By Dr. Thais Booms, MS · Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics · Treatment Options · Honest Comparison
Braces vs Invisalign in Sacramento: An Honest 2026 Comparison
An honest comparison of braces, Invisalign, and Spark clear aligners from two board-certified Sacramento orthodontists. Which is right for your case, your habits, and your lifestyle.
The Short Answer
- Neither braces nor clear aligners is universally "better" — the right choice depends on your case and your habits. Braces are fixed in place and work continuously, with no reliance on you to wear them. Clear aligners (Invisalign and Spark) are removable — more convenient for eating and cleaning — but only work if you wear them 20–22 hours a day.
- For most cases, all three can achieve an excellent result. A small percentage of complex cases is better suited to one approach, and we'll tell you honestly when that's true. The single most important factor in your outcome isn't the appliance — it's the orthodontist directing the treatment and your cooperation. The appliance is only a tool.
Start with the honest question
When patients ask us which to choose, our first question back is simple: Are you the kind of person who will reliably put the aligner back in your mouth after eating?
If yes, clear aligners are a great option. If you're not sure — or you're a parent who isn't sure about a teen — braces may be the better fit, because braces are never taken out. There's no compliance question to fail. That single honest conversation resolves most of the "braces or Invisalign" decision before we even look at the teeth.
The rest comes down to the specifics of your case, which we evaluate with a 3D digital scan and a 3D CBCT scan at your complimentary consultation.
Braces vs Invisalign vs Spark — side by side
Here's how the three options we offer compare across the factors that actually matter to a patient's decision.
| Factor | Braces (Damon System) | Invisalign | Spark (our aligner of choice) |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Self-ligating brackets + memory wires move teeth continuously | Series of clear removable trays + attachments | Series of clear removable trays + attachments |
| Removable? | No — fixed for the full treatment | Yes — remove to eat, brush, floss | Yes — remove to eat, brush, floss |
| Visibility | Visible (clear ceramic option on top teeth) | Nearly invisible | Nearly invisible |
| Compliance needed | None — always working | High — 20–22 hrs/day | High — 20–22 hrs/day |
| Material | Damon self-ligating brackets + memory wires | SmartTrack thermoplastic | TruGEN / TruGEN XR thermoplastic |
| Edge design | n/a | Straight-cut gingival edge | Scalloped, laser-trimmed, polished — designed to follow the gumline |
| Best for | Complex cases, low-compliance patients, kids who forget | Widest case range, deepest track record | Aesthetics-focused adults & motivated teens |
| Complex cases | Excellent | Excellent in expert hands | Excellent in expert hands |
| Treatment time | 12–24 months | 12–24 months | 12–24 months |
| Cost at G&B | $6,000–$8,000 range | Same range — no aligner upcharge | Same range — no aligner upcharge |
Braces in 2026 — not what you remember
If you had braces as a kid, you're probably picturing the separators, the bands, and the very tight wires. Orthodontics has changed greatly. The materials and techniques we use today are light-years from what was available even ten years ago.
At our office, we use the highest-end self-ligating bracket on the market, the Damon System. Instead of elastic ties over each bracket — which harbor bacteria and are hard to keep clean — self-ligating brackets use a small door that locks to hold the wire in place. This lets us deliver more constant, natural forces. It also means no "retie" appointments, so you visit the office less often.
We pair the Damon brackets with memory wires — the latest wire technology — which deliver light, constant forces. The combination lets us treat cases more comfortably and often with fewer tooth extractions.
Clear braces — the middle ground
Don't like the look of metal? We offer clear braces made of porcelain, which do not stain — unlike older plastic clear brackets that discolor over time. We use clear braces on the top teeth and metal on the bottom, because chewing forces can wear the lower teeth when they bite against porcelain braces, or shatter ceramic brackets. (We no longer offer lingual "behind-the-teeth" braces — both Dr. Giannetti and I worked with them early in our careers and found that other aesthetic options produce better results, are more comfortable, and are far easier to keep clean.)
How clear aligners actually work
The Invisalign and Spark systems both use a series of custom-made aligners that gradually move teeth. The trays are worn full time and removed to brush, floss, and eat as you normally would.
To fit you, we start with a 3D scan of your teeth and bite. We send the resulting images, along with a prescription and treatment plan, to the lab, which creates a simulation of the tooth movements, the attachments, and — most importantly — the end result. We can show you that simulation at your first consultation.
