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Dr. Khalid AletaibiConservative Dentistry · Dubai

Orthodontics in Jumeirah, Dubai

Invisalign, clear aligners and braces in Jumeirah, Dubai

Straighter teeth do not have to mean aggressive dentistry. Your treatment is planned and led by Dr. Khalid Aletaibi from a digital scan and a full assessment of your whole mouth, then delivered together with our clinical team using the approach that suits your case. We aim for alignment that protects your enamel, your bite and your long term health, not only the look of the front teeth.

the arch, quietly finding its form
  • DHA-licensed dentist
  • Digitally planned, conservative
  • Jumeirah, Dubai
  • Open daily, 9am to 9pm

Which option is right for me?

For most adults with mild to moderate crowding or spacing who want something discreet, clear aligners such as Invisalign are a comfortable, removable option. Braces, in metal or ceramic, are often a better fit for more complex movements or for younger patients who are still growing. There is no single answer that is right for everyone. Your plan is decided from your digital scan, your bite and your own goals, and it is discussed with you before anything begins.

The options

Your options

Three proven ways to straighten teeth. The right one depends on your bite and your daily life, not on the brand.

01

Invisalign

A series of custom, discreet removable aligners made from digital scans of your teeth. You wear each set for most of the day and move to the next stage as your teeth shift. Dr. Khalid Aletaibi is an Invisalign provider and plans your case in the clinic.

Best for

Adults and older teenagers with mild to moderate crowding, spacing or relapse after earlier treatment, who prefer a removable, discreet option and are happy to wear the aligners consistently.

02

Clear aligners

Removable transparent aligners from other established aligner systems, working on the same digital planning principle as Invisalign. After your assessment we select the system that suits your case and your budget.

Best for

Patients who want a removable, discreet aligner and would like to look at options beyond a single brand, usually for mild to moderate correction.

03

Braces (metal and ceramic)

Fixed brackets and wires bonded to the teeth and adjusted over time. Metal braces are hard wearing and efficient, while ceramic braces use tooth coloured brackets to be less noticeable. Both stay in place throughout treatment.

Best for

More complex crowding, bite corrections and cases that need precise control, and younger patients who may not wear a removable appliance consistently.

What we can help with

The bites and smiles we see most

Straightening is about health as much as looks. Here is what these common presentations are, why they matter, and the approach that tends to suit each. Every plan is confirmed from your own records.

Crowded teeth

There is not enough room along the jaw, so teeth overlap, twist or sit out of the arch. Beyond appearance, crowded areas trap plaque and are harder to clean, so gum inflammation and decay become more likely over time.

Often suits

Clear aligners or braces for mild to moderate crowding. More severe cases, where space must be created, usually need braces or a combined plan.

Gaps and a midline gap

The opposite of crowding: teeth are smaller than the space available, leaving gaps, with a space between the two upper front teeth called a diastema. Some gaps are cosmetic; others let food pack in or point to a missing or undersized tooth.

Often suits

Aligners or braces for small to moderate spacing. Larger gaps or missing teeth usually call for a team plan that coordinates alignment with restorative work.

Protruding front teeth (overjet)

Overjet is the horizontal step by which the upper front teeth sit ahead of the lower ones. When it is large the upper teeth look like they stick out. It matters because prominent upper teeth are more exposed to being chipped or knocked, and the lips can struggle to close comfortably.

Often suits

Aligners or braces when it is mainly tooth position. Growth-guiding appliances in children, or a combined orthodontic and surgical plan in some adults, when the jaws are the cause.

Deep bite

The upper front teeth overlap the lower ones vertically far more than the usual third, sometimes almost hiding them. Over time the lower teeth can bite into the gum behind the uppers or wear the enamel, and heavy front contact may strain the teeth.

Often suits

Commonly braces with bite-opening mechanics, and selected cases with aligners. When jaw proportions are the cause, a more complex or combined plan may be discussed.

Open bite

The front teeth leave a vertical gap and do not touch even when the back teeth are fully closed. This can make biting food and some speech sounds harder, and it is often linked to habits such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting or mouth breathing.

Often suits

Milder, tooth-based open bites may respond to aligners or braces alongside stopping a habit. Growth-driven open bites are among the more challenging and can need a team or surgical plan.

Front crossbite

Normally the upper front teeth close just in front of the lower ones. In a front crossbite one or more upper teeth bite behind the lowers, a reversed bite. This places uneven force on the teeth and gums and, in some children, reflects how the jaws are growing.

Often suits

A single-tooth crossbite can often be corrected with braces or aligners, and early in children with simple appliances. A growing lower jaw may need growth guidance or a combined plan.

Back crossbite

The upper back teeth close inside the lower ones instead of slightly outside, usually because the upper arch is a little narrow. It can push the lower jaw to shift to one side when biting and lead to uneven wear or one-sided chewing.

