Braces & Clear Aligners in Delhi

What are braces and clear aligners?

Orthodontic treatment moves teeth into better positions using gentle, sustained pressure. Braces do this with brackets bonded to the teeth and a wire that guides them. Clear aligners do it with a series of removable, near-invisible trays, each worn for a couple of weeks before moving to the next.

Both work on the same biological principle: apply light continuous force, and bone remodels around the tooth, allowing it to move and then stabilise in its new position. The right choice depends on the complexity of your case, your lifestyle and your budget.

At Mera Dental Clinic in Delhi, orthodontics is handled by our consultant orthodontist Dr. Abrar, who holds an MDS in Orthodontics from the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS), New Delhi.

Why straighten teeth — beyond appearance

The cosmetic result is the reason most people come in. The health reasons are why we recommend it:

Crowded teeth are hard to clean. Overlapping surfaces trap plaque where brushing and flossing cannot reach, driving decay and gum disease.
A bad bite wears teeth unevenly, causing chipping, flattening and sensitivity over years.
Jaw joint strain. Some bite problems contribute to jaw pain, clicking and headaches.
Protruding front teeth are far more likely to be injured in falls and sport.
Gaps trap food and can allow teeth to drift further.
Speech can be affected by certain bite patterns.
Confidence. Patients consistently report smiling more freely afterwards.

Problems orthodontics can correct

Crowding — not enough room, so teeth overlap and twist.
Spacing — gaps between teeth, including a gap between the front teeth.
Overbite — upper front teeth covering the lower ones excessively.
Underbite — lower teeth sitting ahead of the uppers.
Crossbite — upper teeth biting inside the lowers, which can shift the jaw.
Open bite — front teeth not meeting when the back teeth are closed.
Protrusion — front teeth angled forward.
Midline discrepancy — upper and lower centres not aligned.
Impacted or rotated teeth.

Your treatment options

Metal braces

Stainless steel brackets and wires. The most effective option for complex movements, the most economical, and now much smaller and more comfortable than the braces of twenty years ago. Coloured elastic modules make them popular with younger patients.

Ceramic braces

Tooth-coloured brackets that blend with the teeth. Far less visible than metal while working essentially the same way. Slightly more expensive, and require a little more care as the brackets are more brittle.

Self-ligating braces

Brackets with a built-in clip instead of elastic ties. Fewer parts to trap plaque, and often longer intervals between adjustment appointments.

Clear aligners

A series of custom, near-invisible removable trays. Their advantages are real: virtually invisible, removable for eating and cleaning, no dietary restrictions, and no wires to irritate the cheeks. Their limitation is equally real — they only work if you wear them 20 to 22 hours a day. They suit mild to moderate cases especially well, and increasingly complex ones too.

Retainers

Not optional. After active treatment, teeth have a natural tendency to drift back. Retainers — fixed wires behind the teeth or removable clear retainers worn at night — hold the result. Treatment without retention wastes the treatment.

The orthodontic process, step by step

Consultation and records. Examination, photographs, impressions or a digital scan, and X-rays of the teeth and jaws to assess how they relate to each other.
Diagnosis and treatment plan. Dr. Abrar explains what needs to move, the options available, roughly how long it will take and what it costs — before anything begins.
Preparatory treatment. Any decay is filled and gum disease treated first. Occasionally extractions are needed to create space, though we always look at alternatives first.
Fitting. Braces are bonded in a single appointment of around an hour, painlessly. For aligners, your trays arrive and you are shown how to wear and change them.
Adjustments. Every four to eight weeks the wire is changed or adjusted to keep teeth moving. Aligner patients change trays at home and attend periodic checks.
Debonding. Braces are removed, adhesive polished off, and the teeth cleaned and polished.
Retention. Retainers are fitted immediately and reviewed regularly.

How long does treatment take?

Most cases take 12 to 24 months. Simple alignment can finish in six to nine months; complex bite corrections can run beyond two years. What affects it:

How far teeth need to move, and whether jaw relationships need correcting.
Your age — teeth move somewhat faster in growing patients, though adults get excellent results.
Your cooperation: wearing elastics as instructed, wearing aligners the required hours, keeping appointments and avoiding breakages. This is genuinely the biggest variable.

Does it hurt?

Fitting braces does not hurt. For the first three to five days afterwards, and for a day or two after each adjustment, teeth feel tender and sore when biting — this is the sensation of teeth moving. Ordinary painkillers help, and soft food for a couple of days makes it easy.

Brackets can rub the cheeks and lips initially. Orthodontic wax over the offending bracket solves it while the tissues toughen up over a week or so. Aligners cause less soreness overall, usually just tightness for a day after each new tray.

