Braces Aren't Just For Kids
More adults are getting braces now to straighten their teeth. The desire to impress people with a nice smile is important to people at work and in relationships. The technology of braces has evolved and improved. It has become a popular option for adults who look forward to greeting people with a broad, uninhibited smile.
Why Bother Now?
Being comfortable with your smile is useful everyday. You greet the postman or grocery clerk with a smile. Your smile sends a warm message to your friends and family. It is a critical part of meeting new business people or interviewing for a job. Your smile conveys confidence and friendliness. These are things you understand now, that were not part of your world as a child.
You also know more about the importance of dental health. The more your teeth are out of their natural alignment, the more your bite is off. This affects chewing and your ability to keep your teeth clean. When the teeth are seriously out of alignment, you can develop jaw pain and muscle cramps when eating. Health and appearance are two reasons adults give for choosing braces at their age.
You Have More Options Now
If your only image of braces is a mouthful of metal, cosmetic dentistry has changed to give you more options than that. The three typical choices you have are improved metal braces, clear braces and removable braces.
Metal braces - The size of the components in metal braces are smaller and the materials are stronger making metal braces lighter and more comfortable in the mouth. You also won't have a mouthful of rubber bands to contend with. After the initial application of these braces, you'll return for periodic adjustments to put your teeth in alignment. These braces are still preferred for severe alignment issues.
Clear braces - These braces rely on an adhesive to secure the brackets onto the teeth. The braces are barely noticeable at a distance. While these are as effective as metal in most cases, severe tooth alignment problems respond quicker to metal braces. The adhesive used with clear braces can also be stained by foods or smoking.
Removable braces - For minor teeth alignment issues, a removal aligner is available. You wear an aligner for a few days then your dentist gives you a new one adjusted for the desired tooth movement. You will gradually go through a set of aligners to reach the desired level of correction. The correction is slower than with clear or metal braces.
The choice of braces depends on the amount of correction you need and your level of self consciousness about being seen in braces. Some people who do a lot of public speaking prefer clear braces so the audience isn't focused on their mouth and the metal braces.
When the Braces Come Off
Experience has shown dentists that wearing a retainer after the braces are off is necessary to keep your straightened teeth. But after going through the time and expense of getting a straight smile, this is a small habit to develop to retain a great smile that lasts the rest of your life.
Because a smile is always important, adults are turning to their dentist to give them a smile they can be proud of. Children have seen dramatic improvements in their smile wearing braces while growing up. Adults want that same confidence each time they smile and greet someone. Talk to your dentist, such as Dr. Jeffery Spilman DDS, for more information.