Do you know one of the best ways to express yourself is your smile? But if you are not confident about the way your teeth appear bet you are never comfortable to smile happily and heartily. As a matter of fact, crooked or missing teeth are both as embarrassing as harmful to your sound dental health and wellbeing.
But here is the good news! Now – unlike that in the past – you can have your teeth straightened without any concern for your age. Braces are no far only for kids. And this has been possible because of the latest evolutions in the world of orthodontic dentistry. These days, people are having their teeth straightened at the ripe mature age of 50 and above.
Everything and adult braces
If you believe braces are meant only for kids and teens then it is indeed high time to get out of that. On the other hand, many people who wore braces in their younger days but now are not sure whether the appliances will help now at this stage of their life. Even these people need to put aside their worries for better. The times have now changed and so have a lot of things along with it.
It is an undeniable fact that braces indeed deliver results faster in kids and teens when their jawbones are still growing. Once the jawbones have attained their full maturity, things are no longer that simple as well as easy. But the good thing is – as we all know – teeth keep moving even as we age. And this is exactly the reason behind the fact there is never a phase in human life when braces will not work.
Braces exert pressure on the teeth in a calculative way. As a result, the teeth move. This pressure works even when your jawbones have attained their optimum maturity and have ceased to grow anymore. Straightening the teeth in adults is more time-consuming. Obviously, this is because the jawbones are more solid and much less flexible as in teens and kids. Yet orthodontic braces work wonders at any age.
If you want to straighten your teeth start by selecting a technically sound and experienced orthodontist. Orthodontists are specialized dentists who deal in aligning the teeth and the jaws other than fixing bite problems. Seek an appointment with such an expert. During the appointment check-up the expert will thoroughly diagnose your overall mouth and listen to your smile enhancement expectations. These days digital X-rays and scanning of the mouth are done to learn about the shape of your mouth thoroughly. Based on all those inputs the orthodontist decides the procedure that suits you best to correct the misaligned teeth.
In the next step the orthodontist creates a proper treatment plan keeping all your needs and expectations in mind.
Different types of braces
Undergoing teeth straightening is pretty common among adults these days. There are varieties of orthodontic braces available to facilitate the treatment outcome. Your options in choosing this crucial orthodontic appliance include the following –
Conventional metal braces – the metal braces have existed since the beginning of times. Unlike its modern counterparts these remain fixed on the teeth throughout the phase of the treatment. Your orthodontic expert will bond the braces to your teeth using wires. You have to visit the practice at periodic intervals have the wires readjusted and tightened. Straightening the teeth with these fixed metal braces usually is more time consuming. The wires and brackets used with conventional braces are largely prominent. This outright visibility of the peripherals proves embarrassing and thus adults prefer avoiding this treatment option. However, these days ceramic brackets are available that come in the colour of the tooth. These are much lesser visible and makes one less self-conscious.
Clear aligners – these are basically removable aligner trays that are fitted over the teeth. each set of the trays move the teeth a little over time. These clear trays remain virtually inside your mouth. It is practically impossible for anyone to detect these in your mouth unless you voluntarily disclose the information. These removable aligners are meant to be taken away while maintaining oral hygiene routine like brushing and flossing. You should also take these out during meals, while snacking or enjoying a drink – either hot or cold. Clear aligners require minimal care and maintenance. Thus, these are pretty easy to care for. You must clean this range of orthodontic appliances regularly using lukewarm water and a mild soap or toothpaste. If you choose these clear aligners for your treatment, your orthodontist will hand over a series of these customised aligner trays. The treatment involves switching over to the next set of trays from a given series every couple of weeks or so. This is a treatment option that delivers expected and timely results.
Lingual braces – another reliable option for adult orthodontic patients are lingual braces. This variety of teeth straightening appliances is attached behind your teeth. As a result, these become least visible. However, you may find little difficulty speaking normally with these braces. Many people even complain about irritation in the tongue with these braces. However, the lisp in speech or irritation in the tongue fades away automatically in a few days as you get adjusted to the braces.
At-home aligners – these are the range of orthodontic aligners that you can order straightaway without consulting a dentist. But it is always better and more sensible to consult an expert before placing order for this variety of orthodontic braces.
Invasive surgery for more complicated cases
Some complicated orthodontic cases even require surgeries. These invasive procedures mostly involve overgrowth of the jawbone that affects the natural ability of using the jaws. In the post-surgical phase, you will need wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances.
An introduction to retainers. An ever-increasing number of people all over the world prefer invisalign. You can straighten your teeth with invisalign which is the cutting-edge orthodontic technology. Retainers are widely used in invisalign treatments. Once your treatment is over and finally the braces come out of your mouth you have to wear these removable appliances to prevent the teeth from sinking back into their initial position. As such retainers are required not only for invisalign patients but also in other orthodontic procedures too. You slip these appliances at night while going to bed. These retainers can become a part of your daily dental care routine lifelong.
