More and more adults are going for 'train tracks' to correct wonky teeth

According to the British Orthodontic Society, as many as half of patients in orthodontic surgeries are adults and many of them are choosing fixed braces to correct a lifetime of crooked teeth.  Several high-profile celebrities have also opted for the treatment, including the singer Estelle.

These days most people will have orthodontic treatment as teenagers on the NHS but those who slipped through the net face bills starting at £1,000 for adult braces.  Fixed braces are small brackets which are glued to the teeth and held together with wire, putting gentle pressure on the teeth to move them into a new position.  The process can take up to two years and is often painful when the wires are tightened every five or six weeks.

There are other treatments available, however, for those who don’t want a mouth full of metal.  Aligners are clear plastic removable splints that move teeth into the desired position in as little as 12 weeks, however they are only effective if the alterations needed are fairly small and they cost around £2,000.

Another alternative - the Lingual Appliance, whose main brand is the Inman Aligner - is a removable mouth plate consisting of springs which run along the front and back of the teeth that need to be adjusted and ‘squeeze’ the teeth into place. Prices start at around £1,500 to £2,000.

‘The main disadvantages are that it can cause soreness of the tongue and affect speech,’ said a spokesperson from the British Orthodontic Society.