Braces come in several different forms. Perhaps the most common are metal braces, in which brackets are adhered to the front of the tooth and a wire is strung through each bracket. Clear braces are designed much like these metal braces, except that the brackets are made of ceramic or plastic, rather than metal.

Lingual braces are attached behind the teeth, out of sight. The advantages are obvious, but the disadvantages are discouraging enough to limit the popularity of lingual braces. Another type of teeth braces employs metal bands that wrap around each tooth. Finally, many adults are turning to invisible braces these days.

Invisible braces, or Invisalign, are not really braces at all. Rather, they are a type of plastic aligner or plastic mouth guard that shifts the teeth slowly over time. Wearers are given a new aligner once every two weeks. Each aligner moves the teeth one step further in the right direction. Of course, Invisalign is both very expensive and very time-consuming, which is why many people with gapped, crooked or damaged teeth choose alternative solutions. Damaged teeth, for instance, can be corrected with porcelain veneers, bonding and other forms of cosmetic dentistry. Gapped teeth can be quickly corrected with inexpensive Teeth Effects Bands, available over the Internet through Teeth Gap.