If you are an adult over the age of 30, then you’ll remember that when you were growing up, there were only two options if your teeth were crooked. Either your orthodontist strapped you into big, gawky metal braces or your teeth stayed crooked forever.

Now, when you bring your children to the orthodontist, you may be surprised to discover that you have multiple types of braces to choose from. For starters, the metal braces are still around, but they are smaller now, and kids can pick the colors of their bands. Metal braces are the simplest and cheapest way to go.

If you don’t mind paying a little more, your child can choose ceramic braces with clear or tooth-colored brackets. These braces blend in much better with the teeth, though they can become stained if your children don’t take good care of them.

A final option is Invisalign, a series of 18 to 30 custom-made plastic aligners that nudge the teeth into place. The best thing about Invisalign is that they are nearly invisible and can be removed for eating and tooth brushing. The drawback is that they are the most expensive option and aren’t advisable for young children or in cases where teeth are very crooked.

With so many types of braces on the market, your children have more options than you ever did!