What are the pros and cons of braces?
Braces can straighten teeth, correct the bite, make teeth easier to clean and improve confidence. The downsides are discomfort in the first days, months of commitment, harder cleaning, and risks such as white marks on enamel, gum inflammation, mild root shortening and teeth moving back without retainers. Most risks are reduced by good hygiene and light, supervised forces. At Creative Arts in Dubai our specialist orthodontists explain your personal risks in writing before you start.
Who treats you here Dr. Muhannad Kazzaz Specialist Orthodontist · Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko Specialist Orthodontist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
What are the real benefits of braces?
The obvious benefit is straighter teeth, but the reasons orthodontists treat go further than appearance:
- A better bite. Teeth that meet evenly share chewing forces, which can reduce uneven wear, chipping and strain on individual teeth.
- Easier cleaning. Crowded, overlapping teeth trap plaque in places a brush cannot reach. Aligned teeth are easier to keep clean for life.
- Protection for prominent front teeth. Upper front teeth that stick out are more likely to be chipped or knocked in a fall or sports injury.
- A foundation for other dental work. Teeth in the right position can make later crowns, implants or veneers simpler and more conservative.
- Confidence. For many people the most noticeable change is how they feel about smiling, speaking and being photographed.
Not every crooked tooth needs correcting, and a good orthodontist will tell you when the benefit is mainly cosmetic, so that you can weigh it against the commitment involved.
Braces pros and cons: what are the risks, and what reduces them?
The most common risks of orthodontic treatment, with or without brackets. How likely each is depends on the person, the plan and the care during treatment.
| Risk | What it is | What reduces it |
|---|---|---|
| White marks (decalcification) | Chalky white patches where plaque sat around brackets or under aligners; early enamel damage | Thorough brushing around brackets, fluoride toothpaste, fewer sugary drinks, regular check-ups |
| Tooth decay | Cavities developing under plaque that is not cleaned away | The same habits; treating any decay before braces go on |
| Gum inflammation | Swollen, bleeding gums around brackets; occasional overgrowth | Cleaning along the gum line and between teeth; professional cleaning during treatment |
| Root shortening (resorption) | Slight rounding of the root tips; usually minor, rarely more significant | Light forces, X-ray monitoring where indicated, pausing movement if resorption is found |
| Gum recession | Gum line moving down, more likely where gums and bone are thin | Assessing gums before treatment; keeping tooth movement within the bone |
| Relapse | Teeth drifting back after treatment | Wearing retainers as instructed, usually long term |
| Discomfort and mouth sores | Aching teeth for a few days after adjustments; brackets rubbing cheeks | Soft food, orthodontic wax, over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the label |
| Breakages and extra visits | Loose brackets, poking wires, lost or cracked aligners | Avoiding hard and sticky foods; following aligner care rules |
Allergy to orthodontic materials is uncommon; tell your orthodontist about any known metal or latex allergy before treatment starts.
Can braces damage teeth or gums?
Braces themselves do not decay teeth; plaque does. Brackets and wires create many new places for plaque to collect, and if it stays there for weeks, the enamel underneath can start to lose minerals. The first sign is a chalky white mark that becomes visible when the brackets come off. These marks are one of the most common reasons people are disappointed with an otherwise good result, and they are largely preventable with careful brushing around each bracket, fluoride toothpaste and keeping sugary and acidic drinks to mealtimes.
Gums react the same way. Plaque along the gum line makes them swollen and prone to bleeding, which usually settles once cleaning improves or the braces are removed. Existing gum disease is a different matter: moving teeth through bone that has already lost support can make it worse, which is why gums are checked, and treated if needed, before orthodontic treatment begins. People sometimes ask whether braces make teeth fall out; our guide to whether braces loosen teeth explains the normal, temporary looseness during treatment and when it is a concern.
Do braces cause root shortening?
Some degree of root resorption, a slight shortening or rounding of the root tips, is a known effect of moving teeth. A summary of a systematic review in Evidence-Based Dentistry reported that comprehensive orthodontic treatment appears to increase how often and how much root resorption occurs, that heavy forces might be particularly harmful, and that there is some evidence a pause of about two to three months reduces total resorption. The overall evidence was inconclusive, but it supports the use of light forces.