Often suits

Often needs the upper arch widened with a fixed appliance or expander, and is frequently more straightforward in children. Cases that are only a tooth tilt can suit braces or aligners.

Shift after previous braces

It is common for teeth, especially the lower front teeth, to drift back toward their old positions in the years after braces if retention is not maintained. This relapse is a normal tendency of teeth rather than a sign the first treatment failed.

Often suits

Many cases can be re-aligned with a shorter course of aligners or braces, followed by a considered retention plan, because the focus is long-term stability rather than a one-time fix.

The difference

Aligners and braces at a glance

How removable aligners and fixed braces compare, side by side.

Aligners vs braces
 Clear aligners / InvisalignBraces
VisibilityTransparent and hard to notice during normal wear.Metal brackets are visible; ceramic brackets are tooth coloured and less noticeable.
RemovableTaken out to eat, drink and brush.Fixed in place for the whole treatment.
Comfort and feelSmooth plastic with no brackets; some tightness is normal when you change to a new set.Brackets and wires can rub at first and are adjusted periodically.
Typical suitabilityWell suited to mild and moderate cases when worn consistently.Handle a wide range of cases, including more complex movements.
Cleaning and careBrush and floss as normal with the aligners out, then clean the aligners separately.Careful brushing and flossing around the brackets and wires is needed.
Appointments and monitoringPeriodic check-ins to monitor progress and hand over new stages.Regular visits to adjust the wires.
Retention afterwardsRetainers are worn afterwards to hold the result.Retainers are worn afterwards to hold the result.

What to expect

How your treatment works with us

A calm, planned path from the first scan to a result that lasts.

  1. 01

    Consultation and whole mouth assessment

    You meet Dr. Khalid Aletaibi for an unhurried consultation. He looks at more than alignment, checking the health of your teeth, gums and bite so the plan considers your whole mouth.

  2. 02

    Digital scan and treatment plan

    A digital scan captures your teeth without messy impressions. Dr. Khalid plans the tooth movements and reviews the options, the likely timing and what to expect with you.

  3. 03

    Active treatment with the team

    Your aligners or braces are fitted and treatment is delivered together with our clinical team. Dr. Khalid oversees the case and adjusts the plan as your teeth respond.

  4. 04

    Conservative finishing

    Once the teeth are aligned, Dr. Khalid refines the result with conservative touches where they help, such as edge bonding, whitening or treating white marks with ICON resin infiltration, keeping the natural tooth intact.

  5. 05

    Retainers to hold the result

    You are fitted with retainers and shown how to use them, so the new position of your teeth is maintained after treatment.

Our principle

Straighter teeth should never mean aggressive dentistry.

The principle behind every plan

Honestly, what the evidence says

Straight answers, not sales

We would rather tell you what is known, and what is not, than promise a perfect outcome. Here is the honest picture.

Aligners and braces

For straightforward crowding and spacing, current research suggests clear aligners and fixed braces can achieve broadly comparable results, with similar treatment times. The evidence is still developing, and fixed braces remain a well-established choice for more complex movements. We plan each case individually rather than promising one approach fits all. [1]

Comfort

Most people feel mild to moderate tightness or tenderness for a few days after braces are adjusted or when moving to a new aligner. Studies show this is usually short-lived and settles on its own, and in the first few days aligners may feel slightly gentler. It is a normal sign that teeth are moving, not a cause for concern. [2]

About the roots of your teeth

During any orthodontic treatment the tips of the tooth roots can shorten very slightly. This is a recognised effect that is usually minor and, in the large majority of people, has no impact on long-term tooth health. We use gentle forces, monitor it as part of routine care, and plan movements to keep it to a minimum. [3]

Keeping the result

Teeth have a natural tendency to drift over time, so retainers are an important part of treatment, not an optional extra. To keep results stable they are usually worn long term, often just at night. Think of retention as ongoing maintenance of your result rather than a short final step. [4]

Your questions, answered honestly

The things patients ask us

No pressure and no jargon. If a question is not here, ask us directly and we will give you a straight answer.

