Adult Orthodontics 101: What You Need to Know Before Getting Braces

adult with orthodontic braces

Are you considering getting braces as an adult? Adult orthodontics are becoming increasingly popular with many adults opting to straighten their teeth, improve their smiles, and boost their confidence. Whether you're considering braces for cosmetic reasons or to improve your oral health, there are some important things you need to know about adult braces before beginning the treatment. From the different types of braces available, to the different benefits of adult braces, our guide to adult orthodontics will provide you with the essential information you need to make an informed decision about your treatment.

Adult Orthodontics

Braces are often seen as a dental treatment for children and teenagers - yet thanks to the continuous development of dental technology, they are now an accessible, discrete teeth realignment option for patients of all ages. Whether you missed the opportunity for braces as a child, or your teeth misalignment is a recent issue, adult braces are an excellent way to realign your teeth and create a natural-looking, dazzling smile.

Adult braces are highly effective in correcting a wide range of dental problems, from overcrowding, to realignment, and are very similar to traditional braces in that they consist of brackets and wires that are attached to the teeth. These brackets are made of metal, ceramic, or plastic, depending upon your unique dental needs, and the wires are used to apply pressure to the teeth, gradually moving them into the desired position.

There are several types of braces available to adults, including traditional metal braces, clear braces, gold braces, and Invisalign. Each option caters to different dental requirements and offers different levels of discreteness, so the best type of braces for you will depend upon your specific dental needs and personal preferences.

  • Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are often the most affordable option.
  • Clear braces are made of ceramic or plastic and are less noticeable than other, metallic braces.
  • Invisalign is a series of clear plastic aligners that are custom-made to fit your teeth and gradually move them into the correct position.

Here at Marsh House Orthodontics, we offer all of these fixed and removable brace options, alongside our brace care, repair, and discomfort aftercare services.

Benefits of Getting Braces as an Adult

If you are interested in getting braces, then you are probably already aware of the excellent cosmetic and aesthetic benefits of adult braces. However, the reasons to invest in adult orthodontics don’t end there - here are the key benefits of choosing braces for your teeth realignment needs and how their appearance and structure will improve your day-to-day life.

Cosmetic

Feeling self-conscious or embarrassed of your appearance and dental health can affect many things - your social life, emotional wellbeing, relationships with others, and, in some cases, your mental health. The feelings of inadequacy that come with misaligned or crooked teeth are not confined to children or teens, and anyone can feel self-conscious about their smile.

Getting braces as an adult will eliminate the source of these concerns, improving your confidence and having a knock-on effect on your overall self-esteem. Similarly, options such as Invisalign and clear braces make conspicuous metal brackets a thing of the past, so if an indiscreet, obvious metal system was an obstacle in your way to a great smile, we offer teeth realignment options to eliminate these concerns.

Dental Health

The primary function of braces is to reduce gaps, overcrowding, and overbites. With these unnecessary dental issues out of the way, you will be able to much more effectively care for your teeth and address any issues that arise. Straight teeth are easier to clean as the brush can reach parts of the teeth and gums that it wouldn’t normally be able to, reducing the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health problems. Additionally, adult braces can also improve the functionality of teeth, making it easier to chew and speak.

Dental Issues

Additionally, orthodontic treatment corrects issues with your bite or jaw, such as overbite, underbite, and crossbite, and alleviates physical symptoms associated with these conditions. Misaligned teeth and jaws can cause significant discomfort, including jaw pain, headaches, and soreness in the neck and shoulders, as well as damaging and grinding down the surrounding teeth, which only adds to the physical pain and discomfort of dealing with misaligned teeth. By correcting these bite issues, adult braces can provide relief from these physical symptoms and prevent additional damage to the surrounding teeth.

Achieve The Perfect Smile With Our Adult Orthodontics

If you are searching for the best and most effective teeth realignment options for a wide range of dental issues, then adult orthodontics are the best choice for a strong, healthy smile that can last a lifetime.

Whether you're looking to improve your oral health, boost your confidence, or simply enhance the appearance of your smile, our team here at Marsh House Orthodontics are here to help you achieve your goals. From your initial consultation to our aftercare tips, we are here to recommend and deliver the best treatment options for your specific needs, so call our team and book an appointment today.