Skip to content
  • Call / Text (310) 785-0770
  • Payment Calculator
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • In The Press
Get $1,000 Off
free consult
BHO White Logo
  • Our Practice
    • Who We Are
    • What Sets Us Apart
    • Meet Our Team
    • Meet The Doctors
    • Advanced Technology
    • In The Press
    • Patient Reviews
    • Community Events
  • What We Do
        • Invisalign®
          • About Invisalign
          • Invisalign For Kids
          • Invisalign for Teens
          • Invisalign For Adults
          • Invisalign FAQ
        • Braces
          • Types Of Braces
          • Braces For Kids
          • Braces For Teens
          • Braces For Adults
          • Braces for Seniors
          • Braces FAQ
        • Other Treatments
          • Accelerated Orthodontics
          • Zoom Teeth Whitening
          • Retainers
          • Phase One Orthodontics
          • Family Orthodontics
  • Resources
    • Your First Visit
    • Virtual Consult
    • Refer a Patient
    • Overseas Patients
    • Financial Information
    • Orthodontic FAQ
    • Before & After
    • The BHO Edit - Explore Our Blog
    • Emergency Orthodontics
    • Shop
  • Contact
    • Contact Info
    • Careers
    • Beverly Hills
    • Downtown Los Angeles
    • Studio City
    • Alhambra
  • Get $1000 off
  • Free Consult
BHO White Logo
  • Our Practice
    • Who We Are
    • What Sets Us Apart
    • Meet Our Team
    • Meet The Doctors
    • Advanced Technology
    • In The Press
    • Patient Reviews
    • Community Events
  • What We Do
    • Invisalign®
      • About Invisalign
      • Invisalign For Kids
      • Invisalign for Teens
      • Invisalign For Adults
      • Invisalign FAQ
    • Braces
      • Types Of Braces
      • Braces For Kids
      • Braces For Teens
      • Braces For Adults
      • Braces for Seniors
      • Braces FAQ
    • Other Treatments
      • Accelerated Orthodontics
      • Zoom Teeth Whitening
      • Retainers
      • Phase One Orthodontics
      • Family Orthodontics
  • Resources
    • Your First Visit
    • Virtual Consult
    • Refer a Patient
    • Overseas Patients
    • Financial Information
    • Orthodontic FAQ
    • Before & After
    • The BHO Edit – Explore Our Blog
    • Emergency Orthodontics
    • Shop
  • Contact
    • Contact Info
    • Careers
    • Beverly Hills
    • Downtown Los Angeles
    • Studio City
    • Alhambra
  • Get $1000 off
  • Free Consult
  • Call / Text (310) 785-0770
  • Payment Calculator
  • Blog
  • Get $1,000 Off
GET $1,000 OFF
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • List Item
  • YouTube
  • List Item

What Types of Braces Do Orthodontists Use?

Love Yourself, Love Your Smile

BHO SMILES
  • Dr. Monica Madan
  • October 13, 2022

Typically when people think of braces, they visualize clunky metal brackets with a lot of wires and bands. But braces have come a long way and patients have more choices than ever before. So, what types of braces do orthodontists use now? Is there a better alternative? Finding the answers can help you start your orthodontic journey the right way. 

braces graphic

Common Types of Braces

Braces have been a standard part of orthodontic treatment for over a century. Today, the three most common types of braces are:

 

Metal braces

With traditional metal braces, metal brackets are affixed to your teeth with dental glue and wires are attached to the brackets. The wire exerts constant pressure on your teeth to gradually move them into healthy alignment. As your teeth shift position, your orthodontist will adjust the wires to keep the movement going.

Pros

  • Effective: Traditional metal braces can be used to address mild, moderate, and severe alignment issues.
  • Durable: Metal braces are extremely strong and can hold up against daily wear. However, you may need to avoid certain foods to maintain this durability.
  • Consistent: With metal braces, there is never a break in your treatment. Because patients can’t remove them, there’s little you can do to interfere with your progress.

