What are the main types of braces?
The main types are fixed metal braces, ceramic (tooth-coloured) braces, lingual braces fixed behind the teeth, self-ligating braces with clip-in brackets, and removable clear aligners such as Invisalign. All of them move teeth with gentle, continuous pressure. At Creative Arts in Dubai, our specialist orthodontists provide fixed metal braces and Invisalign clear aligners; ceramic, lingual and self-ligating braces are explained here for information only and are not offered at the clinic.
How do all types of braces move teeth?
Every orthodontic appliance does the same biological job. It applies a light, steady force to a tooth, the bone on the pressure side is gradually resorbed, and new bone forms on the other side. The tooth moves through the jaw with its root, not just its crown. That process sets the pace of treatment, which is why no type of brace can safely make teeth move dramatically faster.
What differs between types is how the force is delivered. Fixed braces use brackets bonded to the teeth and an archwire that is changed and adjusted over time. Clear aligners use a series of custom plastic trays, each one slightly different from the last. The bracket material, where the brackets sit and how the wire is held in place are what separate metal, ceramic, lingual and self-ligating braces.
The appliance is a tool; the diagnosis is the plan. Two people with similar-looking crowding can need very different treatment if one has a deep bite, a narrow upper jaw or an impacted tooth. That is why the choice of brace comes after an orthodontic consultation, not before it.
Types of braces compared
A general overview of each type. Suitability always depends on the diagnosis.
| Type | How it works | Visibility | Usually suited to | At Creative Arts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed metal braces | Stainless steel brackets bonded to the front of the teeth, linked by an archwire held with small ties | Visible | Almost every case, from mild crowding to complex bite correction | Offered |
| Clear aligners (Invisalign) | A series of removable custom trays, each worn for a set period, often with small tooth-coloured attachments | Discreet | Many crowding, spacing and bite cases when worn 20–22 hours a day | Offered |
| Ceramic braces | Fixed braces with tooth-coloured or clear brackets instead of metal | Less noticeable than metal | Similar cases to metal braces | Not offered (information only) |
| Lingual braces | Fixed brackets bonded to the inner, tongue-side surfaces of the teeth | Hidden from the front | Selected cases; custom-made systems | Not offered (information only) |
| Self-ligating braces | Brackets with a built-in clip or door that holds the wire instead of elastic ties | Visible (metal or ceramic) | Similar cases to conventional braces | Not offered (information only) |
| Mail-order aligners | Trays sent by post from photos or impressions, without an in-person examination | Discreet | Not recommended without an in-person diagnosis | Not offered |
Auxiliaries such as elastics, temporary anchorage devices and expanders can be added to fixed braces or aligners where a case needs them.
Fixed metal braces: the most versatile type
Metal braces are the conventional fixed brace. A small stainless steel bracket is bonded to each tooth, and an archwire runs through them. Early wires are light and flexible to start aligning crowded teeth; later wires are stiffer so the orthodontist can control root position, close spaces and finish the bite precisely. Adjustment visits are typically spaced several weeks apart.
Because the appliance is fixed and works 24 hours a day, it does not depend on you remembering to wear it. It can rotate stubborn teeth, move roots bodily, close extraction spaces and guide a surgically exposed impacted canine into the arch. With elastics or other auxiliaries it also corrects how the upper and lower teeth meet. Comprehensive treatment typically takes about 12 to 24 months; our guide to how long braces take explains the range.
The trade-offs are visibility, a sore first week, some foods to avoid and more effort to clean around brackets. See fixed braces at Creative Arts for the full process, and our page on professional cleaning during orthodontics for keeping teeth healthy around them.
Clear aligners: how Invisalign differs from braces
Clear aligners replace brackets and wire with a sequence of thin, removable trays made from a digital plan. Each tray moves the teeth a small step, and you change to the next one on the schedule your orthodontist sets. Small tooth-coloured bumps called attachments are often bonded to some teeth so the trays can grip and steer them.
The main advantages are discretion and the ability to remove the trays to eat and clean your teeth normally. The main condition is wear time: aligners only work while they are in, so they need to be worn around 20 to 22 hours a day. Our guide to aligner wear time explains why missed hours add up.
Creative Arts provides Invisalign clear aligners, planned from an intraoral 3D scan by our specialist orthodontists. Many crowding, spacing and bite problems can be treated this way, while some complex movements are more predictable with fixed braces. The detailed comparison is in Invisalign vs braces.
Ceramic, lingual and self-ligating braces are not offered at Creative Arts
They are explained below because people search for them and deserve a clear, honest description. At Creative Arts, orthodontic treatment is with fixed metal braces or Invisalign clear aligners. If discretion is your priority, your orthodontist will explain how aligners compare for your case.
