Key Things You Should Know About Adult Braces
Braces have been thought to be for kids and teenagers only. Today, however, even though childhood is the best time for one to get braces, they (braces) can work for adults too. If you are an adult with teeth problems such as crowded teeth, crooked teeth, underbites and overbites, jaw joint disorders and incorrect jaw position, braces can help correct the disorders. Besides ensuring that you have the perfect smile, braces will improve your overall health. If you are considering adult braces, here are a few things you should know first.
The Duration of Recovery
The period of recovery varies considerably from one person to another and usually depends on the type of disorder you have or the type of braces you are using. The duration could be anywhere between months and few years. However, as an adult, your braces may take slightly longer to correct your teeth. First, your bone will have stopped growing. This means that any structural changes will take considerably longer for you than for a teenager or child.
Also, adults may have some conditions such as marginal bone loss that children or teenagers wouldn't suffer from. This together with the aging of tissue would mean that your bone will take longer to adjust to the new positions of the teeth. If you have a deep overbite, a tooth or two may have to be extracted to create room for the other teeth to move back. Overall, with such conditions, your tooth realignment process may be more involved than for children and teenagers and this will extend our duration of recovery.
The Options
Just like in children and teenagers, there are multiple options when it comes to adult braces. However, many adults, especially those working with the public, prefer invisible braces, popularly referred to as removable aligners. They are mouthguard-like, clear and can be removed a night or on special workplace or family occasions for enhanced comfort. However, they may not work for severe cases such as deep overbites or underbites and are usually very expensive. The conventional metal braces are still an option if you are looking for the least expensive alternative. They have the metal brackets attached to your teeth and linked together with archwires that pull your teeth gradually to the intended positions. While the size of the brackets and archwires is smaller than in the past, metal braces are still the most noticeable. You can go for the slightly more expensive ceramic braces that have clear or white ceramic brackets in place of the metal to blend in well with your teeth. If you are looking for something unnoticeable from the outside but cheaper than invisible braces, choose lingual braces. They are similar to metal braces with the only difference being that they are attached to the tongue side of the mouth. Unfortunately, this means they will get in the way of your tongue, which can cause injuries or interfere with your speech.
