Braces and orthodontic guides
Plain-language guides to orthodontic treatment, each checked against published sources such as the American Association of Orthodontists and Cleveland Clinic. For prices, start with the braces cost calculator or how much braces cost.
Choosing treatment
- Do I need braces?
Signs adults and children need braces, what braces fix, when you might not need them, what age to start, and how to get braces step by step. - Types of braces compared
Metal, ceramic, lingual, self-ligating braces and clear aligners compared on price, visibility, what they fix, and daily effort, with links to each cost guide. - How do braces work?
The parts of braces and what each does, how pressure moves teeth through bone, why it takes months, what adjustments do, and why you need a retainer. - How to fix crooked teeth
What causes crooked teeth, whether they need fixing, and how braces, aligners, bonding, veneers and surgery compare on results, time and cost. - Damon (self-ligating) braces
How Damon and other self-ligating braces work, what the research says about speed and comfort, how they compare with regular braces and Invisalign, and cost. - How long Invisalign takes, and how it works
How Invisalign treatment works from scan to retainer, how long it takes for mild and complex cases, how many hours a day to wear it, and what slows it down. - Invisalign for teens and kids
Can teens and kids get Invisalign? What age, how it compares with braces, what it costs, how long it takes, and how to make sure aligners actually get worn. - What age should kids get braces?
When children and teens should see an orthodontist and get braces, the age 7 check-up, early treatment, options for teens, and what to ask. - What is an orthodontist, and how is it different from a dentist?
What an orthodontist is and does, what orthodontics (orthodontia) means, how their training differs from a dentist's, referrals, and who should do your braces. - Phase 1 orthodontics: early treatment explained
What phase 1 (early) orthodontic treatment is, which children need it, what the age 7 check-up decides, the appliances used, and what it costs. - Does mewing work? What the evidence says
What mewing is, where it came from, what research shows about jawline and teeth claims, the risks orthodontists warn about, and what works instead. - Free orthodontic consultations: what to expect
Whether orthodontic consultations are free, what happens at one, what to bring, the questions that make quotes comparable, and how to compare offices. - At-home aligners: what happened and what to know
What happened to SmileDirectClub and Byte, the risks of mail-order aligners, questions to ask any provider, and what in-office alternatives cost. - Invisalign Express: what it is and what it costs
What Invisalign Express is, how it compares with Lite, Moderate and Comprehensive, who it suits, how long it takes, and what we know about its cost. - Can you get braces while pregnant?
Whether you can start or continue braces or Invisalign while pregnant: what research says, gum care, X-rays, pain relief, timing and what to ask. - Accelerated orthodontics: can you make braces faster?
Vibration devices, laser and LED light, and surgery are sold as ways to speed up braces. What Cochrane reviews found, the risks, and what actually helps. - Tooth extraction for braces
Why orthodontists sometimes remove teeth before braces, which teeth, the alternatives, what research says about results, recovery and cost.
Paying for it
- Dental insurance that covers braces and Invisalign
How dental plans cover braces and Invisalign: lifetime maximums ($1,772 average benefit), age limits, waiting periods, and discount plans. - Does insurance cover Invisalign?
Which dental plans cover Invisalign, how much they pay ($1,772 average benefit), adults vs kids, Delta Dental and Cigna, and what to do if you're not covered. - How much jaw surgery costs
Jaw surgery costs about $20,000 to $40,000 without insurance, double jaw surgery $40,000+. Insurance, the process, and recovery.
Bite problems
- Overbite vs underbite: what's the difference?
Overbite vs underbite, deep bite and overjet explained: what a normal bite looks like, how to tell them apart, causes, problems, treatment and cost. - Overbite: what it is and how to fix it
What an overbite is, how it differs from overjet and underbite, what causes it, how it's fixed in kids and adults, and what treatment costs. - Underbite: causes and how to fix it
What an underbite is, its signs and causes, and how it's fixed at each age: braces, aligners, expanders with headgear, or jaw surgery, with published costs. - Crossbite: types and treatment
What a crossbite is (posterior, anterior and buccal), what causes it, why it's worth treating, and how it's fixed in children and adults, with published costs. - Open bite: causes and treatment
What an anterior or posterior open bite is, what causes it (thumb sucking, tongue thrust, jaw growth), problems it causes, and how it's treated at every age. - How to close a gap in your teeth
Gap teeth (diastema): what causes them, and how braces, aligners, bonding, veneers, bridges and implants compare on cost, time and how long they last. - Overjet (buck teeth): causes, treatment and cost
What overjet is and how it differs from an overbite, what causes buck teeth, the problems they cause, and how they're fixed in children and adults. - Thumb sucking and teeth: when to worry
When thumb sucking starts to affect teeth, what it does (buck teeth, open bite, crossbite), pacifiers vs thumbs, and how to help a child stop. - TMJ and braces: can braces cause or fix TMD?
