There have been dramatic improvements in dental braces over the past 15 years. The dental hardware, time-consuming process and end results have all evolved. These advances make orthodontic treatments more enticing for adults who have previously avoided teeth-straightening procedures.
According to the American Association of Orthodontics, about one million American adults are currently wearing braces. That number represents a 25 percent increase in usage by those over 18 since 1989.
The Choice to Wear Braces as an Adult
There are many factors that play into the decision to seek orthodontic treatment in adulthood. Often, adult patients can more readily afford braces, which average $5000-6,000 in cost. Older patients are more appreciative of the cosmetic and health benefits and understand that undergoing orthodontic treatments can improve quality of life, both personally and professionally.
Health Benefits
Braces surely have a major cosmetic impact for the wearer, but there are also many associated health benefits. In fact, some people who had braces as children sometimes choose to repeat orthodontic treatment as an adult to further improve their teeth.
There are several ways that misaligned teeth can impact overall health:
- The body’s overall bone density thins with age including the bones in the mouth, which can result in shifting teeth.
- Teeth can shift with general wear and tear or teeth grinding.
- Increased plaque build-up between misaligned teeth can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
- Crooked teeth offset the bite and can result in chronic headaches and earaches.
- Improper biting and chewing can lead to gastrointestinal problems.
The Hardware
The tremendous advances that have been made to the tedious process of wearing braces have made them less daunting a prospect to adults. The timeline for treatment remains between 18-36 months, depending upon individual cases. A maintenance retainer is still worn after the braces are removed. However, there are now more varieties of braces available, including those that are less noticeable.
There are several options to consider when deciding about braces:
- Traditional metal brackets: They work best for severely crooked teeth and significant bite problems and provide the fastest route to correction. Advances in the field have allowed the brackets to be smaller in size.
- Clear brackets: While this option is effective and more cosmetically appealing than metal brackets, it is more expensive. Some drawbacks include potential staining from certain foods and more likelihood of breakage than metal brackets.
- Lingual braces: This hardware attaches to the back of teeth to hide them. It is a less popular option.
- Invisalign: This is a series of clear, removable aligners, which are worn around the clock, except for mealtimes and brushing. They are effective but have limited effectiveness for certain dental problems; they do not effectively treat vertical issues, severe overcrowding or rotated teeth. The treatment time is about one and a half years with the aligner configuration being changed every two weeks.
Regardless of the treatment option chosen, faithfully wearing a retainer after the braces are removed is still the gold standard for long-term maintenance of a new smile. While it was previously thought that wearing a retainer for a year was sufficient, the current advice is to wear a retainer for lifetime retention.
The Bottom Line
The relatively short-term inconvenience of wearing braces results in a more beautiful smile and major long-term benefits for adults. The gift of a perfect smile is well worth the investment this holiday season.