How to fix crooked teeth

Page updated October 14, 2026. Medically reviewed by Dr. Abraham Thomas and Dr. Jennifer Loucks-Buren.

The only way to actually straighten crooked teeth is to move them, and that takes orthodontic treatment: braces or clear aligners, and in severe cases jaw surgery. Bonding and veneers can make teeth look straighter without moving them. Here's how each option compares on what it fixes, how long it takes and what it costs.

What causes crooked teeth

Most crooked teeth come from a mix of inheritance and habits. Cleveland Clinic says most cases of malocclusion are hereditary (Cleveland Clinic). Common causes include (Cleveland Clinic) (Healthline):

• Crowding: teeth that are too large, or too crowded, for the mouth
• Jaw size: Healthline notes scientists believe softer modern diets have led to shorter jaws, with less room for teeth
• Childhood habits: prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use, tongue thrusting and mouth breathing
• Baby teeth lost early to decay or injury, which can let permanent teeth come in slanted
• Tooth loss, impacted teeth and teeth grinding in adults
• Injury to the face or mouth

Do crooked teeth need fixing?

Not always. Healthline's view is that crooked teeth don't require treatment unless they're causing health problems or self-esteem issues (Healthline). Problems they can cause include (Healthline) (Cleveland Clinic):

• Teeth that are hard to clean between, raising the risk of decay and gum disease
• Difficulty chewing, and extra wear that can lead to cracked teeth and jaw strain
• Speech problems, such as a lisp
• Feeling self-conscious about your smile

Not sure where you stand? Our guide to signs you need braces lists what orthodontists look for.

Ways to fix crooked teeth, compared

Braces and aligners: moving the teeth

Braces put steady pressure on the teeth to move them gradually into better positions (AAO). They can fix crooked and crowded teeth as well as bite problems such as overbites, underbites and crossbites (AAO). Slight corrections can take a few months, but most people wear braces for 12 to 24 months (AAO); the AAO says mild crowding or spacing is often resolved in 8 to 12 months (AAO). If there isn't enough room for all the teeth, the orthodontist may recommend removing some (Cleveland Clinic).

Clear aligners are removable trays, changed about every 2 weeks (Cleveland Clinic). Invisalign can correct most mild to moderate problems, while severe cases may need traditional braces (Cleveland Clinic). Aligners only work if you wear them at least 22 hours a day (AAO). See Invisalign vs braces and how braces work.

Whatever moves the teeth, a retainer keeps them there. Teeth can drift back without one (Cleveland Clinic); see types of retainers.

Veneers and bonding: straighter-looking, not straighter

A dentist can make slightly crooked teeth look straighter by adding tooth-colored resin (bonding) or thin shells over the front of the teeth (veneers). This is faster than orthodontics, but it changes the surface, not the position. Cleveland Clinic is clear that bonding, veneers and crowns can disguise protruding teeth but don't correct the underlying condition (Cleveland Clinic).

• Bonding takes 30 to 60 minutes per tooth and lasts 3 to 10 years before it needs touching up (Cleveland Clinic).
• Porcelain veneers are usually replaced every 10 to 20 years (Cleveland Clinic). Composite veneers cost $400 to $2,000 per tooth and last 5 to 7 years (Healthline).

You pay per tooth, and again when the work wears out. At the low end of those published prices, porcelain veneers on four front teeth would cost about $3,700, more than the low end for metal braces ($3,000). Cosmetic work also does nothing for a bite problem. Our guide to closing a gap in your teeth compares these options in more detail.

Can you fix crooked teeth without braces?

It depends what you mean by "without braces." Clear aligners straighten teeth without brackets and wires, and lingual braces hide behind the teeth. Healthline says the only real alternative to orthodontic braces is surgery (Healthline). Jaw (orthognathic) surgery may be recommended if your teeth affect your speech or chewing (Healthline), and it's usually combined with braces. Veneers and bonding change how teeth look but not where they are.

Don't try to straighten teeth at home

Moving teeth with rubber bands, paper clips or other home methods is dangerous. The AAO describes an 8-year-old whose parents closed a gap between his front teeth with a small rubber band. The band slid under his gums, he lost more than 75% of the bone holding the teeth in place, and the two front teeth couldn't be saved, even after three years and nine months of treatment (AAO).

Be careful with mail-order aligners too. The AAO warns that they often skip an in-person exam and X-rays, which show roots, missing teeth and bone, and that unsupervised treatment can cause irreversible damage such as tooth and gum loss and changed bites (AAO). Ask any provider who supervises your treatment and whether X-rays are taken first (AAO).

Crooked teeth in children

Crooked baby teeth don't guarantee crooked adult teeth, but crowding can carry over (Healthline). The AAO recommends a first orthodontic check by age 7, when problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth can be spotted (AAO). Many children won't need treatment yet; for some, early treatment can head off more involved treatment later (AAO). See what age kids should get braces and braces cost for kids.

Crooked teeth in adults

Teeth naturally shift with age, and the AAO says it's never too late (AAO): about one in three orthodontic patients is an adult (AAO). Adult treatment can take longer because adult teeth are more firmly set in the jaw (AAO). Decay or gum disease needs treating first: you shouldn't start orthodontic treatment with either (Cleveland Clinic). Adults often choose less visible options; compare them in adult braces cost.

How to pay for it

Dental plans with orthodontic benefits often cover children; adult coverage is less common (AAO). Many orthodontists offer in-house payment plans of 12 to 24 months, often interest-free (AAO), and you can pay with an HSA or FSA (AAO). Healthline points to charities such as Smiles Change Lives for families who can't afford treatment (Healthline). See ways to pay less for braces, or get a figure for your state with the braces cost calculator.