Why Do Adults Need Orthodontics?

Long Beach, CA – Many people mistakenly believe that orthodontic treatment is only for children. On the contrary, we’re seeing more adults than ever before who are seeking out orthodontic treatment. There are currently about one million adult orthodontic patients in the US and Canada, making up about 20 percent of the orthodontic population. What are some reasons why an adult might come to my office?

1. Teeth can naturally shift over time, so even if you had a great bite as a teenager, you may find it has changed and become uncomfortable. There are a few reasons why bite alterations occur, including facial muscular changes with aging, TMJ dysfunction, and even lack of retainer wear after a previous orthodontic treatment. Regardless of the reason, braces can help ensure you have a straighter and properly functioning bite, no matter your age.
2. Your smile is important and is often one of the first things people notice. Smiling can make you happier, and a straighter smile can increase your confidence. If you’ve spent a lifetime feeling self-conscious about your smile, it’s time to discover the power orthodontic treatment can have.
3. A straighter smile is a healthier smile. Orthodontics not only improves the look of your smile, but also improves the health of your mouth. Crooked, crowded and misaligned teeth can be harder to keep clean, which increases the possibility of decay and periodontal disease setting in. Additionally, periodontal disease has been linked to many serious conditions, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. So that means when you straighten your smile, you are not only taking control of your oral health, but of your whole body as well.
4. A better smile may lessen headaches. If you suffer from frequent headaches, have you ever stopped to think that a bad bite might be contributing to them? When you have a misaligned bite, it puts an uneven amount of pressure on the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), which can contribute to headaches and earaches, not to mention jaw pain.
5. Many patients may not have been able to afford braces when they were younger, but are realizing they can afford to straighten their smiles now. Most medical and dental insurance plans cover at least a portion of the cost of braces, and many adults are realizing that they can now fit orthodontic treatment into their budgets.
6. Your smile is yours; why not make sure it lasts forever? We’re living longer than ever before, and taking better care of our mouths than in years past. However, if you have a misaligned bite, all the home care in the world may not be enough to help you keep your smile healthy for your lifetime. Orthodontic treatment can help ensure that your smile is ready to last the rest of your life.
7. There are more orthodontic treatment options today than were available in years past. Many adults may not like the idea of conventional metal braces, especially in the professional world. The good news is that there are more esthetic options available. Lingual braces fit along the tongue side of teeth, making them invisible to others. Invisalign and other clear aligner therapies allow patients to straighten their teeth virtually invisibly. Clear ceramic braces blend in better with the teeth, making treatment less noticeable. But even metal braces are sleeker, more comfortable, and more efficient than ever before.
8. New technologies are available to decrease the length of treatment time. The days of 3-year treatment plans are over with the development of Propel and Acceledent. Propel is an advanced orthodontic technique which stimulates tooth movement through micro-perforations in the gingiva and bone, and it has been shown to shave months off treatment length. An alternative option, Acceledent, is a device used for 20 minutes a day which generates microvibrations to gently accelerate tooth movement.

If you’ve been living with a less than perfect smile, there is no time like the present to change that. Orthodontic treatment has come a long way, and with so many options available to you, there is sure to be one that fits your lifestyle and budget. To learn more about what type of orthodontic treatment would be right for you, call my office today for a free consultation (562-283-6590) and get ready to embrace your new smile!