Braces Alternatives for Adults: Discreet Ways to Straighten Teeth

It’s never too late to get braces. Even if you didn’t get them as a teenager, you can get braces to straighten your teeth, correct your bite, and feel more confident in your appearance. But if you’re already an adult, you may not be thrilled about the idea of getting “adult braces.” Are there any other options? Can you straighten your teeth more discreetly with other treatments? 

The answer is “yes!” In this guide from Lakeshore Dental Specialists, we’ll take a look at the best alternatives to traditional metal braces for adults. From ceramic braces to lingual braces and clear aligners, we’ll help you understand how you can get a straighter, more confident smile at any age.

Braces Are An Option For All Ages – But Have Drawbacks For Adults

First things first, it’s important to note that braces are an option for patients of all ages. From teens to seniors, anyone with teeth and jaw alignment issues may be a good candidate for orthodontic treatment.

However, there are some reasons why you may not want to get traditional metal braces as an adult. Here are a few of the drawbacks that older patients may notice when they get braces:

• Obvious appearance – Braces involve attaching metal brackets, wires, and rubber bands to your teeth. Naturally, they’re super obvious when you smile, speak, and laugh. If you’re an adult, you may not like the way that your braces make you look and feel.
• Associated with teens and kids – While braces can be used for patients of all ages, they're definitely the most common in teenagers. This means that they're associated with kids. This can pose difficulties for adults, especially in professional environments and in romantic life.
• Can affect your confidence – Because they're very obvious and are associated with youthfulness, braces can make you feel less confident in yourself and in your appearance as an adult.
  
  
• Dietary restrictions and lifestyle changes – Braces require you to avoid certain foods like chips, popcorn, sticky candies, gum, and more. You also will have to make some changes to your oral care routine to make sure you keep your teeth healthy while wearing braces.

Everyone is different, and you may not care about these drawbacks or how other people perceive you. And that’s fine! But for many adults, getting “adult braces” isn’t an option. Thankfully, traditional metal braces aren’t your only option for a straighter smile!

Exploring Your Alternatives To Traditional Metal Braces

If you’re not interested in using metal braces to straighten your smile, we’ve got good news! There are plenty of other ways that you can align your smile and fix your teeth without braces. In the next section of this guide, we’ll discuss a few of the most common alternatives to traditional braces.

Ceramic braces

Let’s start with ceramic braces. These are basically identical to metal braces. The big difference is in the materials that are used. Rather than using stainless steel brackets and wires, ceramic braces use clear or tooth-colored brackets and tooth-colored wires.

This means that your orthodontist can match them to the color of your natural teeth, dramatically reducing the effect on your appearance. While it will still be obvious that you have braces, this makes ceramic braces much less noticeable compared to traditional metal braces.

Pros of ceramic braces

• Just as versatile as metal braces
• Matches the color of your natural teeth
• Draws less attention to your mouth
• Similar treatment time to traditional metal braces

Cons of ceramic braces

• More delicate and fragile than metal braces
• Rubber bands can stain somewhat easily
• Typically more expensive than metal braces
• Larger brackets can be harder to clean properly

Lingual braces

Lingual braces are another option if you’re an adult and want a more subtle way to straighten your teeth. They work just like regular metal braces – but in reverse. Rather than attaching brackets, wires, and elastics to the fronts of your teeth, your dentist will attach them to the back (lingual) surfaces of your teeth.

Lingual braces are just as effective as metal braces, but they are almost completely invisible. Since they are placed on the backs of your teeth, they will not usually be visible when you smile, laugh, chew, or speak. Other people may notice them eventually, but they will be hidden during most of your daily life.

Pros of lingual braces

• Your braces will be invisible since they're on the backs of your teeth
• Can correct almost any bite or tooth alignment problem
• Technological improvements have made newer lingual braces more comfortable

Cons of lingual braces

• Harder to clean than other types of braces
• Much more expensive than metal or ceramic braces
• May cause a lisp, which usually goes away after about a month
• Some patients find lingual braces to be more uncomfortable than other treatments

Clear aligners

Clear aligners are another great alternative to braces for adults. Invisalign is the most well-known type of clear aligner treatment, though there are many other competing clear aligner systems on the market. 

