Braces

Braces are a treatment to help straighten your teeth: fixed or removable appliances of brackets, wires and elastics that apply gentle, constant pressure over months to move teeth into better alignment and correct the way the upper and lower teeth meet, the bite (NHS). The other name for the same thing is orthodontic treatment, the branch of dentistry that deals with abnormalities of the teeth and jaw (MedlinePlus). If mouth pain is severe or worsening, or you have a spreading gum swelling, an abscess, facial swelling, or a fever, do not book a routine appointment or wait for a trip: get prompt dental care locally (NHS). A wire or bracket that is cutting your mouth and cannot be managed at home also needs the orthodontist's attention without delay (Cleveland Clinic). This guide walks you through what braces are and which types exist, how the months of treatment actually unfold, who they are for and what waiting does to your teeth, how to prepare, what to expect and what can go wrong, and what changes if you get them in another country.

What braces are

The American Association of Orthodontists, the AAO, defines braces as a word commonly used to describe a fixed orthodontic appliance, usually consisting of brackets, bands and wires (AAO). Orthodontic treatment aims to improve the appearance, position and function of crooked or abnormally arranged teeth (NHS inform). There are a few families, and which one fits depends on your teeth, your budget and how much visibility matters to you:

• Traditional metal braces, brackets bonded to each tooth and linked by a wire. They are the standard fixed option and the most widely used on the NHS (NHS inform).
• Ceramic, or tooth-coloured, braces, which use tooth-coloured materials so they are less noticeable than metal (Cleveland Clinic).
• Lingual braces, fitted on the back of the teeth, so they sit out of sight (NHS inform).
• Removable appliances and clear aligners, clear plastic devices you take out to eat and brush, rather than having them stuck to your teeth (NHS).

Fixed means the appliance stays bonded to your teeth for the whole treatment and you cannot take it off; removable means you can take it out and clean it yourself (NHS). The honest difference between the two families matters: fixed braces can correct a wide range of problems and tend to work faster, while removable aligners suit a narrower set of cases (AAO).

Braces sit inside dentistry, so you will meet related services along the way. People often pair them with cosmetic dentistry, for example whitening or veneers, either alongside treatment or instead of it. Gum health must be sound before fitting, which is why a deep cleaning can come first. If teeth are missing, dental crowns, bridges or bonding may fill gaps, or dental implants may be considered. Severe crowding sometimes calls for a tooth extraction to make room. The assessment itself leans on diagnostics and radiology for X-rays and scans, and consultation / check-up appointments frame the whole process. In more severe cases, treatment may involve fixed braces and surgery to move the jaw, which is surgery territory (NHS inform). Braces themselves have no separate sub-services on MedicalTourism.Review; this page covers all the types.

How braces work

The pathway runs in order, and each step exists for a reason. It starts with a first consultation where you describe the concern and how long it has lasted. This exists so the orthodontist can judge whether anything needs treatment at all and what kind. The orthodontist then examines your teeth and jaws and takes X-rays, photographs or scans. These images exist so the plan is based on how your roots, jaws and bite line up, not just on how your teeth look (NHS).

Next comes the diagnosis and a treatment plan: which type of appliance, and how long. You consent only when you understand both. Before anything is bonded, any cavities or gum disease must be treated. This step exists because braces cannot start until certain dental conditions are treated, and starting with a healthy oral environment improves the result (AAO).

The fitting itself takes an hour or more. Metal squares, the brackets, are attached to each tooth with dental glue. A wire connects the brackets together and applies a small amount of pressure to your teeth, which over time moves them into the correct position, and small elastic pieces tie the wire to the brackets (NHS). When tightened, the archwire applies pressure to the brackets, helping align and straighten the teeth (StatPearls). That mild, constant pressure is the whole mechanism: it shifts teeth into their proper positions over time rather than moving them in a single event (Cleveland Clinic).

Then the long middle stretch. You visit the orthodontist for adjustments, typically every 4 to 12 weeks depending on where you are in the treatment; the NHS schedules them every 6 to 8 weeks (AAO; NHS). Most people have braces for 12 to 24 months; the NHS says usually between 18 and 24 months depending on the problem, and treatment can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 or more years (AAO; NHS inform; MedlinePlus). Clear braces take a little longer than metal: on average 12 to 36 months, against an average of 20 months for metal (Cleveland Clinic).

