Everything You Need to Know About Adult Orthodontics

Once we hit our 30, 40s and beyond, most people assume that it is too late to get braces, but in reality it is never too late to get that beautiful smile you have always dreamed about. While many of your friends probably got braces as a tween or teen, it doesn’t mean you can take care of your smile later in life too.

As we live longer, the quality of life grows so much more important. Life is for enjoying, not being embarrassed by the condition of your smile.

While our jaws are more malleable when you are younger, with the right pressure, you can straighten you teeth at any age. Whether you just have a few crooked teeth that need straightening, or you have a more serious alignment issue, Invisalign or braces are still an option for you.

The only caveat is the overall health of your mouth. If you have missing teeth or gum disease, or your teeth are really weak then you will need to take care of those issues before you can start orthodontic treatment.

Both Invisalign and braces can be used to treat include gapped teeth, an overbite which occurs when the upper teeth protrude out over the lower teeth, underbite which is when the lower teeth protrude past the upper teeth and an open bite where the teeth are not aligned properly for a proper bite. Other treatable issues are overcrowding of teeth and a crossbite which can happen if both the upper and lower jaws are not aligned properly.

Also talk to your orthodontists about how braces work and whether accelerated orthodontics would be a good idea.

It’s About So Much More Than Just Appearances

Orthodontics improves not only the aesthetics of your smile, but also the functionality and health of your teeth. With crooked teeth, it is a lot harder to properly brush and floss your teeth and gums causing plaque and bacteria to buildup. If you find you have trouble keeping your teeth free from bacteria and plaque and your gums are real sensitivity, talk to your dentist about whether or not braces could help. Why go through years of extra dental work and the worry over periodontal disease, when there may be an easy solution a hand. Poor oral health is also linked to other health issues like heart disease and stroke. That is why it is never too late to get braces.

Of course, there are a lot of factors go into deciding which treatment option is best for you: condition of your teeth and level of work needed, your budget, and personal preferences like shorter length of treatment, fewer dietary restrictions and how important it is to you that the braces be “invisible” to the casual observer. Your best bet is to consult with a few orthodontists and look at all the facts before making a decision. For your particular situation, the metal braces might be the most effective.

The most important thing is to get your health and sense of confidence back on track. If over the years as your oral health has deteriorated and you became self-conscious and gaps and crooked teeth, your self-confidence probably took a big hit. If you want to advance in your career and have close, intimate relationships with family, friends and significant others than you need to feel confident in your smile. If you are too embarrassed to smile, or worse yet, to even leave the house, the shame and isolation you feel can affect you mentally and emotionally. If however you were able to get that beautiful smile you have always wanted, then you will find yourself transformed and everyone around you will notice the difference.

When Extra Precautions Might Be Needed

Because our jaws are not as malleable as when we were younger, in certain cases minor oral surgery might be required as well. Your orthodontist will evaluate your particular situation and discuss the best options with you. Your orthodontist might also recommend that you see a periodontist as well as your general dentist while wearing braces to make sure there is no bone loss occurring because of gum disease.

Don’t stress over this though. These extra precautions are just to protect your oral health throughout your treatment. At Orthodontics Limited, we are experienced in adult orthodontics and will work very closely with you to get the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve.

When starting your research for an orthodontist, make sure you research their orthodontic services, credentials, experiences and their specialty treatments before making a final decision. Ask which treatment options they prefer. If you are leaning more to Invisalign than to traditional metal braces, then you will want an orthodontist who has a lot of experience in this type of treatment. We are an Invisalign Diamond Plus Provider and are experienced in a wide range of orthodontic treatment options. We have offices in Northeast Philadelphia, Horsham and Rittenhouse Square in Center City, Philadelphia. Schedule your free initial consultation at our orthodontic office today.