When we think of braces, we usually think of them as treatment we receive in our teen years. However, contrary to popular belief, one in five orthodontic patients today are adults! Taking care of your smile is not a job that ends once you become an adult. You’re never too old to get the confidence from a straight smile that braces can provide. At Moon Orthodontics, we want you to feel your best no matter what age you are. Here are just a few of the advantages of getting braces as an adult.
Improved Overall Health
There’s more to braces than just straightening your teeth. Braces provide a variety of benefits for your overall health. Common health problems such as headaches, jaw pain, and even digestion and sleep issues can be addressed and avoided by getting braces. Braces can be more high maintenance, but this maintenance can encourage habits that increase overall oral cleanliness. The extra care that goes into cleaning your teeth with braces can lead to a healthier mouth. Straighter teeth can also make the cleaning process easier, with less room for plaque and bacteria to grow inside. This decreases your risk of cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. It can also give you more access to your gum line, which makes flossing much easier.
Here’s another thing to consider: Your teeth are an important part of the digestive process, and so their effect on your health goes a long way. For example, misalignment of your jaw can cause damage to the area where your teeth meet when you take a bite, which can make the chewing process difficult and uncomfortable. When your jaw or teeth do not meet properly when you’re chewing, you risk over-exerting your jaw muscles which can lead to complications like TMD or temporomandibular joint disorder. The result of not chewing properly is that your digestion can be compromised. The food is not adequately digested, which leads to a lack of nutrient absorption, indigestion, and reflux.
Cost Efficient
No matter what age you start treatment, it’s a cost-efficient solution for tooth and jaw problems. All the expensive dentist visits that keep your smile in perfect condition can be decreased with the help of braces. They can help you fight cavities, reduce your risk of gum disease, and avoid expensive dental procedures like tooth extractions. Other orthodontic issues like jaw misalignment can wear down your teeth, which can leave your teeth chipped, cracked, or even gone altogether, which can be costly for you in the long run. On top of that, braces deal with these problems directly, so you don’t have to see specialists who will treat symptoms of problems rather than the source. All this helps you save time, money, and stress by tackling the root of problems before they can manifest.
Variety of Treatment
At Moon Orthodontics, we have plenty of treatment options for you to pick from. Our office provides cutting-edge orthodontic technology and treatment, so your new orthodontic treatment is fast, effective, and affordable.
Metal braces
Metal braces are the most widely-recognized orthodontic treatment. They are the most popular type of braces, and their technology has come a long way. Today’s metal braces are durable stainless steel brackets connected by metal wires that are gradually tightened to adjust your teeth over time. Our orthodontists secure the brackets to your teeth with oral-friendly glue and the braces are worn with elastic bands that help secure the archwires. Plus, the bands come in a variety of colors, so you can add some fun personality to your braces!
Ceramic braces
Ceramic braces, also called “clear braces”, provide a more subtle alternative to traditional metal braces. These braces work similarly to metal braces but are designed to appear almost invisible with a smaller size and are made of tooth-colored polycrystalline ceramic material. This one is popular among adults and older teens for its more covert aesthetic. The only downside to ceramic braces is that this treatment is more likely to break or stain depending on your eating and lifestyle habits. This is because the polycrystalline ceramic is not as durable as the mix of high-grade metal used for traditional braces. As long as you have a strong oral hygiene routine, ceramic braces are just as effective as metal braces with a more discreet design.
Invisalign
Don’t want brackets and wires? Invisalign is made from clear, acrylic aligners that fit over your teeth. Each Invisalign aligner is custom-fitted for your unique teeth using a 3D image of your mouth made from photos and X-rays from your orthodontist. It’s removable, making eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing easier. This treatment will have to be worn twenty-two hours a day to be effective. Most patients wear theirs for nine to fifteen months depending on individual needs and go through several trays throughout the treatment. No wires, no metal, no bands, just a comfortable, easy-to-remove solution.
Aesthetics and Confidence
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, and regardless of age, it’s always good to make a good first impression. Your self-esteem, confidence, and how other people perceive you can all be improved with a brighter, healthier smile. A crooked smile or misaligned teeth, or even teeth that have not been properly cleaned, can not only affect how others see you but even more importantly, how you see yourself. You may find yourself shying away from conversations and photos or even avoiding smiling altogether. The positioning of your teeth can even affect your speech patterns by causing your tongue or lips not to attain the position necessary to make certain sounds. All of this can have an impact on how you present yourself to the world. You deserve to feel at your best and show the world who you are, and adult braces can help you achieve just that.
Get the most from your smile at Moon Orthodontics
You deserve the right care on the road to your ideal smile. With the right orthodontists to guide you through the right treatment, better confidence is right around the corner. If you have any questions or concerns about oral hygiene during treatment, our expert team is always here to help set your mind at ease. Are you interested in learning more about being proactive with your smile? Get in touch with Dr. Moon today to schedule a FREE consultation or follow-up appointment with our Overland Park or Olathe offices!