Types of braces you can get
Braces include metal, ceramic, lingual, and clear aligner systems, chosen according to tooth movement, bite, visibility, and cleaning needs.
The short answer
The main orthodontic options are fixed metal braces, tooth-coloured ceramic braces, braces placed behind the teeth, and removable clear aligners; suitability depends on the bite and movements required.
How do fixed braces apply force to your teeth?
Fixed braces use brackets bonded to teeth and an archwire that applies controlled force. Clear aligners use a sequence of transparent thermoplastic trays, while lingual braces attach to the tongue side of teeth; each system differs in visibility, removability, and mechanics.
What should your orthodontist assess before treatment?
Have the orthodontist assess tooth positions, jaw relationship, roots, gum health, and available space before selecting a system. Ask how the appliance will create each planned movement and what daily cleaning and wear routine it requires.
When should an orthodontist assess your bite?
Seek orthodontic assessment for crowding, spacing, crossbite, overbite, underbite, or teeth that do not meet comfortably. Contact the clinic for broken brackets, a displaced wire, an ill-fitting aligner, or gum swelling during treatment.
What should you ask about braces and retainers?
Ask which options can achieve the planned movements, whether extractions or attachments are needed, and how retainers will be used afterward. Discuss visibility, speech, eating, cleaning, review visits, and repair arrangements.
Frequently asked questions
Are clear aligners suitable for every case?
No. The orthodontist must check whether the required movements can be controlled with aligners or need a fixed appliance.
Do braces only straighten front teeth?
No. Treatment can coordinate the bite and tooth positions across the mouth, depending on the diagnosis and plan.
Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.