Is It Too Late For Braces?

Your smile says a lot. Even if you think you’re too old, or you’ve missed your chance to get braces, it’s never too late to perfect your smile. Thanks to the considerable evolution of orthodontics in the last two decades, more and more adults are getting braces and feeling confident about their straight-lined smiles.

Why Get Braces Now?

Adult braces are popular for many reasons, including:

• Creating a confident smile
• Correcting a significant bite problem
• Realigning crooked teeth
• Repositioning teeth to allow space for replacement teeth

Adults can continue to experience jaw growth up to 22 years of age, causing teeth that may have been previously straight, to move. At this point, a certified adult orthodontist can properly realign any teeth that have shifted, in a manner that won’t harm the teeth’s roots or bone structure.

By correcting any misaligned teeth, you decrease the amount of harmful plaque or food buildup that can form in the unreachable crevices. This build up can lead to periodontal and gum diseases.

What Are The Options?

Thanks to new age technology, there are now several options for achieving a straight smile.

1. Invisalign: This clear, molded plastic straightens your teeth in stages by using various sets of trays. They are almost undetectable and don’t irritate your gums or the inside of your mouth, but they are not ideal for individuals with very problematic alignment.
2. Lingual braces: Good for people with moderate to severe crowding; these wire-and-metal brackets are placed on the backside of your teeth and are nearly invisible. This option tends to fall on the more expensive side of brace options and can cause initial (but brief) tongue discomfort.
3. Self-ligating braces: Similar to regular braces, these are made with ligatures, or tiny plastic bands, that hook on the face of the brackets to hold the wire to your teeth. While they are visible, and may cause mild irritation to the inside of your mouth initially, they are a great quick-fix solution for crooked teeth.
4. Ceramic braces: These new-age brackets are affixed to the teeth with translucent or tooth-colored material that have a subtle appearance. The downfall is that these latex ligatures usually stain and can make white teeth look dingy.

Getting Your Braces

If you think adult braces might be a good option for your teeth, visit Luddington Orthodontics, today. We’ll fix your teeth with artistry and accuracy at a price you can afford. Contact us today for more information.