Before and after braces adults
According to research, the order of priority of reasons adults seek orthodontic treatment differs according to age (Kim Y, 2017). They realize that their smile needs some work, and they seek treatment to have that great smile. The before and after photos of adults can sometimes be more dramatic than kids, because you can feel the confidence in the after images!
Braces for adults
Oftentimes as people get older they question if adult braces work and still some consider themselves too old for orthodontic treatment (Kim Y, 2017). Are there even braces for adults? Can adults with braces actually get proper orthodontic correction or is there an age for braces that is best? What will my results be like before and after braces adults? And of course the classic questions: how to get braces and where can I get braces? Many ask these questions for reasons like protrusion and extra spacing (Kim Y, 2017). Let’s take these one at a time. Can adults get braces?
The answer is a resounding yes. Not only can adults get braces but in many cases it’ll be in their best orthodontic health interest to do so. The fact of the matter is that although any orthodontic work is always best done young, it is never too late to get orthodontic work done. Orthodontics will often be faster and less extensive if done at a young age around the time when permanent teeth come in, or about 11 – 13 years old. However, many adults have successfully had orthodontic treatments that have straightened their smiles at nearly every age.
Is There an Age Limit to Get Braces Photo by OLIVET PICTURES from Pexels
Adult braces
Now while it is important to know that adults can, and in many cases should, get orthodontic treatment, there are a couple of things that adults need to be mindful of when getting orthodontic treatment that may not be as big an issue for younger individuals. As we get older, sometimes bones can become more brittle and that includes the bones in our jaws as well as our teeth. Talking with your orthodontic office will help determine whether you’re a good candidate for getting orthodontics.
Because while individuals of any age can get orthodontic work done, you may have a specific condition that might keep you from being a good candidate. This can be especially true for individuals who are older although there is no age range that is inappropriate to get orthodontic work done if you are a good candidate.
Braces as an adult
Having brittle bones can potentially be a major problem to getting orthodontics, as wearing braces as an adult or other orthodontic implements will put strain and stress on the teeth and jaw, which if an individual had brittle bones or teeth could potentially cause damage. However, this is why orthodontic offices like Ivanov Orthodontics and others always make sure to take extensive examinations of the teeth and the surrounding bone structure before doing any orthodontic treatment. This type of extensive examination by using things like X-rays and family medical history will help make sure that if you do qualify to get your orthodontics done and you’re a good candidate, that there will be no unforeseen problems.
Adults with braces
As an adult do I have to use those old-fashioned metal braces?
Not necessarily. The fact is especially if you are an older individual, there may be a strong stigma against wearing braces as you remember what braces were like when you were younger. However, the technology has evolved rapidly and since then many new options have become available, including ones that are nearly totally invisible like lingual braces or Invisalign.
As an older individual, you do not need to worry about the aesthetics of having a classic metal mouth look because if in consultation with your orthodontic office you find that you are a good candidate for getting orthodontics done, there are many options available that can give you great aesthetics and do so at a great price. This will allow you to get your orthodontic work done quickly and easily while still remaining unnoticeable.
Generally speaking, the most popular style of aesthetically pleasing braces for older individuals is most often Invisalign. Invisalign is a plastic tray that can be slipped on and off giving you the freedom to choose when to wear your orthodontics. And while you need to wear your Invisalign orthodontics a minimum of 22 hours per day for your treatment to be effective, knowing that you have the freedom to take them on and off at will for meals, brushing, or any other reason you may choose can give a huge amount of peace of mind to individuals who are concerned about more traditional braces.
How to get braces
All of this leads to the next natural question: Where can I find a good orthodontic office for adults?
There are several ways to identify a great orthodontic office. One of the ways is to simply find out which ones offer free consultations. High quality offices like Ivanov Orthodontics will offer free consultations for individuals seeking more information about getting orthodontic work done. These free consultations can be a huge win as they can give you insight into what all is involved, answer any lingering questions you may have, help you find out whether you will be a good candidate for getting orthodontics done, as well as discuss things like payment plans and what the cost will be to you as well.
Where can I get braces?
Finding out all of this information free of charge can be incredibly important to individuals who don’t want to spend money simply to find out what their options are. Having the freedom to be able to go to an office and speak with a professional about your particular orthodontic needs can help put your mind at ease and put you in the driver’s seat of making decisions for what’s in the best interests of your health.
Another great way to identify a fantastic orthodontic office is to simply talk about what kind of payment methods they accept. High quality offices will always make sure there are a wide variety of payments that they allow such as utilizing credit cards, orthodontic insurance, cash, or in some cases even payment plans where you can split up the cost of your procedure over several smaller payments instead of a few larger ones. Doing it in this way can help make sure that you get the quality of care you need at a price you are able to afford.
Age for braces
With so many benefits and so few drawbacks, it is little wonder that more and more adults are getting orthodontic treatment and realizing that age is no barrier to good orthodontic health.
Summary:
In essence, there is no age limit for you to get braces. This is good news if you require braces and may have feared that you didn’t qualify. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, many adult patients get braces installed on a regular basis. Typically, the only requirements for braces are a healthy jaw bone and that the patient has permanent or adult teeth.
However, if you need any orthodontics or braces, it is imperative that you speak to your orthodontist and get an assessment.
And while there is no age limit, adults patients may need to fulfil more requirements than children for various reasons; a major one being that children’s bones are still growing and so the orthodontist can manipulate the teeth in the jaws more easily than in adults.
In general, it is best to have strong teeth and jaws before getting braces installed because of the nature of the procedures and the complications that could arise if your jaws are not strong or healthy. Orthodontists and other dental specialists recommend this to prevent unnecessary consequences such as jaw issues, gum disease, or tooth decay.
Additionally, your orthodontist can also inform adult patients if the structural changes they have experienced in the alignment of their teeth cannot be accomplished with just braces alone, and if they may also need oral surgery to achieve the same results as a child or adolescent whose bones are still growing.
Reference:
Kim Y. (2017). Study on the perception of orthodontic treatment according to age: A questionnaire survey. Korean journal of orthodontics, 47(4), 215–221. https://doi.org/10.4041/kjod.2017.47.4.215
