Orthodontics straightens teeth and corrects how the jaws meet. The appearance is what most people come for, but the functional side matters too: crowded teeth trap plaque where a brush cannot reach, and a bite that meets unevenly wears some teeth faster than others.

Treatment can address overbites, underbites, crossbites, crowding and gaps between teeth.

Traditional braces

Fixed braces use brackets bonded to each tooth and a wire that is adjusted over time. They remain the most versatile option, and for complicated movements, particularly rotating a tooth or moving roots substantially, they do things aligners cannot.

Because they are fixed, they work continuously without relying on you to wear them. The trade-offs are visibility, more care needed when cleaning around the brackets, and avoiding certain foods.

Invisalign

Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners, each worn for a period before moving to the next. They are far less visible, and because they come out for meals and brushing, cleaning your teeth stays normal.

The catch is in that word removable. Aligners move teeth only while they are in, and the required wear is most of the day and night, every day. Patients who take them out often find treatment stalls. It is worth being honest with yourself about that before choosing.

Not every case suits aligners, though the range has widened considerably. We will tell you plainly if your case is better treated with braces.

Retainers

Teeth drift back toward their old positions after treatment. This is not a failure of the treatment; it is simply how the fibres around the roots behave. A retainer holds the result.

Retention is effectively indefinite. Anyone promising a permanent result without retainers is overpromising, and the most common reason people need treatment twice is that they stopped wearing them.

Braces or aligners?

• Visibility: braces are visible; aligners are barely noticeable.
• Relies on you: braces work whether or not you think about them; aligners only work when worn.
• Cleaning: harder around brackets; normal with aligners, which come out.
• Food: some restrictions with braces; none with aligners, which are removed to eat.
• Complex movements: braces handle the full range; aligners depend on the case.

Adults and orthodontics

Plenty of patients start treatment well into adulthood. Teeth move at any age provided the gums and bone supporting them are healthy, which is why gum health is assessed before orthodontic treatment begins. Treatment can take longer in adults, but the mechanism is the same.

An assessment covers what is achievable, which approach suits your case, and roughly how long it would take.