Both braces and Invisalign straighten teeth effectively. The right choice depends on the complexity of your case, your age, your lifestyle, and how you weigh up visibility against compliance. This page covers the honest clinical differences so you can arrive at your free consultation with a clear idea of what you want.
Shakespeare Orthodontics offers all three main treatment types – metal braces, ceramic braces, and Invisalign – at clinics in Takapuna, Epsom, Howick, and Warkworth. Free consultations are available at all locations.
Braces are fixed. They stay on your teeth for the full duration of treatment and work around the clock without any input from you. Invisalign aligners are removable. You take them out to eat and brush, then put them back in. You need to wear them for 20 to 22 hours per day for them to work.
That single difference, fixed vs removable, drives most of the other trade-offs between the two treatments.
Metal braces use stainless steel brackets bonded to each tooth, connected by a wire that your orthodontist adjusts at regular appointments to guide your teeth into position. Today’s metal braces are smaller and more comfortable than older versions.
Best for: Complex crowding, significant bite problems, rotated teeth, jaw alignment issues. Any case where predictable force application matters. Children and teenagers who won’t reliably wear removable aligners.
Cost range: $6,000 to $9,000 all-inclusive at Shakespeare Orthodontics.
Typical duration: 18 to 30 months depending on case complexity.
What metal braces do well that Invisalign cannot always match: severe rotations, large vertical tooth movements, and cases where patient compliance is a concern. For complex cases, metal braces are often both faster and less expensive than Invisalign.
The visible trade-off is obvious. Most younger patients accept this readily — coloured elastic bands are genuinely popular. Adults who are self-conscious about appearance during treatment usually prefer ceramic braces or Invisalign.
Ceramic braces work identically to metal braces. The brackets are made from tooth-coloured or translucent materials that blend with your teeth. The wire is often tooth-coloured too. From a normal conversational distance, ceramic braces are difficult to notice.
Best for: Adults and older teenagers who want the clinical effectiveness of braces with a less visible appearance. Cases that are too complex for Invisalign but where aesthetics matter.
Cost range: $7,000 to $10,000 all-inclusive at Shakespeare Orthodontics.
Typical duration: 18 to 30 months — equivalent to metal braces.
The trade-off vs metal: ceramic brackets are more brittle and can stain if you drink a lot of coffee or tea. They also sit at a slightly higher price point. For patients who want reliable results without the metal look, ceramic braces are usually the right call.
Invisalign uses a series of custom-made clear plastic aligners, each worn for approximately two weeks, to progressively move your teeth. Your orthodontist designs the full treatment sequence digitally before you start, so you can see a projected outcome before committing.
Best for: Mild to moderate crowding and spacing. Adults and older teenagers who are disciplined about wear time. Patients who want to remove their aligners for specific occasions. Cases where aesthetics during treatment are a high priority.
Cost range: $4,500 (Invisalign Lite) to $12,800 (complex full cases) all-inclusive at Shakespeare Orthodontics.
Typical duration: 12 to 24 months for most cases.
The compliance reality: Invisalign only works if worn for 20 to 22 hours per day. Patients who remove aligners more than this will see treatment slow or stall. For younger children, this is the main clinical reason we often recommend braces instead — not because Invisalign is inferior, but because consistent wear at that age is genuinely difficult.
For adults, Invisalign’s removability is frequently its biggest advantage. Being able to eat normally, brush without difficulty, and take aligners out for photos or special occasions makes a two-year treatment much easier to live with.
For children (under 12): Braces are usually recommended. Fixed treatment removes the compliance variable entirely, and metal braces handle the jaw growth considerations that come with younger patients. Invisalign Teen exists but is best suited to motivated older teens.
For teenagers: Either option can work well. The honest deciding factor is compliance. If your teenager is likely to leave aligners out, braces are the better clinical choice. If they’re disciplined and self-conscious about appearance, Invisalign Teen is a strong option.
For adults: Invisalign is popular for good reason. Most adult cases fall within Invisalign’s clinical range, and the lifestyle benefits of removable aligners are real. Complex adult cases with significant bite issues may still be better served by braces — your specialist will tell you clearly if that’s the case.
| Metal braces | Ceramic braces | Invisalign | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | High | Low | Very low |
| Best case complexity | Any | Moderate to complex | Mild to moderate |
| Compliance required | No | No | Yes (20-22hrs/day) |
| Removable | No | No | Yes |
| Cost range (Auckland) | $6,000-$9,000 | $7,000-$10,000 | $4,500-$12,800 |
| Typical duration | 18-30 months | 18-30 months | 12-24 months |
| Dietary restrictions | Yes | Yes | No |
| Suitable for children | Yes | Yes | Older teens only |
The honest answer is that the recommendation depends on your specific tooth and bite position, not on which treatment is more popular or more profitable. Some cases are genuinely suited to either option. Some cases have a clearly better choice. A specialist orthodontist will tell you the difference.
What you should be cautious of: any provider who recommends Invisalign for every patient regardless of case complexity, or who steers all patients toward the higher-margin option without clinical justification. A specialist orthodontist’s job is to tell you what will work best for your teeth — not what you want to hear.