What are ceramic (clear) braces?
Not offered at Creative Arts; described for information. Ceramic braces work exactly like metal braces, but the brackets are made of tooth-coloured or translucent ceramic, so they blend in with the teeth from a conversational distance. The archwire may be metal or coated in a tooth-coloured finish.
Their limitations are mostly mechanical. Ceramic brackets are usually slightly bulkier than metal ones and more brittle, so they can chip. Being very hard, they can wear the enamel of opposing teeth if the bite brings the two into contact. The clear or white elastic ties used on some systems can pick up colour from coffee, tea or curry between visits. Removing ceramic brackets at the end of treatment also takes more care, because they are designed to stay firmly bonded.
What are lingual braces?
Not offered at Creative Arts; described for information. Lingual braces are fixed braces bonded to the inner surfaces of the teeth, facing the tongue, so they cannot be seen from the front. Systems are typically custom-made from a digital model of the teeth.
Because the brackets sit where the tongue rests, most people notice tongue irritation and a temporary change in speech, especially with sounds like "s" and "t", while they adapt. Cleaning is harder because you cannot see the brackets in a mirror, and adjustment appointments tend to take longer. Not every bite allows enough room behind the front teeth for lingual brackets, particularly a deep bite.
What are self-ligating braces?
Not offered at Creative Arts; described for information. "Ligation" means the way the wire is held in the bracket. Conventional brackets use small elastic or wire ties. Self-ligating brackets have a built-in clip or sliding door that holds the wire instead, and they can be metal or ceramic.
They are often marketed as faster or more comfortable. Published research has not shown consistent differences in overall treatment time, comfort or final result compared with conventional brackets. Treatment speed depends far more on the biology of tooth movement, the complexity of the case and attendance than on how the wire is held.
Not sure which type suits your teeth? See how our two specialist orthodontists diagnose and plan treatment with fixed braces or Invisalign.
Orthodontics at Creative ArtsWhy mail-order aligners are a different thing
Aligners sold directly to consumers, planned from photographs or home impressions, are sometimes described as another type of brace. The trays may look similar, but what is missing is the examination: no one checks gum health, bone levels, root positions or decay on X-rays before teeth are moved, and no orthodontist monitors progress in person. Moving teeth in an unhealthy mouth can worsen gum problems, and a bite that is not diagnosed is not corrected. Creative Arts does not offer them, and if you have already used one and are unhappy with the result, a specialist review is a sensible next step.
Which extra appliances can be used with braces or aligners?
Not every case needs them. Where one is part of your plan, the orthodontist explains why and for how long.
Elastics
Small rubber bands hooked between upper and lower teeth to correct how the jaws meet. They work only when worn as instructed, with braces or aligners.
Temporary anchorage devices
Tiny temporary screws placed in the bone to give a fixed point to push or pull against, removed when their job is done.
Expanders
Appliances that widen a narrow upper jaw, most effective while the jaw is still growing, often used for a crossbite.
Retainers
A bonded wire behind the front teeth, a removable retainer, or both, used long-term after any type of brace.
How does a specialist orthodontist choose the type of braces for you?
The choice starts with the diagnosis. At the first visit the orthodontist examines the teeth, bite, jaw joints and gums, takes photographs and an intraoral scan, and arranges X-rays where needed. From that, they decide which movements are required and which appliance can deliver them reliably.
- The type of problem. Simple crowding or spacing gives more choice. Large root movements, impacted teeth or significant bite correction may favour fixed braces. A skeletal jaw difference may need orthodontics combined with jaw surgery. Our guide to types of bite explains these categories.
- Wear-time reality. Aligners suit people who will wear them consistently. If that is unlikely, fixed braces remove the guesswork.
- Age and stage of life. Teenagers have growth that can help bite correction; see orthodontics for teenagers. Adults may have gum, bone or restoration issues to plan around; see adult orthodontics.
- Gum and dental health. Decay and gum disease are treated before any appliance goes on.
- Your priorities. Discretion, sport, travel and cleaning habits all count, and are discussed openly.
You then receive a written plan with the recommended appliance, the expected duration and the alternatives. Costs differ by type and complexity; see braces cost and Invisalign cost.
Whatever the type, retainers come next
Teeth tend to drift back towards their old positions once any brace or aligner is removed, because the fibres around the roots and the pressure from lips and tongue keep acting on them. Retention is therefore part of every treatment, not an optional extra. It is usually a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth, a removable clear retainer worn at night, or both, and it is long-term. Our page on retainers after braces explains the options and how to look after them.