My Blog
Archive:
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
Tags
- celebrity smiles (77)
- braces (15)
- orthodontics (14)
- oral piercings (1)
- oral health (22)
- wisdom teeth (6)
- bad breath (2)
- oral hygiene (25)
- common symptoms (1)
- New Port Richey (2)
- Veneers (9)
- cosmetic dentistry (15)
- teeth whitening (7)
- bleaching (1)
- discolored teeth (1)
- stained teeth (1)
- fluoride (2)
- Dental Implants (25)
- retainers (5)
- periodontal disease (1)
- gum disease (9)
- dental implant (4)
- thumb sucking (3)
- pediatric dentistry (17)
- bonding (2)
- jaw surgery (1)
- smile makeover (2)
- Dental Checkup (1)
- CEREC (2)
- oral cancer (3)
- Healthy Veneers (1)
- brushing teeth (1)
- orthodontic treatment (15)
- tooth extraction (1)
- dentures (1)
- Reviews (1)
- root canal (1)
- tads (1)
- flossing (2)
- teething (3)
- ClearCorrect (1)
- bridge (1)
- tmj disorders (4)
- tmd (1)
- tmj (1)
- dental anxiety (1)
- topical fluoride (1)
- Laser Dentistry (3)
- teeth wear (1)
- Cerec Crowns (3)
- crowns (5)
- partial denture (3)
- Clear Correct (3)
- pediatric care (1)
- implant overdentures (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- dental crowns (1)
- antibiotics (2)
- diabetes (2)
- artificial sweeteners (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- root canal treatment (4)
- tooth decay (5)
- restorative dentistry (3)
- dental emergency (1)
- dental injury (8)
- mouthguards (2)
- mouthguard (1)
- clear braces (1)
- nutrition (2)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- gum recession (2)
- porcelain veneers (6)
- Gum Pain (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- fillings (1)
- teeth grinding (4)
- plaque (1)
- adult braces (1)
- apioectomy (1)
- medicine (1)
- chipped tooth (4)
- oral heath (1)
- bone grafting (1)
- tooth pain (1)
- toothache (1)
- sugar (1)
- Damaged Teeth (1)
- crown (1)
- Crowns & Bridges (1)
- gummy smile (1)
- bridgework (1)
- tooth wear (1)
- removable partial denture (1)
- tooth loss (1)
- x-rays (1)
- tooth replacement (1)
- jaw pain (1)
- cleft lip (1)
- cleft palate (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- CEREC One Visit Crowns (1)
- loose tooth (1)
- bonded retainer (2)
Categories:
My Dentistry Blog
Posts for tag: adult braces
It’s something you think about often—especially when you look in a mirror or at a photo of yourself. You wish something could have been done about it a long time ago. But now you think you’re too old to correct your misaligned teeth—your “crooked” smile.
Actually, you can transform your smile through orthodontics, whatever your age. Millions of your peers have done just that—currently, an estimated one in five orthodontic patients is an adult.
If orthodontics isn’t right for you it won’t be because of age, but most likely the condition of your gums and underlying bone or your overall health. That first factor is extremely important: if you’ve lost a significant amount of bone due to periodontal (gum) disease, there may not be enough to support the force of moving the teeth during orthodontics.
Health conditions like severe heart-valve disease, uncontrolled diabetes or drugs to treat arthritis or osteoporosis can also make tooth movement difficult. And, if you have restricted saliva flow (dry mouth), wearing orthodontic devices could be uncomfortable and increase your risk of tooth decay.
If, however, your mouth and body are reasonably healthy (and you don’t have a difficult bite problem to correct), there’s no reason why you can’t undergo orthodontic treatment. The only other thing that might hold you back is concern over your appearance during treatment. Many adults balk at the possible embarrassment of wearing metal braces “at their age.”
If this is a concern, you may have an alternative: clear aligners. These are a series of computer-generated clear plastic trays that conform to the individual contours of your teeth. Each tray is slightly different—you wear one for a short period of time (usually two weeks) before moving on to the next tray to successively and gradually move your teeth. They’re nearly invisible to others and, unlike fixed metal braces, you can take them out for a rare special occasion.
The only way you’ll know whether correcting your misaligned teeth is a viable option is to undergo a full orthodontic evaluation. From there we can help you decide if and how you want to gain a straighter, more attractive smile.
If you would like more information on adult orthodontics, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Orthodontics for the Older Adult.”
