“ I HAD ALWAYS HAD CROOKED TEETH,” SAYS Dan A. Myers, MD, a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Dallas. He had mastered the art of smiling with closed lips, but his teeth were hard to keep clean, and he had the cavities to prove it. Two years ago over a game of golf, he asked his orthodontist—and friend— for advice. The next step: braces at age 68. After straightening, he saw a cosmetic dentist for a needed bridge and bonding. Two years later: “He told me, ‘I am not a vain person, but it’s unbelievable how much I smile now that my teeth are straight,’” says Myers’s orthodontist, C. Moody Alexander, DDS, MS, of Dallas.

One in five orthodontic patients is an adult, according to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), with an estimated one million-plus receiving orthodontia in the U.S. and Canada. One reason more adults are fixing their teeth (44% more from 1994 to 2004, according to an AAO survey) is that they’re keeping them longer. “Fifty years ago, my grandma had her teeth in a jar by the bed,” says Kimberly Harms, DDS, a dentist in Farmington, MN, and a spokesperson for the American Dental Association (ADA). Improved diet and technology mean that “baby boomers can keep their teeth the rest of their lives,” she says.

The most common refrain that Nahid Maleki, DDS, MS, an orthodontist in Washington, DC, hears from adult patients is that they needed braces as a kid but their parents couldn’t afford it. “By the time they come and see us,” she says, “they know they need braces and are unhappy with their smile.”

Straight teeth are important not only for the beauty of your teeth, but also the health of your mouth. “Teeth that are straight are easier to clean and maintain,” says Julio E. Hernandez, DMD, a cosmetic dentist in Miami. “Also, when the bite is correct, the teeth are protected against natural wear and tear.” Another plus: People with nice teeth are happy to show them, making them more conscientious about cleaning and maintenance, he says.

Fortunately, a lot has changed since we were kids. Many dental insurance plans cover at least some portion of orthodontic treatment, and there are more options for teeth straightening than ever. Take a look at the pros and cons of each below and discuss them with your orthodontist to decide which is best for you.

TRADITIONAL BRACES Brackets (metal, clear plastic, or almost unnoticeable tooth-colored porcelain) are glued to the front of the teeth, which are moved via springs and wires.
Pros: “Conventional braces are hard to beat,” says Dr. Alexander. They can treat a variety of bite and misalignment problems, says Dr. Hernandez, and are the least expensive option. Most orthodontic treatment lasts from 12 to 36 months, with 24 months being average, according to the AAO.
Cons: They can be uncomfortable (this can also be true whatever your choice, as “it takes a while to get used to something new in your mouth,” says Dr. Maleki) and unsightly (the decreasingly popular clear plastic brackets can yellow).
Tooth-Care Tip: Clean teeth with a Sonicare toothbrush, says Dr. Alexander. “We also suggest a Waterpik, because there are places you just can’t get with floss or a brush.”

INVISALIGN A series of clear plastic aligners is used to adjust your teeth. Each aligner in the series must be worn 22 hours a day (except when eating) for 10 days. The process can take from 3 months to 2½ years.
Pros: This is our expert pick for adults who don’t want people to know they have braces. They are almost invisible. You can even talk while wearing them—with no one the wiser, says Dr. Alexander, who suggests them for patients who once had braces but whose teeth are backsliding.
Cons: “There’s only a certain amount of movement you can achieve with this treatment,” says Pia Lieb, DDS, a cosmetic dentist in New York. And it may take longer than traditional braces, she adds. Dr. Alexander sometimes combines Invisalign with other types of orthodontia for best results.
Tooth-Care Tip: “People think once they reposition teeth they’re done,” says JeffGolub-Evans, DDS, a cosmetic dentist in New York, but the teeth may still leave something to be desired. He warns that you may still need bonding or veneers (to fill unclosable gaps), followed by whitening.

INVISIBLE OR LINGUAL BRACES These are similar to conventional braces, but they run along the inside of the teeth. Pros: They’re virtually unnoticeable and are very effective at moving teeth.
Pros: They’re virtually unnoticeable and are very effective at moving teeth.
Cons: Previous versions were hard to work with, says Dr. Hernandez, and were sometimes too thick to fit behind top front teeth. Plus, they were known to “really rip up your tongue,” says Dr. Lieb. The latest versions are much slimmer and more comfortable, says Dr. Alexander. Rubber bands bumper any metal, and you can even cover brackets with wax.
Tooth-Care Tip: To toughen up your mouth when irritated by lingual braces, try gargling with a saline solution (½ teaspoon salt to ½ cup warm water) every hour or two (at first). Let the solution slosh around teeth for a minute or so each time.

VENEERS With this treatment, teeth are shaved down, no more than ½ millimeter, then covered with solid pieces of porcelain. When done right, veneers look natural and are ever so slightly lightpermeable, like real teeth. Your dentist may use his own lab to make veneers, or use a brand such as Lumineers, da Vinci, or Macveneers.
Pros: Best for misaligned, grounddown, broken, or severely discolored teeth, veneers are known as “instant orthodontics,” says Dr. Hernandez.
Cons: They are the most invasive to the tooth and the most expensive option. While veneers last 15 to 18 years (versus 5 to 8 for bonding, in which a toothcolored material is used to fill small gaps or chips, usually costing a few hundred dollars), they can cost $1,500 to $2,500 per tooth, and most people require two to eight veneers for a consistent look.
Tooth-Care Tip: Bleaches won’t lighten veneers, but stains can’t penetrate them, so any surface yellowing can be erased with regular cleanings. A floss with a brightener, such as baking soda, will help avoid between-teeth stains—whether you have veneers or not—says Dr. Golub-Evans, who recommends Supersmile Whitening Floss ($5–$7).