Adult Braces – No Kidding

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. – Phyllis Diller

Are you one of the millions of adults looking for ways to improve your physical appearance? Are you considering braces? If so, join the crowd. According to the American Association of Orthodontists the number of Americans 18 and older getting braces or some other teeth-straightening treatment jumped 58 percent, to 1.1 million from 680,000 annually from 1994 to 2010. In 2010, adults accounted for 22 percent of orthodontic patients, up from 17 percent in 1994.

There’s more to braces than simply looking good. Think of orthodontic treatment as an investment in you – your physical well being and your emotional health.  A healthy bite is as important at age 60 as it is at age 16. Remember, healthy teeth can be moved at any age. Misaligned teeth leave the teeth and gums at risk for gum disease and cavities, which in turn can lead to other dental work such as fillings, root canals, implants, dentures and other costly procedures. Left untreated, misaligned teeth can cause migraines, earaches and even heart disease!

It’s time to see an orthodontist if you experience any of these issues:

·         Protruding teeth

·         Teeth don’t meet at all or are out of alignment when you close your mouth

·         Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth

·         Grinding or clenching of teeth

·         Inability to comfortably close your lips over your teeth

·         TMJ or temporomandibular (jaw) joint pain

·         Jaws that shift, make clicking sounds, protrude or are recessed

·         Difficulty chewing ,biting or eating

·         Headache or earaches

·         Mouth breathing

·         Speech difficulty

Did you know orthodontics have been around since 1900? Today, orthodontists have several different types of braces to choose from, depending on the nature and severity of their patients issues.

·         Traditional braces

·         Mini Braces

·         Incognito™ Invisible Braces

·         Invisalign® aligners

Traditional braces have come a long way. Newer mini brace use the same type of brackets, wires and bands as their larger counterparts, but are about 30 percent smaller. Mini braces are made of a stronger grade of stainless steel than their larger counterparts; bigger is not better in this case. Easier to keep clean, mini braces are significantly less noticeable than traditional metal braces. Their smaller size also makes mini braces more comfortable to wear.

Incognito™: Customized, Invisible Braces or hidden braces are placed on the backs of the teeth; no one will know you are wearing them.  These state-of-the-art braces are customized to the shape of your teeth and to your specific your dental situation. Unlike clear aligners, you’ll never have to worry about remembering to insert or remove them while eating and drinking.

Invisalign® straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, by using a series of clear removable appliances called aligners. Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at the various stage of the treatment plan. Designed to move your teeth in small, gradual steps, the Invisalign System combines advanced 3-D computer graphics technology with the skills and science of orthodontics. Invisalign appliances are virtually undetectable; hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth. Anywhere from 12 to 48 appliances may be required over the course of treatment. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually – week-by-week until the final alignment prescribed is attained.

With so many different treatment options available today, only a skilled orthodontist can tell you which one will work best for you.  Take a moment to Dr. Jim Anderson to schedule an orthodontic consultation – your satisfied smile is worth it.