Crooked teeth can be detrimental to both your oral and physical health. If you have decided to get your teeth straightened, you have multiple methods to choose from in addition to the more well known methods. Here are six options for straightening your teeth that you should consider:

1. Traditional metal braces

This first type of teeth straightening is one of the most common ways of adjusting and aligning teeth, and usually cost around $3,000 to $7,000 USD. This treatment puts pressure on the teeth which slowly moves them into the desired position. With special glue, stainless steel brackets are attached to each tooth and a metal arch wire is placed through each brace to hold them in line with each other. The braces shift the patient’s teeth and then there are several visits over time for the dentist to tighten them so the pressure continues to align them. This process continues until the teeth are completely straightened.

2. Clear aligners

Clear aligners are one method that cost around $1,800 to $5,500. These aligners are created by the dentist who does a mold of the teeth. Some of these are at-home services that cost around $2,000. This option offers patients the ability to get a 3-D image taken of their teeth or an in-home impression kit to get aligners without visiting a dentist. These do run the risk of the aligners not being as effective since a dentist is not physically involved, but is a cheaper alternative to those who are price sensitive. All clear aligners can be taken on and off which can be helpful if someone needs a break from the discomfort of the aligners. However, this can also be problematic if the patient loses or misplaces them.

3. Lingual braces

This type of teeth straightening, often known as “inside braces”, uses the same technology as traditional metal braces. The main difference is that the braces are attached to the inside of the teeth, or the lingual side. This is a great option for someone who wants results similar to metal braces but doesn’t like the visual distraction of having braces on the outside of their teeth. This does cost more than normal metal braces; this treatment ranges in from $5,000 to $13,000.

4. Dental Surgery

Teeth alignment surgery is a much more invasive but quicker way to align teeth, and is sometimes used if there is a severe over or under-bite. Surgery can cost anywhere from $3,500 to $8,000. This option is usually not suggested unless the patient has something drastically wrong with their teeth that other treatments cannot fix.

5. Retainers

Retainers are another option for teeth alignment, but are only able to shift the teeth so far. These are most often used for maintaining the results of teeth straightening after metal braces and for preventing the teeth from moving back to their original position. This option costs around $200 to $600.

6. Clear braces

Clear braces are the same material as metal braces but they use tooth colored brackets instead of metal ones. This option is within the same price range as metal braces. People may consider this for aesthetic reasons similar to why they may consider lingual braces.Whether you are looking to get braces, surgery, or simply hunting down the best at home teeth straightening aligner, we hope that this list has provided a good base to start your teeth alignment process.