Braces for adults: what you’ve always wanted to know

Category: Braces · 7 May 2019

If nature didn’t bless you with beautiful, straight teeth, you can still correct this as an adult with our invisible braces. Treatment is usually carried out in childhood, but sometimes that isn’t possible.

In our practice, we notice that more and more adults want to have their misaligned teeth corrected. This is often possible without any problems and in various ways. The fact is that more and more people are aware of the importance of healthy, well-cared-for teeth.

Correcting your teeth: not only beautiful but healthy too

Beautiful teeth don’t just polish up your appearance and your teeth – above all, straight teeth are healthy. Keeping your own teeth is also beneficial in the long term.

When the teeth are optimally positioned in the mouth, the bite works the way nature intended. If teeth are misaligned, overloading and malfunctions can occur. Straight teeth are also easier to care for, which helps in preventing tooth decay. If the teeth aren’t too close together, the spaces between them are easier to clean.

Gum inflammation (gingivitis) is also a problem for many adults. It becomes particularly tricky if the tissues that support the teeth are already inflamed. If there is inflammation, the orthodontist cannot start treatment, because there is a risk that the tooth movements induced could contribute to tooth loss.

Smoking also damages the jawbone

Anyone considering orthodontic treatment should stop smoking. This is because smokers have an increased risk of bone loss. In smokers, the risk of inflammation of the jaw and gums is five times higher.

If the teeth have already been weakened by bone loss, the orthodontist has to use lower forces and move the teeth more gently, possibly anchoring them to other teeth. If these are also affected by bone loss, treatment becomes more complicated: special mini-screws have to absorb the forces that occur, or the bone first has to be built up. This affects the duration and the cost of treatment.

Otherwise, treating misaligned teeth in adults hardly differs from the approach taken with children or teenagers. However, the jawbone becomes firmer with age, so an adult should expect a longer treatment time.

Fixed or removable braces for adults?

Whether fixed or removable braces are used for adults depends on the severity of the misalignment and the adult’s preferences. The type of treatment can, however, also affect how long treatment takes.

Fixed braces are used for people with severely misaligned teeth. To fit this kind of braces, the orthodontist bonds small metal plates (brackets) to the teeth and runs an archwire across the teeth. This connects the brackets to one another. The gentle pressure pushes the teeth into the correct position.

If the brackets are to be less conspicuous, adults can choose brackets made of plastic or ceramic. However, these are more expensive than wires and often don’t last as long.

Even more discreet are brackets attached to the inside of the teeth using the lingual technique. They even remain completely hidden from others when you smile. However, some patients report that this type of braces initially interferes with speaking until you get used to wearing them.

Invisible aligners

The removable aligners are ideal for milder misalignments. In aligner treatment, these are corrected with a series of aligners made individually for you, which makes them very comfortable. These so-called “aligners” are almost invisible on the teeth.

Invisible aligners can be used to treat the majority of misalignments in adults and teenagers. Whether your smile just needs a slight improvement or more extensive adjustments, the aligners can help. They are successful in treating crowding and gaps. But they can also bring relief for more complex problems such as overbite, deep bite and even crossbite.

Thanks to our experience, we can treat almost any misalignment with invisible aligners. If you have questions about costs, treatment time and the types of braces available, contact us today.

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