The "tin grin" look that agonized wearers of orthodontic braces in the past has given way to a rainbow of possibilities.

There are some new developments in multicolored elastic ties (small rubber bands that hold wire to a bracket on each tooth). Braces wearers can choose a variety of colors from dayglow to just plain gray. The ties can be changed monthly, so wearers can sport new colors regularly. And what are the most popular colors? Turquoise, watermelon, black and blue.

Other developments in orthondontics include: Glow-in-the-dark braces, which are tooth colored but glow in the dark; colored/patterned retainers, which come in a variety of colors, including glow-in-the-dark neon and animal stripes; and long-acting wires, which need to be changed every six to eight weeks instead of every three to four weeks.