Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces: Why Harley Street London Professionals Choose Clear Aligners

For generations, straighter teeth meant metal brackets, wires and monthly tightenings — conspicuous and uncomfortable. Today, that's changed. Invisalign has transformed orthodontics, and nowhere is that standard more visible than Harley Street, where patients expect exceptional results with zero compromise on appearance.

At Denstudio, 139 Harley Street, London, Dr Jana Denzel offers the full range of Invisalign treatment, from Invisalign i7 for minor corrections through to Full Complex cases, backed by a price-match guarantee against any London provider. In this guide, he gives a straight-talking clinical and practical comparison of both options, so you can make the right decision for your teeth, your lifestyle, and your life.

Dr. Jana Denzel — Harley Street’s Trusted Invisalign Expert

Dr. Jana Denzel is one of the UK’s most celebrated cosmetic dentists and one of the most recognisable names in aesthetic dentistry, a clinician whose patients range from Grammy Award-winning musicians and elite athletes to members of royal families and BBC television audiences. His credentials include:

Twice awarded Best Young Dentist in the United Kingdom
Named among the world’s top 32 dentists
BBC Apprentice breakout star — bringing expert dental knowledge to a national audience
Global Ambassador for Slow Dentistry — a philosophy of precision, patience, and patient-first care
Guest Lecturer at the University of Oxford
Founder of Denstudio, 139 Harley Street, London W1G 6BG

Denstudio offers a price-match guarantee on all Invisalign treatment. If you find the same Invisalign package at a lower price anywhere else in London, Denstudio will match it, without compromising the standard of care.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is the world’s leading clear aligner system, a series of custom-fabricated, near-invisible plastic trays that gradually reposition your teeth through a precise sequence of planned movements. Each aligner is worn for approximately two weeks before progressing to the next in the series. The entire treatment is mapped digitally using a 3D intraoral scanner before a single aligner is manufactured, meaning you can see a simulation of your complete projected result before treatment even begins.

Invisalign is clinically proven to treat a comprehensive range of orthodontic issues, including:

Crowded or overlapping teeth
Gaps and spacing between teeth
Overbite, underbite, and crossbite
Open bite
Mild to complex misalignment across one or both arches

What are Traditional Fixed Braces?

Fixed braces use brackets bonded to each tooth, connected by an archwire that's periodically tightened to guide movement. Effective, well-established, and capable of treating even the most complex cases — for decades, they were the only option.

Severe skeletal jaw discrepancies requiring combined orthodontic and surgical treatment
Cases requiring precise torque control beyond the clinical range of aligner therapy
Younger patients who may not reliably maintain the 20 to 22 hours of daily wear that Invisalign requires
Patients seeking NHS-funded orthodontic treatment, for which Invisalign is not available
Certain complex malocclusions where fixed mechanics offer a documented clinical advantage

Their limitations, however, are significant, particularly for adult patients who are professionally active, socially visible, or simply unwilling to spend 12 to 36 months with visible metalwork on their teeth.

7 Reasons Harley Street Professionals Choose Invisalign

Invisibility That Matches a Professional Life

Harley Street patients, from executives and legal professionals to public figures, simply cannot afford a visible orthodontic appliance. Invisalign aligners are near-invisible in daily life. The overwhelming majority of people, even those who see you every day, will never notice them at all.

No Dietary Restrictions for the Entire Duration of Treatment

Traditional braces impose strict dietary restrictions throughout treatment, which can span 12 to 36 months. For adults who travel, entertain clients or simply value freedom of choice, this is a significant lifestyle compromise. Invisalign eliminates dietary restrictions entirely. Remove your aligners to eat and drink whatever you like, clean your teeth as normal, and replace them. No restrictions. No exceptions.

Oral Hygiene That Does Not Deteriorate During Treatment

Fixed braces are notoriously difficult to clean around. Brackets trap food debris, and prolonged wear carries a real clinical risk of white-spot lesions, permanent enamel damage around bracket sites. Invisalign patients simply remove their aligners to brush and floss as normal, with no specialist tools, no extra cleaning instruction and no compromise to gum health throughout treatment.

Digital Precision and Full Transparency Before You Start

Every Invisalign treatment at Denstudio Harley Street begins with an iTero 3D intraoral scan, no impressions, no gagging, no mess. Dr. Denzel then designs your treatment digitally, generating a full simulation showing exactly how your teeth will move through to your final result. You see precisely what you're committing to before a single aligner is made. Traditional braces offer no equivalent transparency. With Invisalign at Denstudio, there are no surprises.

