Orthodontics, also known as teeth straightening, helps to align crooked or crowded teeth to improve their function and your appearance.

Orthodontics can involve having braces fitted onto your teeth to gradually straighten them into the desired position, or wearing aligners, which are thin, clear, flexible plastic mouthguards that you can remove. You might think that only teenagers wear braces, but orthodontics can be suitable for anybody who’s looking to improve the appearance or function of their smile.

Orthodontics treatment is carried out by an orthodontist, who specialises in straightening teeth.

here are two main types of braces – fixed and removable.

Braces

Fixed braces can be metal or clear and sit on your teeth and are attached with brackets and wires. They’re one of the most common types of braces because of their predictable and reliable results. As well as traditional metal fixed braces, other options include lingual braces and ceramic braces, which are fixed on your teeth but are less visible than traditional fixed braces.

Invisalign

Invisalign treatment allows you to transform your smile discreetly and comfortably with virtually-invisible, removable braces.

Invisalign aligners are completely transparent and custom made to gradually straighten your teeth without using any metal wires or brackets. Your aligners can discreetly correct several different orthodontic issues to give you a balanced, even smile in as little as three months¹.

The aligners look like clear, flexible retainers and are removable, so you can take them out when eating or brushing your teeth.