At the end, the appliances come off and a retainer takes over. After your braces are removed, you'll need to wear a retainer, which is a device that stops your teeth moving back to their original position (NHS). This is not an optional afterthought: wearing the retainer as directed is what keeps the result in place (AAO).

One thing that changes if you are abroad: this pathway takes months to two years of regular visits, so a single holiday cannot deliver it. The adjustment schedule, and who handles a problem when you are home, is the real planning question; the abroad section takes that up.

Who braces are for, and when not to wait

Braces may be needed if your teeth are growing too close together or stick out, if your upper and lower jaws do not meet properly (an overbite or underbite), if you have large gaps between your teeth, or if you're finding it difficult to chew food or keep your teeth clean because of the position of your teeth (NHS). The American Association of Orthodontists adds visibly crooked or crowded teeth, the presence of an underbite or overbite, missing or supernumerary (extra) teeth, and jaw discomfort as signs you may need treatment; an underbite, where the lower front teeth or jaw sit ahead of the upper, is called a Class III malocclusion (AAO; AAO). Cleveland Clinic lists crooked, gapped, rotated or crowded teeth and malocclusion, issues with the way your teeth fit together (Cleveland Clinic). Adults are not just children here: about 20% of all orthodontic patients in the United States are over the age of 18 (Cleveland Clinic). For children, the AAO recommends an orthodontic check-up by age 7, when an orthodontist can spot developing issues that may not be obvious, and in young children treatment may guide proper jaw growth so permanent teeth come in correctly (AAO; MedlinePlus).

Some things must wait until other work is done. If you have extensive tooth decay, gum disease or gum recession, the dentist will need to treat those issues first, because attaching braces to teeth that aren't healthy can lead to a host of other dental problems (Cleveland Clinic). Poor oral hygiene is a reason to improve your brushing before starting, not a reason to be turned away forever. And be reassured about the other direction: most problems are minor and do not require treatment at all (MedlinePlus). If your motivation is purely cosmetic, then waiting carries little health risk, and the decision is yours to make (MedlinePlus).

But where a bite problem affects function, the risks of treatment and the risks of waiting are worth comparing properly (NHS inform). Leaving a bad bite untreated does not stay neutral over years. Misaligned teeth are more likely to become damaged or put a strain on jaw muscles (NHS inform). Crowded or crooked teeth are harder to clean, and correcting moderate or severe malocclusion makes teeth easier to clean and decreases the risk of tooth decay and periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis; it eliminates strain on the teeth, jaws and muscles, which lessens the risk of breaking a tooth and may reduce symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders, TMJ (MedlinePlus). Complications of malocclusion include tooth decay, irritation of the mouth and gums, and chewing or speaking difficulty (MedlinePlus). Gum disease left untreated can lead to teeth becoming loose or falling out, and to a dental abscess (NHS). Untreated decay that reaches the soft tissue, the pulp, in the middle of a tooth may need root canal treatment (NHS). So for the functional case, the cost of delay is real: decay, gum disease and jaw strain building up while you wait.

Know the signs that mean do not wait. See a dentist promptly for very sore and swollen gums, teeth becoming loose or falling out, ulcers or red patches in your mouth (NHS), and during orthodontic treatment, call your dentist if toothache, mouth pain, or other new symptoms develop (MedlinePlus). Meanwhile, routine matters: regular dental check-ups even when nothing seems wrong, every 2 years, or 1 year if you're under 18, catch decay and gum disease before braces or while wearing them (NHS).

How to prepare

Preparation for braces is mostly about honesty with the orthodontist and readiness of your mouth. Each item has a reason:

• Note your concern and its history. What bothers you, when you noticed it, what makes it better or worse. The orthodontic assessment builds on exactly this.
• Bring previous dental X-rays and photos of any prior treatment. Especially if you had braces as a teenager and the result has shifted, the orthodontist can see what was done and why it moved back.
• Tell the orthodontist if you have knocked or damaged a front tooth in the past. It may need further treatment while wearing braces (NHS).
• Tell them about any metal allergy, especially nickel in jewellery. Stainless steel used in braces contains 8% nickel and nickel-titanium wires up to 50%, though reactions are uncommon and usually local (Springer; PMC).
• Get a thorough cleaning and check-up first. No special preparations are needed to eat, but visiting your dentist for a thorough cleaning and check-up before applying braces is essential, so decay and gum disease are treated before anything is bonded (AAO).
• Be clear about the time and cost commitment. Months to two years of appointments, and a written cost breakdown with payment or insurance options (AAO).