Cons

  • Hygiene challenges: Metal braces can make it more difficult to brush and floss your teeth, which can lead to discoloration, cavities, gum disease, and other oral health problems.
  • Risk of cavities: Even if you maintain excellent hygiene practices, metal braces can still increase your risk of cavities because they trap food particles in your mouth.
  • Potential for damage: With metal branches, it’s easy to break off rackets and delay treatment.
  • Discomfort: Metal braces can cause cuts, scrapes, and other trauma inside your cheek.
  • Frequent office visits: On average, metal braces have to be tightened every 4-6 weeks. This process can be uncomfortable and cause soreness that lasts for several days.
  • Food limitations: You should avoid sticky, chewy, crunchy, and hard foods that can damage your braces or pull off a bracket. You may also want to avoid foods that can easily become trapped in your braces and foods you have to bite into, such as apples, corn on the cob, and carrots.
  • Eating limitations: Metal braces don’t just limit what you eat, they also limit how you eat. To avoid damaging your braces, you must cut everything you eat and avoid biting into foods.
 

young woman smiling with ceramic braces

Ceramic braces

Ceramic braces, also known as clear braces, use clear or tooth-colored brackets instead of the traditional metal versions. While theyfunction in the same way as metal braces, they are less noticeable to others, especially if you choose tooth-colored wires that blend in with your teeth. Some patients also find them more comfortable due to the smaller, more rounded brackets. However, they are less durable than metal braces, which means brackets are more easily damaged.

 

Lingual braces

Lingual braces are metal braces placed on the inside of your teeth, which means they are very discrete and usually unnoticeable to others. They have many of the same pros and cons as traditional metal braces, but many find them very uncomfortable. They cause some patients to develop a temporary lisp and cause many more to develop mouth and tongue sores. Treatment also typically takes longer and costs more.

Invisalign is an innovative alternative to braces.

An Innovative Alternative to Braces

While there are more types of braces available than ever before, it’s also possible to forego braces altogether. If you’re looking for a truly discreet, comfortable alternative to braces, Invisalign could be an ideal solution.

Invisalign uses a series of custom-made clear aligners to gradually move your teeth into healthy alignment. These aligners are created based on a 3D digital scan of your mouth, and each aligner set is worn for about 2 weeks. 

Pros

  • Aesthetics: Invisalign is barely detectable to others.
  • Comfort: Patients typically find Invisalign much more comfortable than braces.
  • Flexibility: Aligners can be removed before eating, brushing, and flossing. This means you can eat whatever you want, don’t have to change your diet, and it’s easy to maintain your oral hygiene routine.
  • Convenience: With Invisalign, you don’t have to visit your orthodontist every few weeks for adjustments. Typically, your orthodontist will check your progress every few months and give you your next set of aligners. But that doesn’t mean less oversight. At BHO, we use an AI-powered app to track your tooth movement throughout treatment to ensure you are on track for the best outcome.
  • Versatility: In the past, Invisalign treatment was only available for people with mild to moderate alignment issues. That often remains true if you seek Invisalign treatment from a general or cosmetic dentist. But today, experienced orthodontists can use Invisalign to address even severe alignment problems.
  • Length of Treatment: Invisalign treatment is often faster than traditional braces, especially when paired with accelerated orthodontic devices.

Cons

  • Patient Commitment: You have to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day to get the results you want. 

Considering the advantages of clear aligner treatment, it’s no wonder that both teens and adults are increasingly choosing Invisalign over braces. 

Get the Smile You Deserve

At Beverly Hills Orthodontics, we offer truly personalized treatment to create outstanding experiences and outcomes. As a VIP Diamond Plus provider, we’re one of the top Invisalign experts in the country and have helped thousands of patients transform their smiles quickly and comfortably. But our expertise goes far beyond Invisalign. No matter what your needs are or what types of braces you’re interested in, we use the most advanced orthodontic methods and technologies to help you look and feel your best.

 

Your Smile Is More than just two rows of teeth - it's how you show your personality to the world.

Let Dr. Madan and her team help you help keep your smile looking (and feeling) better than ever.
Request Free Consult
Happy Girl

Get Started Today

Ready to transform your smile?

Request Free Consult
Special Offer

$1,000 Off Invisalign or Braces

Get Started

patient reviews

Enjoy our 5-star experience.

