If your teeth are misaligned or you have jaw pain, it might be time to consider orthodontic treatment. You’re never too old to have braces—in fact, today, one in four people receiving orthodontic treatment is an adult [1].
You have modern options besides traditional metal braces if you’re concerned about your appearance while receiving treatment. Many adults are finally getting the treatment they need to have a pain-free, straight smile they can enjoy for life!
So what are some of your options for getting straighter teeth as an adult?
Invisalign
Invisalign clear aligners are a popular choice for adults who may not want others to know they’re receiving treatment [2].
How does Invisalign work? Instead of wires and brackets, Invisalign uses clear aligners that are custom made for your smile to gently shift your teeth into place. Many patients find Invisalign more comfortable and easier to wear than braces.
Another advantageous feature of Invisalign is that it’s removable. You can take the aligners out when eating and cleaning your teeth, which not only means you’ll have better oral hygiene during your treatment as opposed to regular braces, but you also won’t have the eating restrictions that come with regular braces.
Damon Braces
Damon braces are self-litigating braces, meaning they self-adjust and don’t require regular adjustments the way normal braces do. In fact, research shows that patients with self-litigating braces reported less pain and discomfort during their treatment than those with regular braces [3].
One of the features adults love about Damon braces is their clear brackets, minimizing their appearance on the smile while still allowing you to receive effective treatment. Their discreet presence means some people may not even realize you’re wearing an orthodontic appliance!
Lingual Braces
For a unique orthodontic option, you may consider lingual braces. Lingual braces are just like traditional braces, but instead of the brackets being placed on the side of your teeth that people will see, lingual braces are placed on the backs of your teeth—meaning no one will see that you’re getting treatment!
Lingual braces provide patients a way to take advantage of all the benefits of traditional braces but without the appearance of them. With lingual braces, each bracket is customized to fit your unique smile, and some patients find the customized brackets more comfortable than those with regular braces [4].
To qualify for lingual braces, your teeth will need to be large enough to accommodate the brackets on the inside. Only your professional orthodontist can tell if you’d qualify for this form of treatment!
Schedule an Appointment with Your Orthodontist Today
With all the options available to you as an adult for straightening your teeth, why wait? Schedule an appointment with your local orthodontist today to learn more about each of these and more treatment options for finally getting your smile straight!
Sources:
1. https://www.aaoinfo.org/_/adult-orthodontics/
2. https://progressinorthodontics.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40510-018-0235-z
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151365/ 4.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273813387_Lingual_Orthodontics_simplifie
