Last updated: August 2026. Written by the Stella Dental team. This article is general information, not personal dental advice.
Moving your teeth, or reshaping them?
Start with one question, because it decides everything that follows: do your teeth need moving, or reshaping? Crowding, gaps and bite problems need moving, which means clear aligners or fixed braces. Teeth that already sit in roughly the right place but look chipped, worn or uneven need reshaping, which means bonding or veneers.
Most people arrive at this decision having compared aligners with braces, which is a comparison between two ways of doing the same thing. The more useful fork is the one above. Get that right and the shortlist narrows on its own. It is also common to need both, in which case teeth are moved first and reshaped afterwards, once they are where they should be.
Clear aligners such as Invisalign
Clear aligners are a series of custom-made, removable trays, each shaped slightly differently from the last. Each tray applies controlled, gentle pressure that moves teeth a fraction of a millimetre at a time, and you progress through the series until the teeth reach the planned position. Small tooth-coloured attachments are bonded to certain teeth to give the aligners grip for more demanding movements, and they come off at the end.
What they treat
More than most people are led to believe. Crowding, spacing, rotations and bite correction are all routinely treated with aligners at Stella Dental, including cases people have been told elsewhere would need fixed braces. The genuine exception is a significant skeletal discrepancy, where the position of the jaws rather than the teeth is the underlying issue.
How long they take
Most cases complete within three to twelve months, with straightforward cosmetic alignment at the shorter end and bite correction at the longer end. Aligners need 20 to 22 hours of wear a day, removed only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and cleaning your teeth. Below that, teeth do not track to plan and treatment either extends or stalls. Our guide to how long Invisalign takes to work goes into the detail.
What they cost
Stella Dental prices Invisalign in five fixed tiers, from £2,400 for Bronze up to £4,900 for Diamond +. The tier reflects how much movement your case needs and is confirmed in writing at consultation.
Who they are not for
Anyone who knows they will not keep to the wear time, and cases where the jaws themselves are the problem rather than the teeth.
Fixed braces
Fixed braces use brackets bonded to each tooth connected by a wire, applying continuous force and giving the clinician precise control over the position of each tooth and root.
What they treat
Effectively the full range. Their real advantage is that because they are not removable, the result does not depend on wear compliance, which suits anyone who would rather not have to think about it daily.
How long they take
It varies a great deal with the case, and adjustment appointments are needed every few weeks throughout.
What they cost
Fixed brace fees depend heavily on the case and are quoted at consultation rather than published as a fixed figure.
Who they are not for
Anyone for whom visibility is the deciding factor, though tooth-coloured brackets soften that considerably. Cleaning also takes more effort, since you are working around the brackets and wire. Our pieces on Invisalign compared with metal braces and on whether clear braces are a good idea cover the trade-offs.
Composite bonding and veneers
Both change how a tooth looks without moving it. Composite bonding is a tooth-coloured resin applied directly to the tooth and sculpted by hand in a single appointment, repairing chips, closing small gaps, rebuilding worn edges and reshaping teeth that are uneven. Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made facings bonded to the front surface, addressing discolouration that does not respond to whitening, chips, worn edges, minor misalignment and irregular tooth shape.
How long they take
Bonding is usually one appointment, which is the main reason people are drawn to it. Porcelain work involves a preparation visit and a fitting visit, with temporary veneers in between.
What they cost
Composite edge bonding from £150, composite veneers from £250 and porcelain veneers at £850.
How long they last
Composite bonding typically lasts around five to seven years before it needs refreshing or replacing. Composite is porous and picks up staining from coffee, tea, red wine and smoking over time, though a chip or stain can usually be polished or repaired at the affected tooth rather than replacing the whole result. Well-made porcelain veneers commonly last ten to fifteen years and often longer with good care.
