Orthodontic care is not just for kids. As long as you still have your natural teeth, it’s not too late to get a dazzling, confident smile. Whether you’re just starting on your journey through adulthood or have taken a dizzying number of trips around the sun, you can talk to your orthodontist about fixing up your smile with adult braces.
Ready to get started? Here’s what you need to know about straightening your teeth in your adult years.
What You Need to Know About Getting Braces as an Adult
Like kids, adults have many excellent tooth-straightening treatments to consider, including:
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Traditional braces
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Headgear
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Clear aligners
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Retainers
The type of braces you need greatly depends on your overall tooth alignment and dental health. Your orthodontist will perform an exam to figure out if you’re a good candidate for adult braces. Then, they will let you know which options might work best for you.
No matter which option you go with as an adult, you’ll undoubtedly find the process more convenient than if you got braces as a kid. Most adults need fewer appointments, for example, and can zip in and out of the orthodontist’s office with ease.
On the other side of the equation, you may need periodontal work to prepare your mouth for braces if you have missing teeth or bone loss. The breakdown of teeth and bone tissue is more common in adults, of course, but it’s also rather simple to repair before you start straightening your teeth.
Differences in Braces Made for Adults
Besides the potential need for additional periodontal work, braces for kids and adults follow the same process. You must have imaging done, get your braces fitted or made, and then wear them as instructed while following your personal care recommendations. You must also return for adjustments and checkups as needed to keep your teeth moving in the right direction. But that doesn’t mean things are the same as they’ve always been.
Across all age groups, the world of orthodontics has changed a lot in recent years. New advancements in braces technology have made tooth straightening faster, easier, and more precise than ever before. The iTero scanner, for example, allows our orthodontists to take accurate images of your tooth and gum structure so that they can handcraft your perfect treatment.
Despite all these advancements, braces are becoming more and more affordable all the time. Unless you need major restoration work done first, the overall cost of braces for adults is around the same as the price for kids’ braces.
You will also need to factor in the cost of a retainer as it’s needed to keep your teeth straight after the treatment process ends. Whether you choose traditional braces, clear aligners, or another option, you may have to wear the retainer day and night to keep your teeth from shifting back into their original positions. Your orthodontist will let you know how often to wear the retainer and for how long. Many people have to keep wearing it at least at night for the rest of their lives to keep their smile looking its best.
To get the most bang for your buck, it’s important to go all-in with your braces and dental care during the tooth straightening process and well afterward. You have to skip crunchy and sticky foods during treatment, for example, to avoid breaking brackets, wires, and causing other types of damage. You must also carefully brush and floss your teeth as recommended to keep cavities at bay, especially since your enamel is likely wearing away in your adult years.
Adult Braces Can Effectively Fix Up Your Smile
With the right treatment option and proper care, adult braces can quickly and effectively fix up your smile. So, cast aside the myth that adult teeth are too far gone and cannot be fixed with braces, and contact your orthodontist for a consultation. They will help you envision your perfect smile and map out your ideal path toward achieving that goal.
With their help, you’ll be beaming brightly before you know it – and can retain the results for good by simply wearing your retainer as instructed. You can then ditch the self-conscious worries as your newfound confidence puts a pep in your step and leaves you showing off your smile to the world.
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