If you're a parent, you may have taken your child to an orthodontist for braces or known another parent who got braces for their child. Have you ever thought making an appointment for yourself to see an orthodontist about improving your smile? You can have a straighter smile at any age, even in adulthood. Adult orthodontics makes getting alignment issues with your teeth or jaw fixed possible.
It’s not too late! Misaligned upper and lower teeth, gummy smiles, misaligned smiles, or crooked teeth can still be corrected in adults. These issues typically require orthodontic treatment.
Depending on your diagnosis, you may even be able to get the straight teeth you want without metal braces. Check in with your orthodontist to find out if adult treatment options will help you to get the smile you've always wanted.
As an adult, you have choices among available orthodontic treatments. During your consultation with your Dr. Starling, be sure to discuss your goals, budget, and lifestyle when considering which treatment solution would be best suited for you.
Braces for adults have a wide range of options today and use the latest in orthodontist innovations for customized, more comfortable fits. Plus, with adult braces, you have a low-maintenance solution to your orthodontic issues.
Adult braces come in many forms, including invisible lingual braces, nearly invisible clear braces, and versatile metal braces. All these options require you to avoid very hard foods and sticky foods and to take extra care when brushing and flossing. If you opt for adult braces, get a water flosser to make cleaning around your braces easy.
Incognito brand lingual braces fit behind your teeth. You get the benefits of wearing long-lasting braces without having visible brackets. Talk to your orthodontist to see if lingual braces can help to correct your smile issues.
Clear braces have ceramic or clear brackets affixed to your teeth. You will only see the fine wire connecting them. These braces have only a minimal impact on your smile while giving you the robust smile correction of traditional orthodontics.
Metal braces today use much smaller brackets and better wires. If you have complex issues with your jaw or teeth alignment, you may need the robust correction provided by traditional metal braces.
Invisalign aligners provide you with teeth straightening that no one can see. You wear aligner trays throughout the day, taking them out to brush and eat. These trays provide a comfortable correction of your smile in a few weeks, instead of months.
For best results, you need to be diligent in following the requirements for wearing the trays for at least 22 hours a day and brushing the trays when you remove them to brush and floss your teeth.
If you have issues with a gummy smile, bite alignment, or a slanted smile, you may qualify for a surgical alternative, temporary anchorage devices (TADs). Your orthodontist may even use TADs to allow you to skip wearing headgear.
To place TADs, your orthodontist applies a topical numbing agent to your gums, which stops pain without the need for injections. They then expertly screw the TADs into the gums. You may feel pressure but no pain during the insertion. The entire process takes only a few minutes, and you will likely only need to wear the TADs for a few months.
If you have an uneven or gummy smile or been told that you may need jaw surgery, ask your orthodontist if TADs can help.
Orthognathic (jaw) surgery may help if you have a severe misalignment between the upper and lower teeth. After surgery, your upper and lower jaws will be properly aligned, which may improve your appearance, ability to eat, and ease of speaking.
Only a qualified orthodontist can determine whether surgery will best serve your needs, so make an appointment if you have concerns about your bite.
Only your orthodontist can tell you the best adult orthodontic treatment options for your smile. If you don't have an orthodontist, see Dr. Starling and the team at Starling Orthodontics in Brentwood, TN. They'll make you feel at home. Contact them today to schedule your appointment.
Please call (615) 507-1660 or click below to schedule your complimentary orthodontic consultation online.
