For adults and teens in Meriden, Connecticut, the decision between braces and clear aligners is a common crossroads in orthodontic care. Feldman Orthodontics, a practice with three Connecticut locations including a Cheshire office that serves Meriden patients, offers both treatment options. The practice is led by four board-certified orthodontists: Dr. Jonny Feldman, Dr. David Feldman, Dr. Kelly Morrison, and Dr. Preeti Chandhoke.
Braces use brackets bonded to the teeth and an archwire that applies continuous pressure. Because they are fixed, they work without relying on patient compliance and can handle a broad range of movements, including complex rotations and bite correction. Clear aligners, on the other hand, are a sequence of custom trays, each worn for a set period before moving to the next. They are removable for eating and cleaning and are far less visible, which often attracts adults seeking clear aligners in Meriden, CT. However, the trade-off is compliance: trays only move teeth while they are in the mouth.
Teens frequently choose aligners when sports or musical instruments make fixed appliances awkward, though braces remain the better fit for many adolescent cases. Feldman Orthodontics emphasizes that each patient is assessed individually rather than steered toward a default option. This personalized approach is supported by the use of digital scanning and 3D imaging in treatment planning. These technologies capture precise measurements of tooth and jaw position, giving the orthodontist a detailed view of alignment issues and supporting a more accurate plan from the start. For patients traveling from Meriden, remote monitoring is available in qualifying cases and can reduce the number of in-office visits during active treatment.
Younger patients are seen for early orthodontic evaluations at around age 7, consistent with American Association of Orthodontists guidance. Early assessment allows developing issues to be identified and, where useful, addressed before they become more complex.
One aspect of treatment that patients often underestimate is retention. Once braces or aligners have moved teeth into position, retainers hold them there. Teeth naturally tend to drift back toward their previous positions, and without consistent retainer wear, that drift can undo the result over months or years. Retainer fitting and follow-up appointments are included in Feldman Orthodontics' treatment approach, with monitoring visits scheduled to confirm the correction is holding. "The retainer is not an afterthought — it is what makes the result permanent," said the Feldman Orthodontics team.
Patients looking for an orthodontist in Meriden, CT can book a complimentary consultation at the Cheshire, Wallingford, or North Haven office. Surgical orthodontics is also available for cases involving skeletal discrepancies. Feldman Orthodontics provides early orthodontic evaluations, teen and adult orthodontics, braces, clear aligners, surgical orthodontics, retainers and follow-up care, digital scanning, 3D imaging, and remote monitoring. More information is available at Feldman Orthodontics.