Writing questions down beforehand helps you get the answers you need. You can say these exact words:

• "Which type of brace suits my problem, and why?"
• "How long will my treatment take, and how often will I need appointments?" (AAO)
• "What are the side effects to expect, and the rare ones I should know about?" (Cleveland Clinic)
• "If I get my braces abroad, how will adjustments be handled while I am home, and who fixes a broken bracket?"
• "What will treatment cost, and what payment or insurance options are available?" (AAO)

What to expect, risks and recovery

The benefits extend beyond appearance. Braces enhance oral hygiene, improve speech, and make eating more comfortable (AAO). Straighter teeth are easier to clean and may reduce strain on the muscles and joints of the jaw (NHS inform). Many people also find their confidence and self-esteem improve (Cleveland Clinic).

The risks of treatment are few and short-lived, but here they are (Cleveland Clinic). You'll likely have discomfort for a few days after you get your braces, and again after each tightening (Cleveland Clinic). Expected side effects include temporary discomfort, irritation on your tongue, lips or inner cheeks, jaw pain, and difficulty eating, especially after a tightening (Cleveland Clinic). Poor hygiene while wearing brackets leaves plaque that can permanently mark teeth or cause decay; white marks around brackets, called decalcification, can become cavities (MedlinePlus; AAO). Teeth may feel slightly loose while they move, which settles as they settle. Two possibilities: nickel allergy, the most common allergic reaction reported in orthodontics, usually a local skin reaction rather than a serious one, and root resorption, where the roots may shorten slightly during treatment - usually minor, but a little more likely if you are prone to allergy or asthma (PMC).

Recovery in the ordinary sense is minimal: a few sore days after fitting or adjustments, then back to normal life. What is not settled automatically is stability. The retainer decides whether the result holds, so the plan for wearing it is part of the treatment itself, not an afterthought (NHS).

When to call the orthodontist rather than wait it out: pain that doesn't go away with medication, broken wires or brackets, trauma to your mouth or face, or bleeding or infection in your gums (Cleveland Clinic). A broken wire or bracket should be reported immediately for guidance (AAO).

Finding braces abroad on MTR

Orthodontics abroad is a different shape of trip than most. You are not booking a single procedure; you are entering a multi-year relationship with a clinic, so the questions are about continuity, not price. Standards for quality of care, including adherence to infection control practices, vary significantly outside the United States, so diligence matters more, not less, than at home (CDC).

Check the person, not just the price. All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists; orthodontists complete dental school plus an additional two to three years of education in the specialty. Some general dentists offer braces too, but ask plainly whether your provider is an orthodontist (AAO; Cleveland Clinic).

Ask for before and after photographs of cases like yours, an English-language treatment plan, and the X-rays that went into it. Request copies of your overseas medical records in English and provide them to any healthcare professionals you see subsequently for follow-up (CDC).

Then the central question for orthodontics specifically: how will the adjustment schedule work while you are home? Get the adjustment plan in writing: how many visits, how they run, what happens if a visit is missed, and who you call once you are back home, and who fixes a broken bracket or treats a complication (Cleveland Clinic). The CDC advises that medical tourists should discuss the plan for addressing complications with both their home healthcare professional and the professional performing the treatment (CDC). Also ask how long before you can fly after the fitting or a tightening; there is no standard waiting period given, so take the provider's own answer.

Handle the practical cover. Check your domestic health insurance plan carefully to see what, if any, orthodontic care is covered outside your country, and purchase supplemental medical insurance coverage, including medical evacuation insurance if you will be staying in-country (CDC). And take a pre-travel consultation 4 to 6 weeks before travel, so your home provider knows the plan and you have time to sort records, insurance and the complication arrangement (CDC).

To compare providers, look at verified braces providers abroad on MedicalTourism.Review and weigh credentials, records and the written adjustment plan against each other, never package price alone.

This week, write down what bothers you about your teeth, gather any old X-rays, and book a consultation to ask which type of treatment fits.

Medical disclaimer: This information is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual situation.

Reviewed against authoritative medical sources (NHS England; NHS inform; MedlinePlus, the US National Library of Medicine; Cleveland Clinic; the American Association of Orthodontists; StatPearls, National Center for Biotechnology Information; the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Springer open access).

Last reviewed: 4 November 2026