Orthodontics is a specialty in dentistry that focuses on correcting poorly positioned teeth and jaws. For years, children were the primary beneficiaries of orthodontic treatments. Now, many grown-ups are seeking LVL Orthodontics treatment has recently increased significantly. Many are looking into getting braces as an adult. This can be for many reasons. It could be for beauty, a better understanding of dental health, or even finishing up what was started in childhood.
Children need to get an orthodontic evaluation.
Unfortunately, many adults with incorrectly positioned teeth should have received the help they needed when their adult teeth were developing. Orthodontists in Calgary can identify potential problems as soon as your child starts developing adult teeth. Most orthodontists recommend a visit when your child is just seven years old.
Early visits will help you identify tooth development problems, such as teeth crowding, an uneven bite, overlapping, and crooked teeth. Corrective orthodontic treatments produce more favorable results within a shorter timeframe when implemented from a young age. For instance, a child will wear braces for a relatively shorter time than an adult because it is easier to realign teeth as they grow.
Getting Braces as an Adult
There are many options available when it comes to getting braces as an adult. Before considering orthodontic work, ensure you take proper care of your teeth. This includes brushing, flossing, routine dental visits, and avoiding Bad Oral Habits.
1) Getting Braces as an Adult is the same as in Childhood
Your teeth can be moved at any age, as long as your teeth and gums are healthy, says this cosmetic dentist in Paramus. Some things that might be different, though, are the desired results.
However, adults are more likely to have different issues than children. This includes periodontal disease, tooth loss, and even unfinished work from childhood. These can cause a change in the ways straight teeth are achieved.
2) Getting Braces As An Adult still Changes Your Diet
Remember in high school when you would see friends with braces at lunch? They couldn’t eat their pizza crust and had to cut their food into bite-size pieces to make the limited food selection at school work. While you will have many more options than you would have as a teen, you will still have to make changes to your diet when getting braces as an adult.
You have to avoid certain foods that could break or otherwise damage your orthodontics when getting braces. These limitations include chewy, crunchy, sticky, and hard foods. It also includes foods that require biting into, such as corn on the cob, apples, or even chicken wings!
3) A straight smile can affect your career
Some people assume that appearance doesn’t matter in some careers. However, a beautiful smile makes clients comfortable and keeps them coming back. This is why people in customer service are encouraged to smile when interacting with clients.
Your smile may not be directly responsible for your success, but your confidence and self-esteem will propel you to greater heights. Visiting an orthodontist will help you to correct any inadequacies in your dental and jaw alignment.
4) You’ll Need to Make time for checkups
Your situation will determine how long you will need the treatment. Generally, most orthodontic treatments last more than a year.
Your orthodontist will give you an estimate of how long the treatment will take. However, sometimes it may take longer. Several situations, such as a broken bracket, can change the time frame.
5) Braces are not cheap
One of the challenges for many getting braces as an adult is the cost of the treatment. The truth is braces are not cheap. The procedure and duration of treatment can cause a dent in your finances. However, the outcome will be worth it. Most orthodontic dentists offer payment plans, which are often flexible.
Before writing off an orthodontic procedure as expensive or unaffordable, find out what payment plans are in place. You might be surprised that making partial payments might be more affordable than you think. If you make a one-time payment in full, you should ask if you can get a discounted rate.
6) Braces may save you from many future dental treatments
Orthodontists are not just concerned about straightening your teeth. They also want to ensure that your bites fit together by the end of the treatment. Tooth decay is not just a product of poorly maintained teeth; sometimes, it is due to crowded or crooked teeth, underbites and overbites.
Other potential oral problems include tooth loss and gum disease. If you don’t have crowded teeth but a bad bite, your teeth can suffer too much wear due to clenching and grinding.
7) You may need more than one procedure
It is always best to approach orthodontics as a long-term solution. It may require you to use a support system to hold your teeth in place, especially when getting braces as an adult. For example, once you complete Invisalign, your doctor will decide if you need a retainer to hold your teeth in place.
Fortunately, there are different types of retainers you can use. Based on your orthodontist’s recommendation, you can use a permanent fixed retainer or a removable clear retainer at night.
Getting Braces as an Adult
Before you visit an orthodontist, you must understand that you are an active participant in the treatment. If, for example, your orthodontist gives you a retainer, it is best to follow instructions. The orthodontist will know if you have been using the retainer daily as required.
To achieve the desired outcome, you should use the retainer as expected. Otherwise, you may lose whatever progress you have made so far. Getting braces as an adult can make remarkable changes, but only if you follow your doctor’s orders.