Whilst aligners and retainers might sound and look like they are similar, they are in fact quite different. Whilst a retainer retains the teeth in place to stop them from moving, an aligner does the opposite. Clear aligners like Invisalign are popular as they aren’t as noticeable as braces nor as they permanent fixtures all day. Aligners work by moving teeth with slight pressure until the tooth moves into the desired position.
Aligners, such as invisible braces/clear aligners like Invisalign, are also removeable unlike braces. This means that they can be taken out for more comfortable activities like eating or drinking.