Adult braces: Did I miss the boat on straight teeth?

Braces are almost a right of passage here in Atlanta. Walk into any middle school, and you’ll see hundreds of smiling faces with braces. But not every person gets braces while they’re young.

Thankfully, childhood is definitely not the only time you can get braces. For those of you who missed out on braces as a child, or who didn’t need braces until your teeth shifted out of position as an adult, adult braces are here to give you the straight smile you’ve always wanted at any age.

Is it ever too late to get braces? 

You’re NEVER too old to get braces. In fact, about 20% of people wearing braces right now at this moment are over 18. Click here to know all about braces. 

With age comes wisdom, and many adults choose to get braces because they understand how the function of the teeth affects how we feel throughout our entire bodies. If you’ve ever dealt with the common side effects of crooked or crowded teeth or a misaligned jaw, you know how much a night of missed sleep because of teeth grinding can affect your performance at work, or pain from trying to eat with a misaligned jaw can make keeping a healthy diet difficult. Perhaps you’re simply tired of dealing with cavities because it’s nearly impossible to properly clean your teeth when they’re crowded. Adult braces can help you say goodbye to these inconveniences and hello to a straight, healthy smile.

Is there any difference between adult braces and children’s braces? 

The process of repositioning the teeth is basically the same in children and adults. Once a braces method is chosen, from traditional metal braces to Invisalign aligners and everything in between, the teeth are gently repositioned into their proper place, resulting in a straight, gorgeous smile.

The only differences are that adults tend to have more previous dental work that orthodontists must work around and that the adult jaw is already fully formed. Nearly any type of dental work, including crowns, veneers, fillings, and bridges, will not prevent an adult from being able to get braces. The orthodontist will just have to use additional methods to make sure the dental work is preserved during the tooth-straightening process.

Also, treatment with adult braces can take slightly longer than with children’s braces. Because the adult jaw is already fully grown and the bone is fully developed, it takes longer to move the teeth. Children’s jaws are still forming, and their teeth can be moved more easily.

Aligners are the clear choice for adult braces 

Adults can get any of the same types of braces that children can, but the clear choice for our adult braces clients is clear aligners. Clear aligners like Invisalign are worn over the teeth, similar to a retainer. Clear aligners are totally transparent, meaning no one will know you’re wearing them but you. Plus, Invisalign aligners are removable, so you can take them out to eat, give a presentation at work, or go on a date. Adults love the convenience of clear aligners.

Interested in getting the grown-up smile you’ve always wanted? 

Schedule your consult today. We’re the Atlanta braces specialists for patients of any age!