Will it hurt, and how is the discomfort managed?
Most people feel pressure, tenderness or a dull ache rather than sharp pain, usually starting a few hours after braces are placed or a wire or aligner is changed. In adults this tends to peak within the first few days and settle within about a week, easing with each stage as your mouth adapts. Simple measures help a great deal: over the counter pain relief such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, following the label and your own medical advice, softer foods for a day or two, and orthodontic wax over anything that rubs. Tell us if something feels persistently sharp so we can check it rather than assume it is normal.
How long will treatment take?
Honestly, it depends on your case: how your teeth and bite are positioned, how far they need to move, the appliance we choose together, and how consistently aligners or elastics are worn. Many comprehensive adult cases fall in a broad range of roughly 18 to 30 months, while minor corrections can be shorter, so we give you a personal estimate rather than a fixed promise, and review progress at every visit.
Can I eat and drink normally?
Yes, with a few sensible adjustments. With fixed braces we ask you to avoid hard, sticky and very chewy foods that can bend a wire or loosen a bracket, and to cut firm items such as apples or crusty bread into pieces rather than biting straight in. Removable aligners are simpler for eating because you take them out for meals and for anything other than plain water, then brush your teeth and the aligners before putting them back. The trade off is that they only work if you wear them the recommended hours each day.
Will it affect my speech?
You may notice a slight lisp or a sense of the appliance for the first few days, particularly with clear aligners or an appliance that covers part of the roof of the mouth. For almost everyone this is temporary; the tongue adapts quickly and normal speech returns within a few days to a couple of weeks. Reading aloud during the first days speeds up the adjustment.
Keeping teeth clean and avoiding white marks
Fixed braces create more nooks where plaque can gather around the brackets, and if plaque sits on the enamel it can lose minerals and leave chalky white marks. This is one of the more common side effects of fixed braces, and it is largely preventable with thorough brushing around each bracket, cleaning between the teeth, daily fluoride, and going easy on sugary and acidic drinks. We show you the technique and check your gums and enamel at each visit. Removable aligners are easier to clean around because they come out, though the same daily care applies to both your teeth and the aligners.
Is it safe for my teeth and roots?
Moving teeth is a well-established, carefully controlled process. To be fully honest, as teeth move the very tips of the roots can shorten slightly, a change called external apical root resorption. In most people this is mild, typically under a couple of millimetres, and the tooth stays healthy and functional. More pronounced shortening is uncommon and tends to be linked to longer treatment and larger movements. We use gentle forces and check with imaging where it is indicated to keep this to a minimum.
What about black triangles and gum health?
When crowded teeth are straightened, small dark spaces can appear near the gum between the teeth, known as open gingival embrasures and often called black triangles. These are more common in adults, where the gum and bone between the teeth may already have receded a little, and they relate to tooth shape and gum levels rather than to anything having gone wrong. Where the risk looks higher we plan for it, and measures such as subtly reshaping the contact points between teeth can reduce their appearance. Keeping your gums healthy throughout treatment is an important safeguard.
Do the results last, and why are retainers needed indefinitely?
Teeth have a natural tendency to drift back toward where they started, so retainers are not an optional extra: they are what holds your result in place. Current evidence points to wearing retainers on an ongoing, essentially indefinite basis to keep teeth aligned long term, either as a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth or a clear removable retainer worn at night. We fit your retainer at the end of active treatment, explain exactly how to wear and care for it, and review it periodically so any small change is caught early.
Am I too old for this?
There is no upper age limit. Teeth move through bone in response to gentle, sustained force at any age, and a large share of orthodontic patients today are adults. What matters more than age is that the gums and the bone supporting your teeth are healthy before we begin, which we assess first. Because mature adult bone is denser, treatment can sometimes take a little longer than in a growing teenager, and we build that into your estimate.
Can I have treatment during pregnancy?
Orthodontic appliances are non-invasive and involve no medication, so treatment can often be started or continued during pregnancy, ideally with your obstetrician awareness. Pregnancy hormones commonly make gums more prone to swelling and bleeding, so careful daily cleaning matters even more and we may see you a little more often. We keep any routine X-rays to a minimum and follow standard precautions, so please let us know if you are pregnant or planning to be, so we can tailor your care. This is general reassurance, not medical clearance for any individual.
Will teeth need to be taken out, or can space be made another way?
Not always. When teeth are only mildly crowded, space can sometimes be created by gently reshaping tiny, measured amounts of enamel between the teeth, called interproximal reduction, or by widening the arch, which may avoid extractions in suitable cases. Because the enamel between teeth is thin, this reshaping is planned carefully tooth by tooth and kept within safe limits. In more crowded or protrusive cases, removing one or more teeth can give a healthier, more stable result in suitable cases, and we always discuss the reasoning and the options with you before anything is decided.
What drives the cost?
The fee reflects the complexity of your case, which mainly means how much tooth movement is needed and how long that takes, along with the type of appliance, the diagnostic records and planning involved, and the retainers and follow up afterwards. Because every mouth is different, we give you a clear written estimate after your assessment rather than a single headline figure, and we are happy to walk through exactly what is and is not included.

Plan your straighter smile in Jumeirah, Dubai

Book a consultation and digital scan with Dr. Khalid Aletaibi. Together you will review whether Invisalign, clear aligners or braces suit your teeth and your goals, with a clear plan before anything begins.