Whenever I hear the word “braces,” my mind always goes back to the kids in my class with mouths full of metal wires and brackets. Like many people, I thought teeth straighteners are reserved for teenagers and never thought about getting one. Why are braces so expensive is another frequently asked question we have answered for you.
However, when I started feeling that my teeth were holding me back, I dug into the orthodontic treatment options for adults. So join me on my journey to know more about the best braces for adults that will help you replace your closed-mouth smile with a wide grin. And while you are here, also check our toothbrushes for braces reviews.
3 Top Braces For Adults
1. [Best Overall] Candid
Candid is a teeth straighteners company that offers a convenient and affordable solution for your crooked teeth at a fraction of traditional braces’ price. Speaking of myself, Candid is my favorite choice of adult braces.
4.9/5
2. [Best For The Money] Byte
Getting braces at an older age could mean that you’ll have to wear them for a longer time. That’s because teeth movement slows as we age. However, what makes Byte invisible aligners stand out is that they use advanced technology to shrink your treatment duration to 2-4 months.
4.8/5
3. [Best For The Teeth Whitening] Smile Direct Club
The cost of braces for adults can sometimes be the reason why many people ignore treatment. However, Smile Direct Club was the first to solve this problem with its affordable braces that saves you the cost of metal braces and the pricey trips to dentists clinics.
4.6/5
Quality Braces for Adults - Know Your Options
From my experience, I know that adults can skip braces for social reasons. It’s easier to convince a kid to wear dental braces than an adult since many people are more scared of being judged by their bulky braces than their misaligned teeth. So, if you do not want braces to cramp your style, check out the price of Invisalign, one of the more discrete options.
Most adult orthodontics get this point. For this reason, instead of metal braces, they suggest using the best invisible braces and less intrusive teeth straighteners like Invisalign Clear Aligners or Clear braces.
Both methods are effective alternatives for metal braces that allow adults to correct their teeth without the metal brackets intruding on their physical appearance. Using a retainer afterwards is a must so we also suggest reading our retainer cleaner reviews.
If you’re familiar with how braces work, you’ll find no problem understanding these types since they work pretty much the same as traditional braces. However, I’ll discuss the difference between them later in the article.
Best Braces for Adults Reviews
Candid is a teeth straighteners company that offers a convenient and affordable solution for your crooked teeth at a fraction of traditional braces’ price. Speaking of myself, Candid is my favorite choice of adult braces.
Effective treatment plan that takes six months on average
Uses advanced teledentistry
Only works with orthodontists with an average of 20 years of experience
Much affordable treatment than metal braces
You get all the aligners in your treatment at the beginning instead of only once you need a new set
The treatment process is super easy, and you can do it all from home. No need to step into an orthodontist’s office since Candid offers remote monitoring services by state-licensed orthodontists that set your treatment plan and check on your progress regularly.
Before you get your aligners, you should get your teeth impression. This can be done easily by visiting a Candid studio or ordering a starter kit so that you can do it at home.
After the company receives your impression, they set a plan and send you a set of high-quality BPA-free plastic aligners that you should wear at least 20 hours a day.
Although the braces are only capable of treating mild to moderate conditions, the result is fascinating. After about six months, you’ll have whiter, straightener teeth that will restore your confident smile.
Pros
Cons
Getting braces at an older age could mean that you’ll have to wear them for a longer time. That’s because teeth movement slows as we age. However, what makes Byte invisible aligners stand out is that they use advanced technology to shrink your treatment duration to 2-4 months. That means you’ll get excellent results twice as quickly as with other invisible straighteners.
Features:
- No in-person orthodontist visits required
- Full in-home treatment in less than three months
- Comes with a hyper-byte device that ensures speedy treatment and longer results
- Offers two different treatment plans
- Unlimited guarantee on your smile
This magic is made possible by the Hyper-byte device that comes included in your treatment kit.
The device sends high-frequency vibrations to your teeth’ roots, which speeds up the teeth movement and reduces the discomfort you feel from wearing your aligners for a long time.
Another thing that I like about Byte is its lifetime guarantee. The company is confident in their results that they offer to give you new aligners for free if your teeth shift after you complete your treatment, which is a benefit I can’t find in any other company.
Pros
Cons
The cost of braces for adults can sometimes be the reason why many people ignore treatment. However, Smile Direct Club was the first to solve this problem with its affordable braces that saves you the cost of metal braces and the pricey trips to dentists clinics.
