In recent decades, more and more research has been revealed that explains why oral hygiene is so important. Some may have bypassed this information in their younger years, and now they are wondering if the damage can be reversed. While some may believe that braces are only for children, they can work wonders for adults too.
Adults and Braces
Understanding the braces are available for people regardless of age is the first step to better oral hygiene for adults who have gone years with neglect for their teeth. Adults return to their dentists to get braces for a variety of reasons. They might have not taken care of their teeth when they were younger, or they may have oral issues that manifested only when they were adults. On the other hand, they might have had braces when they were younger, but they did not continue with the proper aftercare, and their teeth have become crooked again.
How to Start
First, adult patients do not need to feel embarrassed about asking for braces. The New York Times article “Orthodontists Market to Adults Seeking Prettier Smiles” notes, “From 1994 to 2010, the number of Americans 18 and older getting braces or some other teeth-straightening treatment from an orthodontist has jumped 58 percent, to 1.1 million from 680,000 annually, according to the American Association of Orthodontists.” This issue is clearly fairly common. Interested parties can talk to their dentists, and they will likely be recommended to an orthodontist. An orthodontist is a type of dentist who specializes in braces. Their dentists might also tell them that they should go to see one.
Conquering the Fear
Some adults do have a general fear of the dentist, but you might be scared of what you are going to look like with braces. Understanding that options beyond the traditional braces do exist. For example, the orthodontist might be able to put the braces on the back of your teeth so that no one is able to see them. “Invisible” braces are also available on the market now too so that no one is able to see wires or braces. The exact type of braces that you are able to have depends upon the specifics of your condition.
Common Questions
Speaking with your orthodontist is necessary since each situation is going to vary from the next. We spoke with Windermere Dental Group who exampled, “you should know that the amount of years for which you’ll need to wear your braces depends. You might even end up needing them for less than a year. On top of that, you will have to take certain precautions when you wear braces. Eating certain foods could cause a lot of problems for you. Also, you will have to pay attention to aftercare practices to ensure that the braces actually complete their job.”
The Cost of Braces
One of the benefits of getting braces when you’re a child is that you don’t have to worry about how you are going to pay for them. As with other elements, the price of your braces is going to vary based upon what you need. Finding out if your insurance covers the braces early on in the process will help you to save on aggravation later. In the event that your insurance does not and you cannot pay out-of-pocket, heed the advice from The New York Times article “How to Plan for and Handle the Cost of Braces.” Although the article is geared toward parents, you can implement the advice about payment plans and such into your own paying strategy.
Braces are absolutely not only for children, especially in modern times when more people are realizing how important their oral hygiene really is.
