Orthodontics: Straightening Teeth for Adults

Orthodontics treats teeth that are crowded, stick out, leave large gaps or meet unevenly. NHS guidance says braces may be needed if:

• your teeth are growing too close together or they stick out
• your upper and lower jaws do not meet properly (an overbite or underbite)
• you have large gaps between your teeth
• you’re finding it difficult to chew food or keep your teeth clean because of the position of your teeth

Bite and alignment problems, including crossbite and open bite, each have their own page; browse this section to find yours.

Orthodontics changes where teeth sit. For tooth shape or colour, see our page on improving how your teeth look; if you plan to add composite once your teeth are straight, timing and retainers are covered in composite bonding after braces or aligners.

Orthodontic options include fixed braces, worn on the front or back of the teeth, and removable clear aligners. The table gives general guidance from BOS and the NHS.

Fixed metal, ceramic and lingual braces and clear aligners are offered at Deepcar Dental Care, provided by our dentists.

Each type of brace has its own page among the options in this section, and our page on working out which option suits helps if you are weighing them up.

Retention is part of orthodontic treatment because teeth tend to move back towards where they started once treatment ends, which BOS calls relapse.

BOS says you should only go ahead with brace treatment if you are also happy to wear retainers. Teeth may also move unpredictably as we get older, and wearing retainers long term can reduce these age changes. BOS advises continuing retention for the long term, because the risk of relapse remains, with a particular risk in the early months after a brace is removed. Its patient leaflet adds that you should expect your teeth to move a little once you stop wearing retainers, and that changes in tooth position can continue throughout life.

Evidence on which retention approach works better is weak: a 2023 Cochrane review of 47 studies after braces rated it low or very low certainty, with no firm conclusion about any one approach over another.

As general guidance, most people end up wearing retainers at night, and the retainer type and routine are set at the end of treatment; your plan confirms yours. Retainer types and care are covered on our page about the orthodontic retainer.

Orthodontic risks include changes to the tooth roots, white or brown marks on the teeth and teeth moving back, BOS explains.

BOS says all brace work causes minor changes to the roots of the teeth. This is not usually a problem, but occasionally the changes can be more serious, and it is often possible to tell if someone is at risk, but not always. A 2010 systematic review of fixed-brace trials found that evidence suggests comprehensive treatment increases how often and how severely roots resorb, and that heavy forces might be particularly harmful.

BOS warns that if you do not keep your teeth and brace clean, you risk lasting white or brown marks, and frequent sugary foods or drinks add to the risk. A 2025 review of 57 studies found white marks on the enamel, called white spot lesions, in about 55% of orthodontic patients against 29% of untreated people, more often with conventional fixed braces than with other appliances, and with longer treatment. Its patients averaged 16 years old, so the figures are not specific to adults.

BOS names relapse as one of the most common problems, often where there were spaces or very twisted teeth at the start, and particularly where treatment is very quick or retainers are not provided appropriately.