Adults can straighten their teeth too. The two main options are fixed braces and clear aligners such as Invisalign. Here is how each one works, what daily life is like with each, and the questions that help you choose.
Many adults put off straightening their teeth because they picture metal braces at work. Today there is more than one way to do it. Neither option is better for everyone. The right one depends on your teeth, your bite and how you live. Our page on braces and Invisalign in HSR Layout explains how treatment works at Pristine Dental Clinic.
The NHS lists common reasons for braces: teeth that are too close together or stick out, upper and lower jaws that do not meet properly (an overbite or underbite), large gaps between teeth, or teeth that make it hard to chew or keep clean. These can be treated at any age. Braces are often done in the teen years, but adults can have them too.
With traditional metal braces, small metal brackets are glued to each tooth and joined by a wire. The wire puts gentle pressure on the teeth and moves them, little by little, into place. The brackets stay on for the whole treatment.
The NHS says your teeth may be sore for a few days after the braces are fitted, and that you will have a visit every 6 to 8 weeks to adjust them.
Fixed braces do not have to be metal. As our braces page explains, braces can also be made of tooth-coloured ceramic. Ceramic braces work the same way as traditional metal braces, with a bracket on each tooth joined by a wire, but they are harder to see on the tooth. They are still fixed for the whole orthodontic treatment, so the food and cleaning advice for braces still applies.
Clear aligners are thin, clear, removable plastic trays made to fit your teeth. You wear a series of them, and each one moves the teeth a small amount. Invisalign is one well-known brand of clear aligners.
Aligners only work when you wear them. Invisalign's own guidance is to wear each aligner for 20 to 22 hours a day. They come out when you eat or drink, and Invisalign recommends that you brush and floss after each meal before putting them back in. Check-ups are about every 6 to 8 weeks.
| Invisalign aligners | Traditional braces | |
|---|---|---|
| Can you take them out? | Yes, removable | No, fixed for the whole treatment |
| How they look | Clear, more discreet | Easier to see |
| Food | Taken out to eat and drink | Avoid hard, crunchy or sticky food and chewing gum |
| Wearing time | 20 to 22 hours a day | All the time |
| Check-ups | About every 6 to 8 weeks | Adjustments every 6 to 8 weeks |
This is where most adults make up their mind.
Food and dietary restrictions. With fixed braces, the NHS advises avoiding hard, crunchy or sticky food, which can break the braces, and not chewing gum. With aligners, you take them out to eat, so food is less of a worry. But you must remember to put them back in.
Oral hygiene. With braces, food can catch around the brackets. The NHS advises brushing in the morning, at night and after meals, and using an interdental brush under the wire every day. With aligners, you brush your teeth and clean the trays before putting them back.
Looks. Aligners are clear and harder to notice. Braces are easier to see.
Discipline. Braces work all day because you cannot take them out. Invisalign treatment depends on you wearing the aligners for most of the day and night, so each tooth keeps moving as planned.
Both options can treat many cases of crowding, gaps and bite problems. Some cases are better suited to one than the other. This depends on how the teeth need to move and how much. It is decided after a check of your teeth and bite, often with X-rays, photos or scans. At this first consultation, the orthodontist looks at each tooth, any bite issues and how far each tooth needs to move, then makes a treatment plan for each option.
At Pristine Dental Clinic, braces and aligner treatment is planned with Dr. Rabab Khursheed, MDS in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics. She checks your teeth and bite and explains which option suits you.
Treatment time for either option usually ranges from several months to a couple of years, depending on how much each tooth needs to move to straighten your teeth. Invisalign says the average treatment for an adult is about 12 to 18 months. Your own timeline is given after the check.
Whichever you choose, you will need a retainer at the end. The NHS explains that a retainer stops the teeth moving back to where they were. The orthodontist tells you how long to wear it.
You can read Invisalign's answers on wearing time in the Invisalign FAQ.
Want to know which option suits you?
Book a check at Pristine Dental Clinic in HSR Layout. You will hear which options suit your teeth, how long each would take and the cost, before you decide.
Cannot find your question here? Call the clinic and the team will answer.
Call 090193 67756The cost depends on your teeth, how much they need to move and how long treatment takes. After a check, the clinic explains the cost of each option, including retainers, so you can compare.
Neither is better for everyone. Both can treat many cases of crowding, gaps and bite problems. Some cases suit one more than the other. An orthodontist decides after checking your teeth and bite.
Invisalign's guidance is 20 to 22 hours a day. You take them out to eat or drink, then brush and put them back in. Aligners only move your teeth while you wear them.
Yes. The NHS notes that braces are often done in the teen years, but adults can have them too. Many adults choose clear aligners because they are harder to notice.
The NHS says teeth may be sore for a few days after braces are fitted, and you may need soft food and a painkiller during that time. Tell the orthodontist if your teeth are painful for more than a few days.
Usually several months to a couple of years. Invisalign says the average for an adult is about 12 to 18 months. Your own timeline is given after a check.
Pristine Dental Clinic, 1703, 19th Main Road, Sector 2, HSR Layout. Open every day, 9 am to 12 midnight.
Call 090193 67756This article gives general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a check by a dentist. If you have swelling near your eye or neck, or trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking, go to a hospital emergency department straight away.
A dental clinic in Sector 2, HSR Layout, Bengaluru, led by Dr. Athhar Maswood K. Open every day, 9 am to 12 midnight.
Call 090193 67756