Caring for teeth during treatment

This section matters more than any other on the page. Braces make cleaning harder, and poor hygiene during treatment causes permanent white decalcification marks around the brackets — teeth that end up straight but scarred.

Brush after every meal, not just twice a day. Carry a brush.
Clean around every bracket, above and below the wire, angling the brush.
Use interdental brushes and floss threaders or superfloss daily.
Use a fluoride mouthwash at a different time from brushing.
Avoid hard foods — ice, hard nuts, hard chikki, bones, whole apples and raw carrots (cut them up instead).
Avoid sticky foods — toffee, chewing gum, sticky sweets, which pull brackets off.
Cut down on sugary and fizzy drinks, which cause decay fastest exactly where brackets sit.
Attend a professional cleaning every three to four months during treatment.
Wear a mouthguard for contact sport.

For aligner wearers: remove trays to eat and drink anything except water, brush before putting them back, rinse the trays daily, and above all wear them the full 20 to 22 hours.

Is there a right age for braces?

Children — first check at seven

An orthodontic assessment around age seven does not mean braces at seven. It means spotting crossbites, severe crowding, jaw size discrepancies and habits like thumb-sucking while the jaws are still growing, when simple early treatment can prevent much more complex work later. See kids' dentistry.

Teenagers

The classic time — most permanent teeth are through and growth is still available to work with.

Adults

There is no upper age limit. Bone remodels throughout life, and adults now make up a large share of orthodontic patients. Treatment may take slightly longer and requires healthy gums and bone first — which is precisely why having periodontists in the same clinic is useful.

Cost of braces and aligners

Cost varies with the appliance chosen — metal braces are the most economical, ceramic braces cost more, and clear aligners more again — and with the complexity and duration of your case. We give you the full treatment cost upfront, not per visit, so you know the total.

Easy EMI options are available on orthodontic treatment, which is how most patients manage it comfortably. Your first consultation and X-ray are free. Call +91 98912 42043 for current pricing.

Why choose Mera Dental for orthodontics

Specialist orthodontist. Dr. Abrar holds an MDS in Orthodontics from MAIDS, New Delhi — see our about us page.
All appliance types — metal, ceramic, self-ligating and clear aligners, recommended for your case rather than one-size-fits-all.
Whole-mouth care — decay, gum health and cleaning managed in the same clinic throughout your treatment.
Clear timelines and honest expectations, including what depends on you.
Transparent total pricing with EMI.
Retention taken seriously, because holding the result is part of the treatment, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

How long will I need braces?

Most treatments take 12 to 24 months. Simple alignment can be as short as six to nine months, while complex bite corrections take longer. You will get an estimate specific to your case at the consultation.

Do braces hurt?

Fitting them does not hurt. Teeth feel tender for three to five days afterwards and for a day or two after each adjustment. Ordinary painkillers and soft food handle it comfortably.

Am I too old for braces?

No. There is no upper age limit — adults form a large proportion of orthodontic patients. Healthy gums and bone matter far more than your age.

Are clear aligners as effective as braces?

For mild to moderate cases, yes, and increasingly for complex ones. The catch is compliance: they only work if worn 20 to 22 hours a day. For some complex movements, fixed braces remain more predictable.

Will I need teeth extracted?

Sometimes, when there is severe crowding and not enough room. It is not automatic — expansion and other techniques can often create space instead. We will explain the reasoning if extractions are recommended.

What foods must I avoid with braces?

Hard foods such as ice, hard nuts and bones, and sticky foods such as toffee and chewing gum. Cut apples and carrots into pieces rather than biting into them.

How often are appointments?

Every four to eight weeks for adjustments with fixed braces. Aligner patients change trays at home and attend periodic review appointments.

Do I have to wear a retainer forever?

In practical terms, yes — some retention long term. Teeth drift throughout life. Most patients move to wearing a removable retainer only at night, which is a small effort to protect years of treatment.

Will braces damage my teeth?

Not when hygiene is good. Poor cleaning during treatment causes permanent white marks and decay around brackets, which is why we insist on brushing after meals and regular professional cleanings.

When should my child first see an orthodontist?

Around age seven. It rarely means starting treatment then — it means identifying problems early enough that treatment can be simpler when the time comes.

Book an orthodontic consultation

Come in and find out exactly what your case needs, how long it would take and what it would cost — for you or your child. Your first consultation and X-ray are free.

Call +91 98912 42043 or book online. Open Monday to Saturday 9 AM to 8 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 2 PM.