Aligners or braces: what to choose as an adult

The question is almost always the same: "Can I do it without braces?" The answer depends not on age but on what actually needs to change in the bite.

Adults come for orthodontic treatment more often than people assume. Teeth move at any age, and the only real limit is the condition of the gums and bone, not the number on your ID.

What aligners can do

Clear trays handle tipped teeth, moderate crowding and small gaps well. They come out for meals and brushing, do not interfere with speech and are barely visible — which is the main reason people choose them.

Their weak spot is discipline. They have to be worn 20–22 hours a day. If the tray sits in a pocket, treatment stands still, and no technology fixes that.

When braces are needed

Rotating teeth around their axis, moving roots, correcting significant bite problems — fixed appliances are more predictable here. A bracket works around the clock and does not depend on whether the patient remembered the treatment.

At the first consultation we take a scan and an X-ray, then we can show your specific case: what aligners can achieve, what will require braces, and how long each option takes.