitlam cost | $6,000–$8,500 | $4,500–$8,500 |
The self-test
- Would trays honestly stay in 22 hours a day — including school lunches or ten coffees? No → braces.
- Is the case complex (big bite correction, severe rotations)? Likely braces or hybrid.
- Is invisibility at work or school the top priority, with a suitable case? Invisalign — or ceramic braces as the middle path.
Let the case decide
The free consultation ends the guessing: records, a 3D scan, and — for aligner candidates — a digital simulation of the result before you commit. A specialist who offers both treatments has no reason to steer you; that’s exactly why our clinic carries every option. Deep dives: braces · Invisalign.
How it works at our practice
We fit both, so we have no inventory reason to steer you. At the free consultation we take records, show you the movements your case needs, ask the wear-time question honestly — with the teenager in the room — and price both options side by side in writing, retainers included in each. Some cases we plan as a hybrid: a short braces phase, then aligners.
Frequently asked questions
Which is faster, braces or Invisalign?
For mild alignment, aligners often; for bite correction and rotations, braces. Case-dependent.
Which is cheaper?
Overlapping ranges. Limited aligner cases can be cheaper; comprehensive cases are similar.
Which is better for teenagers?
Whichever they'll use. Braces work regardless of willpower; aligners need 22 hours a day.
Can I switch mid-treatment?
Yes, and switching early beats a stalled aligner case.
Related reading
- Types of braces — what braces do best
- Invisalign — what aligners do best
- Invisalign Teen — the compliance conversation
The bottom line
Braces win on control and compliance-proofing; aligners on invisibility and food freedom; prices overlap. Let the movements and the wear-time decide, and insist on seeing both priced side by side at a clinic that fits both.
If it were our own family
For a teenager whose parent is doubtful about twenty-two hours, braces. For an adult with mild crowding who'd rather nobody noticed, aligners. For a complex bite in an image-conscious patient, a short braces phase and then trays. We'd ask for both quotes and choose the reasoning.
What people also search for
“Is Invisalign better than braces?”
Neither is better; each suits different movements and habits. We fit both.
“Braces vs Invisalign for teenagers”
Whichever the teenager will actually use. Ask them; believe the answer.
“Braces vs Invisalign cost Canada”
Overlapping ranges; both include retainers at our practice.
The bottom line
Control and compliance-proofing versus invisibility and food freedom, at overlapping prices. Let the movements and the wear-time decide, at a clinic that fits both.