Metal braces can be unsightly and make many people think of the TV series “Ugly Betty”. This is a major concern for adults who are unhappy with their teeth, but unwilling to deal with the stigma of being a grown up with a mouth full of metal. Braces are for children, right?

Wrong.

At Dublin18 Dental Care near Foxrock we can show you different options that will give you the perfect smile without looking too obvious. These include:

Inman aligners, which are braces that look like a retainer or gum shield. An important difference is that they are fitted with spring-loaded coils that sit behind your teeth, which is met by an opposing force provided by a clear metal wire around the front of your teeth. This positions your teeth accurately and, most importantly, invisibly. They are removable for special occasions but should ideally be worn around 20 hours a day.

Invisible aligners are similar to Inman aligners in the way that they are a clear, retainer type brace. They are carefully moulded to move your teeth very slightly and should be worn for two weeks before being replaced with a slightly tighter pair. They are also easy to clean and removable.

Clearstep braces function in the same way as invisible aligners. Importantly they do not affect your speech, as some retainer style braces can give you a slight lisp.

Fixed braces are available for people who want to achieve fantastic results and are not concerned about having visible braces. They are not removable but very easy to get used to.

Dublin18 Dental Care’s 6 Month Smiles uses fixed braces to improve your smile in 6 months. The colour of the wire in the braces is matched exactly to your teeth, so it’s difficult to see that they are there. This is a combination of the discreetness of invisible braces and the reliability of fixed metal braces. Arrange an appointment with your dentist to find out more.

Once you have achieved your desired look it is wise to use a bonded retainer to stop your teeth from sliding back into their original positions. The retainer is small and made of wire and it is attached to your teeth using dental glue for added security.