Most people tend to think of an adolescent when it comes to someone wearing braces. However, many adults are also embracing the idea of getting braces—especially now since the introduction of clear braces that eliminates that awkwardness of having to get the traditional metal ones.
Why get adult braces?
There are a variety of reasons why people get braces:
- Improperly aligned teeth will cause you to have an unhealthy bite, which means you risk
excessive wear on your teeth, teeth chipping and jaw issues. - Improperly aligned teeth can be harder to brush. Therefore, people get braces to make it easier for them to clean their teeth.
- People with a large mouth may have extra spaces between their teeth, and a person with a small mouth may have teeth overlapping from crowding.
- Some people are dissatisfied with an imperfect smile and just want even straighter teeth.
Options
There are a variety of ways to get your teeth straightened. Your choice for straightening your teeth will depend primarily on your lifestyle and overall dental needs. Some prefer traditional braces while others prefer the removable aligners, also called invisible braces.
For those wanting invisible braces, the orthodontist will make a mould of two trays to fit into your mouth. These trays can be put in and worn any time of the day, and you have the option of removing them when you want to have braces-free teeth at meetings or for major events. This seems to be the best option for those who work in public—especially those whose jobs involve speaking.
You can also get clear braces that install like the classic braces, except in the case of clear braces, all the brackets and attachment pieces are clear. Clear braces and invisible aligners are just two options to consider when discussing with your orthodontist about the right type of adult braces you need.
What to expect when wearing adult braces
Various treatment times
The length of treatment will heavily depend on how much orthodontic treatment of other issues is needed. For instance, an adult with a mild misalignment problem may need braces for a few months. But a person who has a more serious misalignment issue will need braces for longer— potentially up to two years. Most adults usually experience between a year or a year and a half with braces. Those adults getting braces to have a perfect smile often need braces for just half a year.
Affected speech
Lingual braces and Invisalign will make you speak with a lisp when you first get them. After the first week, that problem usually disappears. If you get fixed braces on your front teeth, having a lisp won’t be an issue at all.
Whitening teeth after having braces
A lot of people want to know if they can get their teeth whitened after getting their braces removed, and the answer is yes. Some people elect to get their teeth whitened with their regular dentist while others prefer to use a whitening kit at home.
Book your appointment online
See our clinician availability and book a slot that works best around your schedule. Only Private appointments are bookable.
Book your appointment online
See our clinician availability and book a slot that works best around your schedule. Only Private appointments are bookable.