Nearly 25% of all orthodontic patients today are adults, and that number continues to grow as more and more adults realize the benefits of orthodontic treatment.
Adults can suffer from the same orthodontic problems as children and, even if you had braces when you were younger, your teeth can – and likely will – continue to shift over time. You may be a good candidate for orthodontic treatment if you have:
While you may be used to living with uneven teeth, they can cause serious problems in the future. The alignment of your teeth, jaws, and bite affects how well you speak, chew, and breathe, and proper alignment is important for normal, healthy oral function.
Improperly spaced teeth can be difficult to clean, and the surfaces of your teeth you can’t reach become prime breeding grounds for bacteria, plaque, and tartar, all of which can further lead to cavities, gum disease, or even tooth loss. Orthodontic treatment ensures the proper spacing of all your teeth so they can be adequately cleaned, ensuring their health for the rest of your life.
Crossbites, overbites, and severe overcrowding can lead to uneven wear on the teeth, putting extra strain on some teeth that can cause them to chip or crack. An open bite is characterized by front teeth that don’t meet even when the jaws are closed. This misalignment forces the jaw into an unnatural position that can cause headaches, jaw pain, earaches, neck pain, and facial pain.
Despite the temporary inconvenience and cost, adult orthodontic treatment can help preserve the health and strength of your teeth, gums, jaws, and facial structure for the rest of your life. Not only can a straight smile help improve your self-confidence, but it can also improve your overall health.
Orthodontic treatment uses constant, gentle pressure to move teeth into better alignment and positioning, a process that doesn’t change no matter how old you get. While the greater bone density of adult teeth may extend treatment time, adults and children can still receive virtually the same orthodontic treatment with the same results.
The greatest differentiator between adult and pediatric orthodontic treatment is the number of options available. Children typically receive orthodontic treatment between the ages of 8 and 14, when their permanent teeth are growing in and their jaws and facial bones are still forming and developing. An adult’s jaw is fully developed and is limited in its future movement, eliminating the possibility of devices like palatal expanders and space maintainers, or spacers.
If you’re an adult in need of orthodontic care, don’t worry—today’s braces aren’t what you wore in high school. Innovations in procedures, techniques, and technology mean orthodontics have come a long way over the decades, offering treatment options that boast less discomfort, shorter treatment times, better results.
Dental Depot DFW is more than just your routine dental care provider. Thanks to our on-site orthodontists and orthodontic specialists, as well as our state-of-the-art facilities, we can offer the latest and greatest in orthodontic treatments. These include:
You don’t know what’s possible until you ask. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at any one of our four DFW area locations and find out if orthodontic treatment is right for you. Our orthodontic team will be happy to conduct an initial assessment and discuss treatment options, time, and approximate cost with you. Click here to find the location nearest you.
Affordable and effective, traditional braces use brackets and archwires to fix mild to severe teeth crowding as well as various bite alignment problems.
Ceramic braces operate just like traditional metal braces—with brackets and archwires—but they feature “clear” tooth-colored brackets that are less visibly obvious.
Damon brackets are a type of self-litigating braces, which means they use specialized metal clips to hold wires in place—instead of the o-rings used in traditional or clear braces—and a sliding mechanism to apply gradual pressure. Damon brackets can deliver the same results as traditional braces but with less discomfort, fewer office visits, and less inconvenience of care.
Invisalign is a brand of clear aligner treatment. This treatment option uses a progressive series of removable clear aligners that are molded to your teeth and gently guide the teeth into the proper alignment. Although they are removable, clear aligners must be worn at least 22 hours every day.
