How Adult Braces Are Beneficial And The Options You Might Have

Posted on: 22 September 2018

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There are several reasons to consider getting braces as an adult. An important one is to improve the appearance of your smile, but braces can also help improve your oral health and may even help with headaches and other medical problems caused by misaligned teeth. Here's why braces are a good investment even when you're an adult and some of the options you may have.

The Benefits Of Wearing Adult Braces

If you weren't able to get braces as a child and you've lived with crooked or unevenly spaced teeth your whole life, you might be self-conscious about the way your teeth look when you smile. If so, getting braces can help you get the pretty smile you've always wanted and that can improve your self-confidence.

Another benefit of adult braces is that they make oral care easier. It's often difficult to clean between crowded or twisted teeth properly. That increases your risk of plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease. When your teeth are straight and spaced evenly, you can care for them better and ward off dental problems with decay and infections as you age.

Dental infections are not only painful and expensive to treat, they can also spread throughout your body and cause dangerous medical problems. Having teeth that are easy for you and the dental hygienist to clean could be an important step towards protecting your health, especially if you already have a condition such as diabetes that puts you at a higher risk of gum disease.

The Choices In Adult Braces

The type of braces you wear as an adult might depend on the type of corrective work you need done. However, you might also have a choice in the type you want to wear. The first decision is whether or not you want removable braces. These have advantages in that you take them out when you eat so you don't have to alter your diet, and they are nearly invisible when you wear them. However, they work more slowly than metal or ceramic braces.

If you want your teeth straightened quickly, then metal might be the best choice. If you don't want braces that are noticeable, you can have them applied to the back of your teeth rather than the front. You could also opt for ceramic braces that are the color of your teeth so they are less obvious.

Adult teeth tend to be more difficult to move than the teeth in kids and teens because by the time you're an adult your bones are fully formed. You may need to wear the braces for a year or even longer, so you want to be happy with your choice. Talk to your dentist about the pros and cons of each type of braces and how they will affect your appearance and your life. Just remember, the inconvenience of wearing braces will be over eventually and the pretty smile you have after wearing them will be well worth the trouble and expense.

For more information, contact local professionals like those found at Donald E. Snyder Orthodontics.