Who they are not for
Anyone whose main problem is position rather than appearance. There is also one thing worth knowing before you commit to porcelain: preparing a tooth for a veneer involves removing a thin layer of enamel, typically around half a millimetre. Enamel does not regenerate, so this is irreversible, and once a tooth is prepared for a veneer it will always need a veneer or crown. Bonding, by contrast, is usually additive, so the natural tooth is preserved. And if your concern is shade alone, whitening achieves it without touching enamel and at a fraction of the investment.
Comparing the options at a glance
| Option | Moves teeth? | Typical time | How long it lasts | Cost at Stella Dental |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear aligners (Invisalign) | Yes | 3–12 months | Held by retainers | £2,400–£4,900 in five tiers |
| Fixed braces | Yes | Varies by case | Held by retainers | Quoted at consultation |
| Composite bonding | No | Often one visit | About 5–7 years | From £150 |
| Composite veneers | No | One to two visits | About 5–7 years | From £250 |
| Porcelain veneers | No | Two visits | About 10–15 years | £850 |
Current fees are on our published price list.
What happens after treatment: retainers and relapse
Straightening does not end when the aligners or braces come off. Teeth have a natural tendency to drift back towards their original position, and that tendency does not expire. Retention is planned into treatment from the outset, whether fixed, removable or both, and wearing retainers is a permanent commitment rather than a closing phase.
This is the part most comparisons leave out, and it deserves factoring in from the beginning. Relapse is what undoes otherwise successful treatment, and it is almost always a retainer problem rather than a treatment problem. If you have had teeth straightened before and they have moved back, that is usually the explanation, and it does not mean a second course would go the same way.
Which option is right for me?
Work back from the fork at the top of this article.
- Your teeth are crowded, gapped or the bite is off. They need moving. Aligners or fixed braces, and which one depends on how you feel about wear time versus visibility.
- Your teeth are in the right place but chipped, uneven or worn. They need reshaping. Bonding for something quicker and usually additive, porcelain where you want longer wear and better stain resistance.
- Your only concern is the shade. Neither. Whitening lightens your natural tooth shade without touching enamel, and it is always sequenced before any cosmetic restorative work rather than after.
- Both apply. Move first, reshape afterwards. Doing it the other way round means reshaping teeth that are about to be moved.
You can see the full range on our teeth straightening page.
Start your journey with Stella Dental
An assessment will tell you which of these routes applies to your teeth, and what each would involve for you specifically. We see patients at three clinics, so book at whichever is nearest: Stafford, Stourbridge or Nottingham.
Frequently asked questions
What is the quickest way to straighten teeth?
Bonding changes how teeth look in a single visit, but it reshapes rather than straightens them. Genuine movement takes months whichever route you choose, and most aligner cases complete within three to twelve.
Is Invisalign or fixed braces better?
Neither is better outright. Aligners treat crowding, spacing, rotations and bite correction, and are discreet and removable. Fixed braces give precise control over each tooth and root, and the result does not depend on wear compliance.
Can I straighten my teeth without braces or aligners?
Not genuinely. Bonding and veneers change the appearance of teeth without repositioning them, which suits some cases and is the wrong tool for others.
How much does teeth straightening cost?
At Stella Dental, Invisalign runs from £2,400 to £4,900 across five fixed tiers. Composite bonding starts from £150 and porcelain veneers are £850. Fixed brace fees are quoted at consultation.
Do I have to wear retainers forever?
Effectively, yes. Teeth drift back towards their original position throughout life and that tendency does not expire, so retention is a permanent commitment rather than a closing phase.
Am I too old for teeth straightening?
No. Teeth can be moved at any age, and the biological process is the same at fifty as at fifteen. The majority of our aligner patients are adults. Treatment can take slightly longer, healthy gums and bone are essential so any gum disease is stabilised first, and implants cannot be moved.
Can I combine straightening with cosmetic work?
Yes, and it is a common plan. Teeth are moved into position first, then reshaped if anything still needs it. Quite often less cosmetic work is needed afterwards than expected.