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve our communities with the highest quality care. Check out what our patients are saying about their 5-star experience with us!

smiling-beautiful-girl-her-handsome-boyfriend-casual-summer-clothes-web
Lola
I love it here! I looked a long time for an orthodontist who would take my case. I had a open bite and multiple gaps. BHO was able to correct my situation and are so nice every time I come in the office. Do yourself a favor and choose BHO!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Lola! We're thrilled to hear that our team was able to help with your open bite and gaps. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your recommendation!
Mariah M.
I love the service here! I've had quick and easy appointments since I started coming. The staff is friendly and communicates well. Lilly, Gabriel and Doctor Madan have taken care of me and they are always personable. I definitely recommend!

Angela and Nicole are amazing at the front desk, welcoming every guest with a smile and great customer service!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! Your vote of confidence in our practice is why we do what we do!
Peter W.
Have invisilign through them and they've been incredibly helpful through the entire process! Would recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Peter! We're thrilled to hear that you found our team helpful during your Invisalign journey. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Kevin C.
Good pricing and extremely experienced doctor that is an Invisalign top 1% diamond provider, took care of my bite case extremely well. Flexible appointment scheduling and always seated on time with no waiting. Would recommend to friends and family!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Kevin! We're delighted to hear that you appreciated our fair prices and attentive service. Providing a convenient and timely experience for our patients is a priority for us. We look forward to seeing you again!
Paige S.
The best. Dr Madden is running a first-class office filled with talented attentive staff. This was my second time doing Invisalign. The process was seamless and easy and my teeth look exactly the way I wanted them to look bc of thorough initial consult where the doctor actually asked me my preferences. When does that ever happen? Cldnt be happier.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Paige! We're thrilled to hear that you had a seamless experience with Dr. Madden and our team. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we appreciate your trust in us!
Chelsea C.
Went in for a free consultation. I saw Dr. Serena and Angela who helped answer all my questions. The staff that took my scans were also very nice and friendly!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Chelsea! We're thrilled to hear that Dr. Serena and Angela addressed all your questions and that our staff made your visit enjoyable. We look forward to seeing you again!
valeria
Overall the best experience, definitely helped me get my self confidence back with my smile!!🥰
Response from the owner:We truly appreciate your feedback, Val! It’s fantastic to know that we positively impacted your self-confidence and smile. Thank you for choosing us and sharing your experience! We’re here for you anytime you need us.
Bardia A.
Monica and her team are so nice and professional. The experience has always been welcoming and the office was always clean and I felt totally comfortable coming in during the pandemic. They took every precaution and were so great to work with.
Response from the owner:We appreciate you taking the time to leave us feedback on your experience. We work very hard every day to exceed our patients’ expectations!
Justin H.
We have loved working with the team at Beverly Hills Orthodontics. We had 2 kids go through the Invisalign plan and they were always so nice and helpful in explaining everything. What a difference the program made!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the positive feedback. We are honored to serve each and every one of our patients!
Jade L.
Lose this dentist, the doctors are really nice and always answer my questions regarding my teeth.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words about us and our staff!
read more reviews
come visit us

We can’t wait
to see you soon!

  • BEVERLY HILLS
  • 2080 Century Park E #505
    Los Angeles, CA 90067
  • DOWNTOWN LA
  • 740 S. Olive St. Unit 105
    Los Angeles, CA 90014
  • STUDIO CITY
  • 10751 Riverside Dr.
    Toluca Lake, CA 91602
  • ALHAMBRA
  • 320 S. Garfield Ave. Suite 306
    Alhambra, CA 91801
Alhambra

Studio City

Downtown LA

Beverly Hills

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Keep up to date on everything Beverly Hills Orthodontics is doing with our patients and the community!

[ctct form="16980" show_title="false"]
Footer logo

QUICK LINKS

  • Our Practice
  • What We Do
  • Patient Resources
  • Contact Us
  • In The Press
  • Our Practice
  • What We Do
  • Patient Resources
  • Contact Us
  • In The Press

CONTACT US

  • Beverly Hills
  • Downtown LA
  • Studio City
  • Alhambra
  • Call/Text (310) 785-0770

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Yelp

CONTACT HOURS

Monday8:00am – 6:00pm
Tuesday8:00am – 6:00pm
Wednesday8:00am – 6:00pm
Thursday8:00am – 6:00pm
Friday8:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday8:00am – 4:00pm
Request Free Consult
GET $1,000 OFF

© Copyright 2025 Beverly Hills Orthodontics | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Notice of Privacy Practices | Accessibility 

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

We're Hiring! Contact Us for Details on Open Positions!

Apply Now