Braces for Adults
Braces for adults are an effective way to correct your bite or teeth, bringing them into alignment as a way to improve your comfort and long-term oral health. While it may not always be easy to make this decision as an adult, particularly if an orthodontist recommends a lengthy course of treatment, the benefits of taking the plunge are invaluable to adults who want a better smile and fewer issues every time they visit the dentist.
Find Braces for Adults in Glen Allen, VA
At West End Orthodontics, our staff understands that it’s not always easy to make a decision about braces once you hit a certain age. After all, it’s not just a potential change to your appearance, it’s an entirely new schedule and routine that you have to get used to. If you have questions about the process or you’re hesitant about the overall implications, contacting us can be the first step you take toward exploring this option. It may just be the best possible decision you can make for your oral health.
Are You a Good Candidate for Braces?
If you’re looking at braces for adults in Glen Allen, VA, you should know that age is not necessarily a factor. Plenty of adults over the age of 50 will invest in braces to fix a problem, regardless of how long they’ve lived with it up until that point. If you’re interested in braces, the first step is to get a dental exam from a qualified orthodontist. A qualified dental professional can tell you whether braces can help you with your teeth spacing or align your bite.
Whether your teeth are too crowded or spaced too far apart, braces can have a significant impact on the way you move your mouth throughout the course of the day. As the orthodontist examines your teeth and gums, they’ll look for potential impediments that might stand in the way of your treatment. If you have significant decay, need dental implants, or have gum disease, you may not be the right candidate for braces.
Benefits of Braces
Braces can drastically change your life! Here are the top advantages of this orthodontic treatment:
STRAIGHT TEETH
Of course, straight teeth are the leading benefit of this orthodontic service. When you have crooked teeth, you may smile less often and hide your mouth. Braces make you say goodbye to these worries! Straightening teeth can improve your appearance, possibly leading to more smiling and greater self-esteem!
BETTER ORAL HEALTH
While braces can fix your smile and boost your appearance, did you know they can also improve your dental health? It’s true! If you have misaligned teeth, food may easily get trapped, even with the best oral hygiene practices. By straightening your smile, you may have fewer nooks and crannies around your teeth, allowing you to clean them more effectively.
IMPROVED CHEWING AND SPEAKING
When we have crooked teeth, sometimes this can impact our chewing and speaking abilities. This is another problem that braces can solve! Straight teeth give us better biting pressure, helping us chew and digest food properly. They can also make chewing much easier. Secondly, aligned teeth and a correct bite can also help us with our speech.
DIFFERNET TYPES OF BRACES
Braces are available in several different varieties. Whether you want the traditional solution or something less noticeable, the perfect option is out there.
Take a look at the different types of braces below:
- METAL
Metal braces are the traditional type that have been around for decades. They consist of steel bands, brackets, and wires. Over time, metal braces can fix almost any smile, no matter the complexity. - CERAMIC
While ceramic braces work just like the standard alternative, they’re much less noticeable. Rather than metal, they’re designed with tooth-colored ceramic. Ceramic braces blend in with your teeth, leading to a better appearance. - CLEAR ALIGNERS
Clear aligners are an up-and-coming orthodontic solution. They’re devices that utilize a strong, clear plastic to move teeth. Clear aligners accomplish this without using any metal. Patients must wear their aligners for about 22 hours a day for the best results. The device must be removed before brushing, flossing, eating, and drinking anything other than water.
Tips for Effective Treatment
If you want the best results from your braces treatment, it’s important to keep some tips in mind. First, make sure to avoid certain foods. You’ll want to stay away from hard foods like ice, carrots, hard candy, and nuts.
Secondly, make sure you’re incorporating healthy oral hygiene habits. This means properly brushing and flossing. As braces can trap bacteria, you want to keep your mouth as clean as possible.
What Types of Braces for Adults Are There?
There is an array of braces for adults, depending on what an adult is looking for from their treatment:
- Traditional: Some adults are fine with the look and feel of traditional braces happy to make a sacrifice for their health. Traditional braces are typically associated with adolescents, but the metal brackets and wires are just as useful for people of any age.
- Clear aligners: This is usually the preferred option for adults because it’s impossible to tell that you’re wearing braces. Most orthodontists will recommend clear aligners for their patients if they’re eligible for them.
As you might imagine, the pros and cons of each decision will come down to your lifestyle, budget, and oral health. Not everyone who wants clear aligners will be approved for them, as they typically are best for mild to moderate cases. Self-ligating braces may result in less time in the dentist’s chair for adjustments, but the locking mechanism can also be prone to jam up. If you are interested in braces, it’s important to talk to an orthodontist in Glen Allen, VA, who can explain the pros and cons upfront and give you their official recommendation before you make the final decision.