Fewer, More Flexible Appointments

Fixed brace patients must attend tightening appointments every 4 to 6 weeks for the entire duration of treatment, with no flexibility. Invisalign check-ins at Denstudio occur every 6 to 10 weeks, and because patients progress through their aligners at home, there is significantly more flexibility around work, travel and family commitments. For the busy professional, this difference is material.

Comfort That Fixed Braces Simply Cannot Match

Invisalign aligners are made from SmartTrack, a smooth, flexible plastic with no sharp edges, wire ends or bracket margins to irritate soft tissue. The most common experience when switching to a new aligner is mild pressure for 24 to 48 hours, after which discomfort typically resolves completely. Emergency appointments for broken brackets or poking wires simply do not exist with Invisalign. The contrast with traditional fixed braces is considerable.

Seamless Integration with the Cosmetic Treatment Sequence

For patients combining orthodontics with cosmetic treatments, Invisalign integrates naturally into the Denstudio treatment sequence. The ideal journey runs: Invisalign first for optimal alignment, whitening second to establish your target shade, and bonding or veneers third to perfect shape and finish. This is exactly how Dr. Denzel's Wedding Smiles packages are structured, delivering the most comprehensive and lasting aesthetic results.

When Traditional Braces Might Still Be the Right Choice

Dr. Denzel’s philosophy is always clinical honesty over commercial interest. While Invisalign is the right answer for the great majority of his adult patients at Denstudio Harley Street, traditional fixed braces remain the appropriate clinical choice in certain specific circumstances:

If fixed braces are the clinically correct recommendation for your specific case, Dr. Denzel will tell you, clearly, directly, and with a full explanation of the clinical rationale. Denstudio does not recommend treatments based on margin or commercial interest. Recommendations are based solely on clinical evidence and patient suitability.

The Denstudio Invisalign Experience: Five Steps to a Straighter Smile

The clinical quality of Invisalign outcomes varies enormously between providers. At Denstudio Harley Street, every stage of treatment reflects Dr. Denzel’s philosophy of Slow Dentistry — deliberate, precise, never rushed, and always centered on the individual patient.

Step 1: Free Consultation

Your first appointment is completely free with no obligation. Dr. Denzel will assess your teeth, discuss your goals, and give you an honest clinical assessment of whether Invisalign is right for you and which tier suits your case. He will also review and match any quotes you have from other London providers.

Step 2: 3D Digital Scan and Smile Design

Using an iTero intraoral scanner, Dr. Denzel creates a full 3D digital model of your teeth in minutes, no impressions, no discomfort. From this he generates your smile simulation, showing the complete predicted movement from start to finish. You review and approve the plan before anything is fabricated.

Step 3: Custom Aligner Fabrication

Your personalised series of Invisalign aligners is manufactured using SmartTrack® material at Invisalign’s facility. Every aligner in your series is individually engineered for the specific tooth movement it delivers. Dr. Denzel reviews each treatment plan personally before approval.

Step 4: Treatment and Progress Monitoring

You progress through your aligner series at home, attending Denstudio every 6 to 10 weeks for progress appointments. Dr. Denzel compares your actual tooth movements against the digital plan at each visit, identifying any adjustments required early. Clinically indicated refinements — additional aligners to complete precise movements, are included as standard where required.

Step 5: Vivera Retainers

On completion of your Invisalign course, Dr. Denzel fits you with Vivera retainers, manufactured by Invisalign and widely regarded as the most precise and durable removable retainer available. Retainers are included in all Denstudio Invisalign packages. Without consistent wear, teeth will drift back over time. With retainers, your result is permanent.

Dr. Denzel’s Verdict: The Bottom Line

Choose Invisalign if you value discretion, comfort and clinical precision. You want to eat freely, maintain normal oral hygiene, and see a digital preview of your result before committing. This describes the vast majority of Dr. Denzel's patients at Denstudio Harley Street.

Consider traditional braces if your case is exceptionally complex, you require NHS funding, or you have genuine concerns about maintaining the discipline of 20+ hours daily aligner wear. Dr Denzel will tell you clearly if any of these apply to your situation.

Denstudio’s Invisalign price-match guarantee ensures you never pay more on Harley Street than you would anywhere else in London.