What the research says about braces and TMJ disorders, jaw soreness during treatment, what actually helps TMD, and what to ask before braces. - Impacted canine teeth: causes and treatment
What an impacted canine is, how common it is, why it shouldn't be ignored, treatment from baby-tooth removal to surgical exposure, how long it takes and cost. - Braces with missing teeth: your options
How braces work with missing teeth: closing the gap vs keeping space for an implant, why implants wait for growth to end, cost and insurance. - Gummy smile: causes and how to fix it
What causes a gummy smile and how each cause is treated: gum surgery, braces with miniscrews, lip repositioning, Botox or jaw surgery. Plus braces and gums.
Appliances
- Palate expanders: how they work, how long, and cost
What a palate expander does, the four main types, how long children and adults wear one, what it feels like, and what it costs. - Orthodontic headgear
What orthodontic headgear does, the three types (cervical, high-pull, reverse-pull), how many hours a day and years it's worn, and tips for helping your child. - Orthodontic spacers: what to expect
What orthodontic spacers (separators) are, why you need them before braces, how long you wear them, whether they hurt, and what to eat. - Power chains on braces
What a power chain on braces is, why orthodontists use it, the three types, whether it hurts, how long you wear one, and what to do if it breaks. - Rubber bands (elastics) for braces
Why orthodontists add rubber bands to braces, the types of elastics and what each corrects, how long you wear them, how often to change them, and care tips. - MARPE: palate expansion for teens and adults
What MARPE (miniscrew-assisted palate expansion) is, who it suits, success rates by age and sex from published studies, side effects and what to ask about cost. - TADs in orthodontics: temporary anchorage devices
What orthodontic TADs (mini-screws) are, what they're used for, how they go in and come out, whether they hurt, how often they fail, and cost.
Living with braces
- How long do braces take?
How long braces take for mild and complex cases, the full timeline from consultation and spacers to braces off and retainers, and what makes treatment longer. - How to take care of braces
How to brush and floss with braces, which tools help, how to handle swollen gums, how to prevent white spots, and how often to see your dentist. - Do braces hurt?
When braces hurt and for how long, why they cause soreness, how to relieve it, whether Invisalign hurts, and when to call your orthodontist. - What you can and can't eat with braces
Can you eat popcorn, chips, gum or pizza with braces? The AAO's lists of foods to avoid and safe foods, what to eat the first week, and snack swaps. - How to use orthodontic wax
What orthodontic (dental) wax is, how to put it on braces step by step, when to use it, where to buy it, and what else helps with sore spots and poking wires. - Braces colors: picker and ideas
Try braces color combinations on our color picker, see ideas for every season, and learn how the colored ties work and how to keep them bright. - Mouthguards for braces: what to buy and why
Why you need a mouthguard for sports in braces, custom vs boil-and-bite, what each costs, wearing one with aligners, care, and when to replace it. - Orthodontic emergencies: what to do
When a braces problem needs the ER and when it can wait, and what to do now for a loose bracket, poking wire, lost aligner or mouth sores. - Getting braces off: what to expect
What happens when braces come off, whether it hurts, how teeth look and feel after, white spots, eating, retainers and what to do if teeth shift. - Invisalign attachments and chewies explained
What Invisalign attachments are, how they go on and come off, whether they hurt or show, how to care for them, and what aligner chewies do. - Black triangles after braces
Why dark triangular gaps can appear between teeth after braces, how common they are, who is at risk, and the treatment options with their costs. - Invisalign side effects
The common side effects of Invisalign and other clear aligners, from soreness to cavities, how they compare with braces, rare allergies and when to call.
Retainers
- Types of retainers compared
Hawley, clear (Essix, Vivera, Zendura) and permanent retainers compared: how each works, pros and cons, published prices, and how long to wear one. - Permanent retainers: pros, cons and cost
What a permanent (bonded) retainer is, what it costs from four published sources, pros and cons, how long it lasts, and how to keep it clean. - How to clean a retainer
How to clean Hawley, clear and permanent retainers: the AAO's daily routine, weekly soaks, which retainer cleaners to use, and what to never do. - Retainer vs night guard
How a retainer and a night guard differ, whether one can do the other's job, wearing both after braces if you grind your teeth, and what each costs.
These guides are general information, not medical advice. Ask your orthodontist about your own teeth.