Braces for Adults
It’s Never Too Late for You to Get Straight Teeth
If you’re an adult who wants straight teeth, the thought of trying to navigate your daily life while wearing metal braces can seem ridiculous. No one wants to look or feel like a teenager anymore. But braces no longer mean metal brackets and wires alone. There are several options for tooth alignment for adult, and they can be carried out discreetly. What’s most important is to realize just how beneficial braces and straight teeth are to your overall oral health.
Reasons to Get Braces as an Adult
If you didn’t have braces as a teen, you haven’t missed the window of opportunity to straighten your teeth. There are plenty of reasons to want to align your smile, including:
- Aesthetics: By the time you reach adulthood, you’re used to the way your teeth look, you may even be resigned to the imperfections in your smile, from crooked teeth to an overbite. However, you don’t have to live with less-than-perfect teeth. If you want a straight smile, you can have it with braces for adults.
- Annoyances: Do you get food stuck between the same two teeth at every meal? Do you have receding gums? Issues like this won’t go away on their own. Braces align your bite so you can minimize gum recession and ensure that there won’t be food particles always marring your smile.
- Cavities: Do you brush and floss religiously and see your dentist regularly? If you still end up with cavities, you may have weak enamel that allows decay to settle in – or your crooked teeth make it easy for bacteria and plaque to snuggle into hard-to-reach places. Straighten up your smile and it will look better and be healthier.
- Pain: Jaw pain, discomfort, teeth grinding, clenching, TMJ problems – these issues can often be tied directly to bite misalignment. People forget that braces are not only straightening the crowns of your teeth, but the roots and jaw too. When everything is in proper alignment, you should be pain-free.
Types of Braces for Adults
It is possible for your orthodontist to treat all misalignment problems, from crooked teeth to gapped teeth, overbite to underbite, crossbite to open bite. Your treatment will be unique to your needs, lifestyle, budget, and smile goals.
Not every orthodontic patient is eligible for every type of orthodontic treatment, but the types of braces for adults include:
- Invisalign braces.
- Clear braces.
- White ceramic braces.
- Traditional metal braces.
Your Woodinville orthodontist understands that, as an adult, you may not be interested in drawing attention to your teeth if you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. After an exam and diagnosis of your misalignment problems, you will be presented with all possible options for straightening your teeth.
Many adults are drawn to the most discreet methods of orthodontia, including Invisalign braces, clear braces, and white ceramic braces. Invisalign allows you more freedom and the aligners are practically invisible. Clear and ceramic braces are slightly more visible than Invisalign but still subtle. These braces are secured in place and you must work around them for eating and cleaning.
Ultimately, whatever type of braces you choose, this treatment is a commitment. You must be willing to follow the rules that accompany your braces, make time in your busy life for visits to your orthodontist, and take proper care of your braces or aligners.
Modern Braces for Adults
Modern braces are much less noticeable than they used to be. They are designed to be efficient and effective in the shortest amount of time possible for your case. Ultimately, the goal is to find the most effective orthodontic treatment while staying within your desired parameters and comfort zone and still creating excellent results.
Braces are a smart choice. They don’t have to interfere with your lifestyle, obligations, or appearance. Be proud of your effort to improve your oral health, not embarrassed by it. Your orthodontist will work with you to find the best route to an alignment smile. Contact Dr. Soleil Roberts to schedule your evaluation and learn more about braces for adults.