Rachel Barton, 21, is a violin teacher at the British School al Khubeirat, Abu Dhabi. She wears ceramic (white) braces. I've had them on for a year, and the doctor told me recently I have another six months to go. I went to the dentist with some fillings and he said that I had real problems with my gums and that it's only going to get worse because of the over-crowding. They were so close together that I couldn't even get dental floss in between. He said it's just not possible to clean teeth that are that overcrowded. That was my excuse - medical reasons - but it was actually something I'd regretted not doing when I was younger. I think people are more image-conscious here than they are in the UK and they have more disposable income. I couldn't believe how quickly my teeth changed. They basically went from being totally crooked to totally straight in six months. The rest is just stabiliising them. I felt very self-conscious to begin with, but now I'm used to them. Where: Dr Sharif, Al Thuraya Dental Centre, Abu Dhabi (02 443 2209) How much: Dh16,000
Lidia Svankuoova, 28, is a musician. She lives in Dubai. She had her metal braces removed in June last year. I had mine on for about a year and three months. I chose the metal ones because the dentist told me the treatment would be quicker. If I'd gone with ceramic ones, it would have taken two years. I had both health and cosmetic reasons for doing it. My top teeth were out in front, which meant I never used them, and I always breathed through my mouth. He said I would have problems with my stomach in future because of this. But the cosmetic reason was more important because my job as a harpist means I am often in front of people. Before, whenever I saw photographs of myself, I used to think "I need to fix my teeth", whereas now I am happy with the photos. Where: Dr Mohammed al Muzian, Al Dehyafa Specialised Orthodontic and Dental Centre (04 345 2001) How much: Dh9,500
