Today, there are a wide range of treatment options available to straighten crooked teeth. These range from traditional 'track' braces through to invisible braces.

Traditional track braces can be supplemented with a range of colours and finishes, and can also be made much less noticeable through the use of thinner, titanium wires and clear brackets. There is also the option to apply the brace to the inside of the teeth (lingual braces) so that they are not noticeable and invisible braces, such as invisalign or clearstep, which are essentially a series of clear gum shields which are replaced every 2 weeks and gently move the teeth to their new position, are another option if you are concerned about appearance during treatment. Your orthodontist will discuss the range of treatment options available to you, their suitability for your treatment needs and the different costs involved.

Whilst the majority of today's patients are children, it is never too late to look to straighten crooked teeth and for many of today's adults grew up in an era where there was either limited availability of good orthodontic care, or they were embarrassed to be seen with unsightly braces, there are a range of orthodontic options available to them.

With all treatments, the teeth are gently and slowly moved to their new position. This movement needs to be done slowly otherwise the patient risks losing his or her teeth. This is why braces are commonly worn for approximately two and a half years and adjustments are only made every three or four weeks. A tooth will usually move about a millimetre per month during treatment, but this will vary in each individual case.