Q. I didn’t get braces fitted when I was young. What are my options now as an adult? Mrs N, Kearsley

A.  We come across many patients who, at one point in their lives, regret the decision not to go ahead with braces or who were simply never given the opportunity.

It may be that peer pressure prevented them going ahead with braces; they weren’t given retainers at the end of treatment or were not seeing a dentist on a regular basis. These are really common scenarios and can lead to later embarrassment about their smiles.

But, it’s never too late! Traditional metal braces are still an option – and the best option – but they are very costly and not very appealing. Other options include short-term orthodontics with discreet short-term braces which are ideal for any age or profession.

The Inman Aligner, for example, is perfect for correcting the top and bottom front six teeth. It’s a removable appliance which uses a push-and-pull mechanism on the device to correct the alignment of these teeth.

Another method is the Six Months Smile, which straightens teeth in six months and uses tooth-coloured brackets and wires to correct teeth. It’s not visible to the human eye until roughly two feet away and, in most cases, can straighten teeth earlier than six months. This is a fixed option that is great for getting results without any interference from your lifestyle.

Smilelign is a system of invisible, clear, removable aligners and a quicker and cheaper method than Invisalign. This is a virtually invisible aligner system that uses small changes to reach the goal of perfectly aligned teeth and that picture-perfect straight smile. It’s easy to get started with this treatment and it all starts with a fitting to ensure that the system fits perfectly. Then the aligner will be changed by small increments once every two to four weeks.

* If you have a dental dilemma, visit www.synergydental.org.uk or use the #AskSynergyDental via twitter.com