In most people the change is small and has no effect on how long the teeth last. A minority develop more marked shortening. Risk tends to be higher with longer treatment, larger movements of the front teeth and some root shapes. Orthodontists manage this by using light forces, taking X-rays during treatment where there is a reason to check, and pausing or modifying movement if significant resorption appears. If you have had resorption in the past, or a front tooth was injured, mention it at your consultation.
Most risks depend on what happens between appointments
White marks, decay, gum inflammation, breakages and relapse are all strongly influenced by daily cleaning, diet and retainer wear. Ask your orthodontist to show you how to clean around your appliance, and say early if it is not working for you.
What are the downsides of clear aligners?
Clear aligners share many of the same risks, because the teeth move through the same biology. Their particular downsides are different:
- They only work when worn, usually 20 to 22 hours a day. Treatment depends heavily on discipline.
- Eating and drinking take planning: aligners come out for everything except water, and teeth should be cleaned before putting them back. See eating and drinking with Invisalign.
- Small tooth-coloured attachments and sometimes enamel polishing between teeth are needed for harder movements.
- Some movements are less predictable. A review in BMC Oral Health found aligners and fixed braces both treat malocclusion, with braces performing better for bite contacts, root control and retention in the studies included.
- Slight lisp for the first days in some people.
Their advantages are real too: they are discreet, removable for eating and cleaning, and usually cause fewer mouth sores. How the two compare overall is covered in Invisalign vs braces.
Can braces change your face or your bite in ways you don't want?
Orthodontic treatment can change lip support and the side profile, especially when front teeth are moved back after extractions or forwards to relieve crowding. These changes are planned, and they can be good or bad depending on your starting face. It is reasonable to ask how your planned treatment is likely to affect your lips and profile; our guide do braces change your face? covers this in detail.
The bite also changes during treatment, and teeth can feel as if they meet strangely for a while. That is normal mid-treatment. What matters is the bite at the end. If you have jaw joint pain, clicking or headaches before starting, tell your orthodontist so it can be assessed separately rather than assumed to be part of the orthodontic problem.
Weighing up whether braces or aligners are worth it for you? Our specialist orthodontists in Dubai examine your teeth, gums and bite and set out the benefits, risks and alternatives in a written plan.
Explore orthodonticsIs orthodontic treatment worth it for adults?
For many adults, yes, but the balance is a little different from teenagers. Adults' teeth move through the same biology, often a little more slowly, and adults are more likely to have fillings, crowns, missing teeth, worn edges or gum disease that need to be considered in the plan. On the other hand, adults tend to clean more carefully and wear appliances more reliably, which reduces several of the risks above.
The question is usually what you want to achieve and what you are willing to commit to. Straightening crowded lower front teeth that trap tartar, correcting a bite that is wearing teeth down, or aligning teeth before crowns or implants are strong reasons. A purely cosmetic change is still a valid reason, as long as you understand the commitment and the lifelong need for retainers. Our page on adult orthodontics covers what is different for adults.
Do the results of braces last?
Only if the teeth are held in place. Teeth tend to drift after treatment, and they keep changing slowly throughout life whether or not you have had braces. That is why retainers are part of every plan and are usually worn long term, at least at night. A 2023 Cochrane review found the evidence comparing retention methods to be of low certainty, so no single type of retainer could be shown to be best; the choice depends on your teeth and habits. See fixed vs removable retainers for how the options compare.
How are the risks of braces discussed at Creative Arts?
At Creative Arts, orthodontic treatment is planned by our specialist orthodontists, Dr. Muhannad Kazzaz and Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko, after an examination of the teeth, gums, bite and jaw joints, X-rays where needed and an intraoral 3D scan. Any decay or gum problems are addressed first. The written plan sets out the appliance options, expected duration, the specific risks that apply to you, how space will be made, retainers and the cost, so you can weigh the pros and cons with the facts in front of you.