Guide to Braces for Adults

Are you thinking of getting dental braces as an adult? It could be that you are more aware of the health and cosmetic benefits of straight teeth or that your parents could not pay for you to have braces as a child. Well, in either case, you don’t have to worry as many adults are finally taking the step to have that perfect smile and well-aligned teeth. You can find some useful information in the following guide about braces for adults if you need help to make the right decision.

It is common to see adolescents with dental braces so many adult patients usually get nervous when they think about what others would say. But, you can breathe easy as braces options have evolved significantly in the past fifteen years. There is no need to settle for the metal types, as they are more cosmetically-friendly and lightweight options available today.

Adult Braces
In recent years, many alternative options to the metal braces have been made available. These include the lingual braces, clear fixed braces, ceramic braces, Damon braces and more. There are clear or invisible braces which are not only less visible than the traditional types, but are made of a tight fitting transparent plastic. These newer types can be removed after shorter periods if necessary by the patient. This means that you could remove them for occasions such as a first date or a job interview. To find out how much you'll need to pay for them, see this great resource on the average price of braces.

After making the decision to get braces, the next step is to meet with an orthodontist. In general, an orthodontist will do panoramic X-rays of the mouth and individual teeth. Next, a putty stuff would be used to get molds of the teeth. Once this is done, your orthodontist would review the results from the X-rays as well as the molds to decide on the best treatment plan.

You might have to get metal or rubber spacers if the space is very tight between some teeth. This would be done before adding the braces and could stay in for around a week. Besides that, the orthodontist might recommend that you extract some teeth or get a professional teeth cleaning done before adding the braces.

When it’s time to put on the braces, the whole procedure might take around two hours if you are getting a full set because every row of teeth will take about one hour. You will not feel any pain during this time, but your mouth might be tired after being bolstered open for such a long time. That said, some discomfort should be expected if you want to see results, just like when using other types of braces such as shoulder braces. In the end, you will resolve your dental problems and your crooked smile.

Although many people might not be too keen on getting braces for adults, you are sure to end up with a great smile that can make a huge difference in personal and professional life. The cost for the braces and the temporary inconvenience of wearing them will be well-worth it in the long run.