Then our expertise comes into play. We adjust the movements, the attachments, and the staging of tooth movement following sound biomechanical principles. This is where we spend most of our time on an aligner case — modifying the simulation and designing the attachments to get a better result. We usually go through this process several times with the lab technician until we're happy with the plan.
What are attachments?
When we deliver aligners, we bond small tooth-colored composite shapes called attachments to some teeth. Think of an attachment as a handle on the tooth — it gives the aligner something to grip so we can create the exact force and direction of movement the plan calls for. More attachments doesn't mean a worse case; it usually means a more precise plan. They're polished off at the end of treatment.
Why we use Spark — not Invisalign
Here's something most "braces vs Invisalign" articles won't tell you: at Giannetti & Booms, the clear aligner we use is Spark, not Invisalign. Invisalign (made by Align Technology) has been on the market since the late 1990s and is the brand most people know — it's become a genericized word for clear aligners. Spark (made by Ormco) launched in 2019 as a newer system offered primarily through orthodontic specialists. We chose it deliberately, for reasons that come down to control and design:
- Orthodontist-level planning control. Spark's Approver software lets us program tooth movement and attachments tooth-by-tooth, rather than accepting an algorithm's default. Paired with a CBCT scan, Approver can visualize the actual position of the roots inside the bone — not just the crowns. That precision matters for a specialist who wants to drive the plan.
- Polished, scalloped edges. Spark trays are laser-trimmed with scalloped edges designed to follow the contour of the gumline and a polished surface. It's a genuine manufacturing-process difference that's designed to sit more naturally against the gums.
- TruGEN material. Spark uses Ormco's TruGEN and TruGEN XR thermoplastic, engineered for sustained force retention through each tray's wear cycle.
We're honest about the trade-off: Invisalign has the longer track record and the larger dataset, especially for the most complex cases and dedicated teen product lines. For the mild-to-moderate and aesthetics-focused cases that make up most adult treatment, Spark — in the hands of a specialist directing the plan — is what we reach for. Which brings us to the single most important point in this entire comparison.
"It is important for patients to understand that an aligner is only a tool — the results will highly depend on the proficiency of the provider delivering the treatment."
— Dr. Thais Booms, Beyond BracesThe provider matters more than the product
A bracket or an aligner tray is a tool. What determines your result is the orthodontist who plans the case, stages the tooth movement, designs the attachments, and adjusts the treatment along the way. The same patient can get very different outcomes from the same aligner brand depending on who's directing the treatment.
This is the reason we're cautious about mail-order aligners and about general dentists offering aligners as a side service. The plastic in the box is identical — what's missing is the orthodontic expertise behind it. Both of our doctors are Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics, the highest credential in the specialty, and we review complex cases together. When you choose us, the most important variable — the provider — is two specialists, not one.
Who tends to do best with each
- Children and teens — often do very well with clear aligners, sometimes better than adults, provided compliance is reliable. For families unsure about compliance, braces remove the question.
- Adults — love the aesthetics of clear aligners, and the ability to remove them for a meeting or a meal. Spark's discretion is a particular draw.
- Complex bites — both braces and aligners can correct complex cases in expert hands. We incorporate rubber bands into the plan. A small percentage of cases is mechanically better suited to braces, and we'll say so honestly.
- Patients who don't want to think about it — braces are "set it and let it work." No trays to track, no compliance math.
What it costs
At Giannetti & Booms, braces, Invisalign, and Spark all fall in the same cost range — we do not charge a clear-aligner upcharge. Many practices price aligners higher than braces; we don't, because the cost reflects the orthodontist's expertise and the treatment time, not the appliance material.
Comprehensive treatment with any of the three options typically falls in the $6,000–$8,000 range, depending on case complexity. For the complete breakdown — including insurance, HSA/FSA, and payment plans — read our honest 2026 cost guide for Sacramento.
How to decide — with us
The decision comes together at the complimentary consultation. We capture a 3D digital scan and a 3D CBCT scan, show you a simulation of your expected result, and walk through which option fits your case, your habits, and your goals. You leave with a written, itemized plan and an honest recommendation — at our Davis or Sacramento office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your consultation is complimentary.
See your options side by side
3D scan, 3D CBCT scan, a simulation of your expected result, and an honest recommendation on braces, Invisalign, or Spark — at our Sacramento or Davis office. No referral needed.