Braces are usually something children and adults never want to have to get. It is painful, metal, and ugly. But with crooked teeth or malocclusions it has to be done right? Not anymore. Braces still do a great job, but we are in the 21st century and technology and the teeth God's have come up with some pretty great alternatives worth checking out. In this article I will name a few and be completely unbiased so that you can make the decision yourself on what path you will take. Or go with braces. Over 2 million people choose braces each year so it does something right.

Path I ? Invisalign: Probably the most obvious alternative to traditional braces. They are however braces and will cause discomfort and pain in the early stages. The great part about Invisalign is that the clear braces are less recognizable then traditional metal bindings and provide most of what braces can do. There are limits to what they can fix which is a negative aspect. Another element to consider is the ?buttons? that are fixed to your teeth so the aligners stay in place. Not very invisible! If they are attached to the front of your teeth, be prepared to be a little disappointed with your invisible braces.

Path II ? Lingual Braces: What Lingual braces does is take the traditional front-mounted braces method and are mounted on the back of your teeth. It is the precision of braces without being able to see the metal attachments. You're still a metal mouth but it is harder to tell. It will usually cost you more than traditional braces and about the same as most Invisalign options. This is another alternative to think about. Not all conditions can be fixed this way so it is a good idea to ask your dentist or orthodontist.

Path III ? Hide your smile ? This is for the adults who have thought long and hard about fixing their teeth, but after many years they have simply resorted to hiding their smile. You may not consider this an option, but over 75% of Americans have a malocclusion (crooked teeth) or condition with their teeth. Yet only a very small % of this population actually does something about it. Therefore it is a valid option worth mentioning.

Path IV ? Porcelain Veneers ? This option will not work for many people due to the severity of your problem. However for some it may be minor enough for Veneers to fix your problem. Veneers can be very costly and much insurance will not cover cosmetic veneers. It is worth looking into if your condition is minor and you want something to be fixed very quickly. Veneers are a thin layer of porcelain that is place on top of your teeth. Before the dentist can do this he/she shaves of a portion of your tooth or teeth. So the veneer is able to sit flush with the rest of your teeth. Once finished it looks great, but costly and only in certain cases.

There you have it, some of the alternatives to braces worth considering. It is a difficult decision to make, but perhaps this article gave you some peace and helped you in your decision.