While many children and teens wear braces, adults wear braces more often than you might realize. Today, four million Americans wear braces and a whopping 25% of them are adults.
Getting braces as an adult can be a great choice if you need to straighten crooked teeth and want to feel more confident about your smile. However, there are many options out there so it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you.
Ready to learn more about dental braces and aligners? Here’s how to choose between different types of braces for adults.
Advantages of Adult Braces
People of all ages can benefit from braces. Getting braces can help you improve your confidence and self-esteem and can help you feel happier about the appearance of your smile.
Adult braces are a great tool for fixing common dental problems. It can help correct an underbite, an overbite, teeth gaps, overcrowding, and certain jaw problems such as TMJ. They can help improve speech impediments and boost your overall oral health as well.
By getting adult dental braces, you may be able to develop more confidence in your personal life and career. Getting them is worth considering if you feel like your teeth are in need of significant improvements.
What to Consider When Choosing Adult Braces
There are several things to consider when choosing between types of adult braces. Here are the main things to think about when making your choice.
Cost of Treatment
Be sure to consider the cost when choosing adult braces. The pricing of braces types varies and some will fit your budget better than others. Metal braces are usually the most affordable, but clear aligners are also fairly budget-friendly as well. Lingual braces, on the other hand, tend to be the most expensive option.
Length of Treatment
The length of treatment also varies between braces types. On average, patients have braces for between one and three years but a person’s needs vary.
Also, some braces will take less time than others. For example, many patients end up completing treatment with Invisalign months sooner than those with metal braces.
Braces Appearance
You might also want to consider how the braces affect your appearance. Many people prefer clear aligners because they’re clear and difficult for someone to see. If you think you may feel self-conscious with braces, you may want to opt for clear aligners or lingual braces.
Convenience and Flexibility
The convenience and effectiveness of the adult braces you choose is also worth considering. Aligners and braces vary in their levels of comfort, what you’re allowed to eat, and how you’ll need to take care of them.
Invisalign is more flexible than braces and doesn’t require big changes to your diet or oral care routine. You can remove them when eating or brushing your teeth.
Types of Adult Braces
There are many types of braces and aligners available for adults. Here are the main options to consider when getting adult braces.
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces are a standard option and remain a great choice for several reasons. They still do a great job of teeth straightening and can help improve your smile.
Metal braces may not look as good as aligners and other types of braces, but they align teeth well. Conventional braces are also a bit more budget-friendly than other braces options that are available. Despite this, metal braces can cause more irritation than other options and could lead to increased plaque and swollen gums.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are another option that you may want to consider, particularly if appearance is important to you. These braces are completely invisible because they’ll be positioned behind the teeth. They’re customizable and versatile and can be a great option to consider if you need to improve teeth alignment issues.
These braces could have a negative impact on speech and could cause some tongue irritation, however, so be aware of this. They also tend to be the most expensive braces option when compared to others that are available.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are much less visible than metal braces and are either clear or the color of your teeth. These braces are a great alternative to Invisalign if you want to get your teeth aligned without feeling self-conscious.
Ceramic braces are also a more budget-friendly option compared to Invisalign, so keep this in mind. You also need to take care of these well to prevent staining. However, despite this, ceramic braces are generally a very good option to consider.
Self-Ligating Braces
Self-ligating braces are another option and are very similar to metal and ceramic braces. Instead of using rubber ties, self-ligating braces make use of clips to hold wires in place.
These braces are easy to work on and alter, so appointments will be short. They’re a good option if you want to have short dental visits and you want to experience minimal discomfort while fixing alignment issues.
Invisalign
Invisalign and clear aligners are among the most convenient options for straightening teeth and offer a lot of unique benefits when compared to braces. Invisalign can be used for either minimal or significant dental problems.
Clear aligners are removable and more flexible than other types of braces that are available. They’re also invisible, so they won’t make you feel too self-conscious when wearing them. The need for appointments when getting Invisalign is minimal, so you won’t have to worry about spending a long time at the doctor’s office.
Deciding Between Types of Braces
Metal braces are a very budget-friendly option that can work well for straightening teeth. However, other braces such as ceramic braces and aligners such as Invisalign offer less visibility.
If you need adult braces, get in touch with Sencak Orthodontics. With a strong education and years of dental experience, Dr. Gregory Sencak and his team can meet all of your braces and dental care needs.
Want to learn more about your braces options? Learn more about Sencak Orthodontics and set up an appointment to learn more about how we can help.
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