I’ve always had skew teeth and I have wanted straight teeth since I was a child. But due to finances back then, my single mother could not afford it. Fast forward to today and braces are still expensive. And how does one decide between what type of braces to choose or should you do braces or aligners? Thankfully, adult braces are no longer something to be embarrassed about and are quite common-place nowadays, even in the corporate space.

Everyone wants beautiful straight teeth that can flash a million Rand smile but deciding how to go about getting one is enough to cause a toothache. Most South Africans have plenty of options between braces or aligners, but sometimes having too much choice isn’t a good thing. 

Dr Sheryl Smithies, a top Cape Town based aesthetic dental surgeon and facial aesthetic practitioner, explains that most patients get to pick their preference based on what best suits their lifestyle. The revered dental genius shares some important information that people should consider before making that all important final decision.