Cosmetic Dentistry for Overlapping Teeth?

Braces are not the only way to fix overlapping teeth.  They are often the best way, but it depends too on if there is tooth wear, how extreme the overlap is, are the teeth heavily filled, do you intend to do cosmetic dental treatment afterward (such as porcelain veneers).  If you plan to give your teeth a lift any way, it may be a lot to go through the orthodontic treatment first, only to do further treatment later. 

I have done many "instant orthodontic" treatments using porcelain veneers, and even direct bonded veneers that have turned out to look, function, and last amazingly well.

You should discuss the pros and cons of the various options with your dentist.  This is a situation where there can be many options to correct your problem.

 

There are usually more than one option to 'fix' crooked teeth, but it takes a good conversation with your dentist to see what those choices are.  If your teeth are healthy but overlap, and you have something artificial, like bonding, crowns or veneers put on them, that means you'll have to replace the dentistry from time to time, which costs more money, tooth structure, time, and other resources.  The more crooked your teeth are, the more invasive the dentistry must be to 'straighten' them, and often the cosmetic result is not near as good as you want. Straightening healthy teeth leaves you with an easy to maintain, low-cost smile.

It is not more painful to straighten overlapping teeth.  It is more painful to deal with the consequences of those crooked teeth, because they are at much more risk for cavities or gum disease than straight ones.  A few extra months of treatment will be soon forgotten as you enjoy a beautiful smile, so please talk to your dentist about the choices you have.