Many people think of braces as just for kids, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, as long as you still have your natural teeth, it’s not too late to get a dazzling, confident smile. Whether you’re just starting on your journey through adulthood or have taken a dizzying number of trips around the sun, you can talk to your orthodontist about fixing up your smile with adult braces in Rolesville. Ready to get started? Here’s what you need to know about straightening your teeth in your adult years.
What You Need to Know About Getting Braces as an Adult
Like kids, adults have many excellent tooth-straightening treatments to consider, including:
- Traditional braces
- Headgear
- Clear aligners
- Retainers
The type of braces you need greatly depends on your overall tooth alignment and dental health. Your orthodontist will perform an exam to figure out if you’re a good candidate for adult braces. Then, they will let you know which options might work best for you.
No matter which option you go with as an adult, you’ll undoubtedly find the process more convenient than if you got braces as a kid. Most adults need fewer appointments, for example, and can zip in and out of the orthodontist’s office with ease.
On the other side of the equation, you may need periodontal work to prepare your mouth for braces if you have missing teeth or bone loss. The breakdown of teeth and bone tissue is more common in adults, of course, but it’s also rather simple to repair before you begin treatment.
Differences in Braces Made for Adults
Aside from the potential need for any initial periodontal work, braces for kids and adults follow the same process. You must have imaging done, get your braces fitted or made, and then wear them as instructed while following your personal care recommendations. You must also return for adjustments and checkups as needed to keep your teeth moving in the right direction. However, that doesn’t mean the entire treatment process is the same as it’s always been.
Across all age groups, the world of orthodontics has changed a lot in recent years. New advancements in braces technology have made straightening teeth faster, easier, and more precise than ever before. The iTero intraoral scanner, for example, allows orthodontists to take accurate images of your tooth and gum structure so that they can customize your perfect treatment. Then, SureSmile technology goes beyond traditional braces with custom archwires that comfortably fit your teeth and jaws.
If you prefer clear aligners in Rolesville, you’ll be pleased to hear that their designs have been improving over the years as well. When compared to traditional braces, they’re less painful and offer faster results, often straightening out smiles within just six to twelve months. Plus, they’re made right in the onsite laboratory, so you don’t have to wait long to get started on your journey toward straighter teeth.
Despite all these advancements, braces are becoming more affordable all the time. Unless you need major restoration work done first, the overall cost of braces for adults is around the same as the price for kids’ braces.
You will also need to factor in the cost of a retainer as it’s needed to keep your teeth straight after the treatment process ends. Whether you choose traditional braces, clear aligners, or another option, you may have to wear the retainer day and night to keep your teeth from shifting back into their original positions. Your orthodontist will let you know how often to wear the retainer and for how long. Many people have to keep wearing it at least at night for the rest of their lives to keep their smile looking its best.
To get the most bang for your buck, it’s important to go all-in with your braces and dental care during the treatment process and well afterward. You have to skip crunchy and sticky foods during treatment, for example, to avoid breaking brackets, wires, and causing other types of damage. You must also carefully brush and floss your teeth as recommended to keep cavities at bay, especially since your enamel is likely wearing away in your adult years.
Adult Braces Can Effectively Fix Up Your Smile
With the right treatment option and proper care, adult braces can quickly and effectively fix up your smile. So, cast aside the myth that adult teeth are too far gone and cannot be fixed with braces, and contact your orthodontist for a free consultation. They will help you envision your perfect smile and map out your ideal path toward achieving that goal.
With their help, you’ll be beaming brightly before you know it – and can retain the results for good by simply wearing your retainer as instructed. You can then ditch the self-conscious worries as your newfound confidence puts a pep in your step and leaves you showing off your smile to the world.
Laster Orthodontics is the Place to Go in the Triangle for Adult Braces
At Laser Orthodontics, more than 35% of our patients are adults looking to straighten their teeth with braces. So, if you come to us for traditional braces, clear aligners, and the like, you’ll definitely be in good company.
Furthermore, we’ve been voted the best orthodontist near Rolesville, Zebulon, and Raleigh by WRAL, so you simply know that you’ll get the highest quality of care. Need to see it to believe it? Just check out our Smile Gallery to see all the amazing transformations in our before and after photos.
Once you’re ready to get started on getting your perfect smile, simply give us a call at (919) 676-0541 to schedule a visit with Dr. Laster. He will assess your oral health and let you know if braces are best for you. You can then move forward with the creation of a precise treatment plan and start the first steps in getting your braces.
At Laster Orthodontics, we help families develop healthy, life-changing smiles using customized treatments, cutting-edge technologies, and caring relationships. Our individualized treatment plans help our patients achieve their perfect smile in the quickest, most painless way possible by utilizing a wide range of options from traditional braces to propel accelerated treatment to Dr. Laster’s in-house aligner program, Laster Perfect Smile. With three locations throughout the Triangle Area, we create life-changing smiles every day.