Getting older AND better is possible.
More and more adult men and women who either didn’t need or chose not to have their teeth straightened when they were adolescents are opting to have braces today. Braces have never been as affordable, as inconspicuous or as socially acceptable as they are today. Living longer and healthier has widened the appeal of orthodontics.
The older one becomes, the more important healthy, well-functioning teeth become. Ask any elderly person you know how important their teeth are to them. The abilities to chew comfortably, smile broadly, and communicate confidently are often dependant on good dental health.
Applying new technologies in archwires, self-ligating orthodontic brackets and temporary bone anchors has widened the scope and comfort of what we can do for adults.
As long as the bone and gum tissue around the teeth are healthy, the teeth can be moved and tooth alignment can be corrected. Optimal results can be obtained from orthodontic treatment in adults the same as they can be achieved in growing individuals.
Why Adults Have Orthodontic Treatment
Several reasons why adults have orthodontic treatment are: an improved and more youthful appearance, help in assuring long-term health and preservation of the teeth and jaw structures, comfort in chewing, and simply to feel better about one’s self and one’s overall appearance and health.
One or all of these benefits is reason enough for most people to seek orthodontic treatment. It’s all part of looking and feeling your best. For whatever reason, having the smile you’ve always wanted will provide a more attractive and youthful appearance and more self-confidence in dealing with others.
Orthodontic treatment can also help people keep their teeth healthier longer. Crowded or overlapping teeth can create problems in cleaning and contribute to periodontal disease, which can lead to eventual loss of teeth if allowed to go unchecked. Correcting the tooth and jaw relationship can provide comfort in chewing over a lifetime.
Continuing regular care of your dentist is essential during orthodontic care. Depending on the problem, an individual may also require a referral for any of the following:
- Periodontal treatment – for implant placement, tooth exposure or for correction of defects of the gum tissue and bone surrounding and supporting the teeth and to restore these teeth to optimum health before the teeth can be moved.
- Oral Surgery – if difficult extractions, exposure of impacted, or placement of implants or certain bone anchors are indicated.
- Restorative treatment (crown, implants, bridge) – to restore missing teeth or teeth that must be rebuilt.
- TMJ treatment – treatment to correct malfunction of jaw movement and to relieve pain and discomfort (headaches, earaches, facial pain, neckaches, etc.), which result from malfunction of jaw movement.
33 Year Old Patient
Treatment Time - 15 months
6/16/2008 9/3/2009