At Shakespeare Orthodontics, all treating clinicians are registered specialist orthodontists. Your free consultation includes a full clinical assessment and an honest recommendation for your specific case.
For cases within its clinical range — mild to moderate crowding and spacing — yes, Invisalign produces equivalent results to braces when worn correctly. For complex bite correction, severe rotations, or cases involving significant jaw movement, braces remain the more reliable option.
Adults can get any treatment type. Most adult cases are suitable for Invisalign, and many adults prefer it for lifestyle reasons. If your case involves complex bite correction, your specialist may recommend braces or a combination approach. There is no age limit on any treatment type.
Not always. Simple Invisalign cases can cost less than braces. Complex Invisalign cases can cost more. The cost depends on case complexity, not the treatment type itself. Both are all-inclusive at Shakespeare Orthodontics.
A free consultation with a specialist orthodontist is the only reliable way to find out. Online assessments and general dentist opinions are not a substitute for a specialist clinical assessment.
Invisalign Teen is designed for teenagers with most of their adult teeth in place. For younger children still in mixed dentition, braces or functional appliances are usually more appropriate. Your orthodontist will advise based on your child’s specific stage of development.
For equivalent case complexity, treatment times are broadly similar. Simple Invisalign cases can resolve faster. Complex cases treated with braces can sometimes be completed more quickly than the same case in Invisalign. Your specialist will give you a realistic timeline estimate at your consultation.
Dr. Adriana Perez grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. She is one of the registered specialist orthodontist working at Shakespeare Orthodontics in Auckland.
In 2008, Adriana graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Santa Maria University in Caracas, Venezuela. After graduation, she worked in Venezuela in private practice, at the Orthopaedic Children’s Hospital (Dentistry/Orthodontics unit), and as a lecturer in the National Experimental University of the Armed Forces.
In the year 2011, Adriana moved to Argentina to specialise, gaining the Specialist Orthodontist degree from the University of Buenos Aires in 2013. While in Argentina, she worked as a part-time lecturer at the Orthodontics Department in the University of Buenos Aires, private practice, and at the Craniofacial Unit in the Paediatric Hospital Garrahan, looking after cleft lip new-borns, children, and adolescent patients.
Adriana is a Spanish speaker. In her spare time, she likes going to the beach, travelling, socialising with friends, playing video games, cooking, and going to the gym.
BDS | DClinDent | MRACDS-Orth | MOrthRCSEd
Dr Azza Al-Ani, grew up in Christchurch, is a registered specialist orthodontist working at Shakespeare Orthodontics in Auckland. You can find her at one of the clinics in the city, or at their Takapuna clinic on the North Shore.
In 2009, Azza graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Credit from the University of Otago.
She worked as a dental house surgeon at Auckland, Greenlane and Middlemore Hospitals, and as a dental officer at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital.
In 2012, she completed the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS) primary examinations.
Before commencing her specialist training, she held a part-time Professional Practice Fellow position at the Faculty of Dentistry, while working as a dentist in private practice.
In 2016, Azza graduated from the University of Otago with a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Orthodontics. She passed examinations to gain memberships into the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
She is also certified with the Australasian Orthodontic Board, and is a member of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists, and the New Zealand Dental Association / New Zealand Dental Council.
Azza’s area of research interest is hypodontia. She has presented about this topic at the European Orthodontic Society Congress, and at the International Association Dental Research ANZ Scientific Meeting, and has been involved in the publication of numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals:
Outside of work, Azza loves spending time with her son and Mo (her husband), socialising with family and friends, overseas travel, and tries to keep up with Mo while mountain biking.
Common add-ons at other practices include: initial consultation fees, diagnostic records (X-rays, scans, photos), mid-treatment adjustment fees, refinement aligners, and retainers. Ask for a full cost-of-treatment breakdown before you sign any agreement.
Mo is a Specialist Orthodontist. He grew up in both New Zealand and Australia.
After completing a year in Health Sciences, and later physiotherapy, he qualified as a dentist in New Zealand. He spent the next four years working alongside his father in Sydney where he practised general dentistry. Mo then returned to Dunedin to specialise, gaining his specialist degree – Clinical Doctorate in Orthodontics from the University of Otago.
During the three years of specialist training, Mo had the privilege of learning from the best. The combined clinical and academic acumen of professors, doctors and staff provided an invaluable experience.
Meanwhile, Mo published and presented significant research and clinical cases at both national and international forums, including the International Association of Dental Research, the Australasian Begg Society of Orthodontics, the European Orthodontic Society and the New Zealand Dental Association conference.
A firm believer in maintaining high clinical standards, Mo successfully completed further examinations to become affiliated with the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) and the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (Sydney).
Mo is currently a part-time senior lecturer and superviser at Auckland University of Technology, and is a:
Mo is a regular presenter at conferences and professional development events including:
Outside of work, Mo enjoys the precious time with his young family and the outdoors. He especially loves mountain biking, running, fishing, diving and, in winter, snowboarding.
Traveling along with his best friend and wife (Azza) around the world has also been a big part of Mo’s life. Mo is primarily based in Shakespeare Orthodontic’s city clinics and on the North Shore.