- Successful results guaranteed in 4-6 months
- Many studio locations in the US, Canada, and more so that you can deal with the company itself instead of online services
- Comes with premium teeth whitening kit
- Offers night-time aligners
- Reasonable price and monthly payment options
The whole treatment plan goes in a similar way to that of Candid. You take an impression of your teeth and get several months’ worth of straighteners.
The set comes with an LED whitening kit to keep your teeth bright, and you can choose between two treatment plans: at-night aligners or all-day aligners.
The former is an ideal choice for those who don’t want to walk around with braces all day. Although the treatment duration will be extended, you’ll have to wear your aligners only at bedtime.
Pros
Cons
These teeth straighteners are made from first-class transparent BPA-plastic that’s much less noticeable than its competitors.
- Less noticeable than other invisible braces
- Trimmed plastic for extra comfort
- All treatment plans designed by licensed orthodontists
- Comes at an affordable price
- Aligners are shipped directly to your home
I especially like this model for the comfortable experience it provides. Instead of the irritatingly long plastic of other braces, the plastic on these aligners is trimmed to fit along your gum line, which means no annoying materials pushing or rubbing at your gums.
The estimated treatment time is 4-5 months, and although it can’t handle complicated cases like severe crossbites, it can fix crooked teeth and moderate malocclusion like a champ.
Pros
Cons
Invisalign is the best braces for adults looking for a safe and effective solution for more complicated issues. While other in-home braces can treat mild to moderate cases, these aligners can handle severe cases of crowding, spacing, and crossbites.
- Uses invisible plastic that’s hard to spot
- Safer option for people with complicated issues
- Frequent checkups with orthodontists
- Less room for errors
However, that comes at a price. Not only are Invisalign braces the most expensive on this list, but they also require longer treatment time and frequent checkups by professional providers.
The treatment plan can last for 9-18 months. Nevertheless, they’re still a faster and more unnoticeable solution when compared to metal braces.
Pros
Cons
Why an Adult May Need Orthodontic Care
Not all of us are born with teeth that look like those of Hollywood stars. Many adults are suffering from crowded teeth and overbites.
Sure, the ideal time for placement of braces is during childhood when the gum tissues are still developing, and the teeth are more responsive to change. However, most of us didn’t get the chance to have early orthodontic treatment. There weren’t many options before, and the dental technology wasn’t advanced as it is now.
Moreover, it’s more common than you think that teeth shift back after braces. Many people put on braces at a young age, then find themselves in need of teeth straighteners to fix new misalignments.
That’s because after the braces are removed, the teeth lose the pressure that was keeping them in place, which leads to them moving back to their natural position.
Thankfully, braces aren’t limited to children and teenagers anymore. As long as your teeth are healthy and your jawbones are strong, you can straighten your smile orthodontic services.
The Most Popular Adult Braces Options Explained
There are different types of braces. Traditional metal braces are still the most popular type since they’re the cheapest and fastest solution for misaligned teeth. This type takes the shape of brackets glued to the front teeth with a wire going through them that’s secured with small rubber bands.
Traditional braces have come a long way since they were invented. The brackets now are smaller, and the whole set is lighter and more comfortable, so they’re not as cumbersome as they used to be before. However, they’re the most visible type.
A less visible and awkward option is the clear braces. These look the same as metal braces. However, instead of metal, they are made of transparent ceramic brackets that are as strong as metal but less noticeable.
The higher the quality of their material, the more it’ll stay clear without yellowing or staining. This is the best option for people who want fixed braces that don't attract much attention to their teeth.
The last type is the transparent plastic braces. These are the most undetectable teeth aligners as they take the shape of clear plastic trays without brackets, wires, or rubber bands. They’re custom-made for each user to fit your teeth during each straightening stage.
This is the most preferred type by adults because, unlike the other two options, it’s removable, so it’s easier to clean and doesn’t require diet changes. However, the fact that you can take them off easily can be a problem since you’ll have to overcome the itch to remove them frequently, or else you won’t be getting any results from your braces.
Any Braces for Adults Are Better Than No Braces
Besides having a more confident smile, there are health reasons for treatment with braces. First of all, overlapping teeth are tricky to clean, which leads to the accumulation of food between them, making them more prone to decay and gum diseases in the long term.
Overbite and malocclusion can cause discomfort when chewing, frequent biting of the inner cheeks, and damage to other teeth and gums. Furthermore, misalignment of the jaw can be the reason behind the nasty headaches you frequently suffer from.
Long story short, straightening your teeth isn’t a luxury. It can save you from many health problems and unwanted complications in the future.