Unlike ceramic braces and lingual braces, clear aligners do not use brackets, wires, or elastics to move your teeth. Instead, they use “aligners” (also sometimes called “trays”) made from strong, thin, clear plastic. 

These aligners look similar to retainers, and are custom-built to fit into your mouth perfectly. Each set of aligners is worn for about two weeks, and is designed by a dentist like Dr. Whitney Weiner to gently shift the position of your teeth by about 0.1-0.2mm. Once your teeth have moved, you switch to a new set of aligners.

By switching through multiple sets of aligners, you can correct the position of your teeth, align your jaws, and get a straighter, healthier, and more confident smile. It typically takes between 6-18 months to correct your smile with clear aligners like Invisalign, depending on the extent of your orthodontic issues.

Pros

• Clear aligners are nearly invisible when worn, making you more confident in your appearance
• There are no dietary restrictions since you take clear aligners out to eat and drink
• You can take your aligners out to brush and floss your teeth, too
• Aligners can even be removed to play sports or musical instruments
• Clear aligner therapy is usually faster than braces

Cons

• Not quite as versatile as braces, so not everyone will qualify
• Requires diligence to keep your treatment on track
• It’s possible to lose or damage aligners, which can delay treatment
• Clear aligners are usually more expensive than braces

So, What’s The Best Braces Alternative For Adults?

Now that you know a little bit more about the best alternatives to “adult braces,” you may be wondering what the right choice is for your needs. Every patient is different, of course. But overall, we believe that clear aligner therapy from Lakeshore Dental Specialists is the best braces alternative for adults in Eastpointe, MI.

With clear aligners like Invisalign, you can completely avoid braces, smile proudly throughout your treatment, and straighten your teeth with minimal disruptions to your lifestyle. And at the end of your treatment, you’ll enjoy a healthy, confident, picture-perfect smile.

Still not sure if you’re a good candidate for clear aligners, or want to learn more about your other options for adult braces? Book a visit with one of the dentists at Lakeshore Dental Specialists today. We can discuss all of your options with you, help you learn more about your orthodontic challenges, and make sure you make the right choice.

Answering Your FAQs About Orthodontics For Adults

• Is it possible to straighten teeth naturally without orthodontics? No. If you have crooked teeth or a bite alignment issue, there’s no way to straighten your teeth without orthodontics. Thanks to modern orthodontic advances, though, it’s easier than ever to get the treatment you need for a confident smile and a healthy mouth.
  
  
• Am I too old to get braces or clear aligners? No! There’s no age limit for braces or clear aligners like Invisalign. As long as your mouth is healthy and you’re a good candidate, you can straighten your teeth. Age alone doesn’t affect your eligibility for orthodontic treatment.
  
  
• What is the best alternative to braces for adults? In most cases, clear aligners like Invisalign are the best option for adults. Clear aligners offer great results, are often faster than braces, and are nearly invisible when worn. For these reasons and more, they're a great choice for adults with minor-to-moderate orthodontic issues.
  
  
• Does orthodontic treatment hurt more for adults? No. Whether you choose braces or Invisalign, you may experience some pain and discomfort as your teeth move. But this is the same for all ages. Braces, clear aligners, and other orthodontic treatments do not cause more pain in adults than in kids or teenagers.

Explore Your Alternatives To Adult Braces In Eastpointe, MI

If you’re looking for adult braces alternatives in Eastpointe, MI, Dr. Weiner and our team of dentists are here to help. At Lakeshore Dental Specialists, we’re experts in orthodontic care for patients of all ages.

During your orthodontic consultation, one of our dentists can assess your smile, discuss your options for straightening your teeth, and help you make the right decision for your preferences, budget, and schedule. Give us a call at (586) 800-3153 or contact us online and take the first steps toward the healthy, straight smile you deserve.