What You Need to Know About Getting Adult Braces

Have you ever looked longingly at photos of celebrities and thought, “I’d love to have a smile as bright as that?” As an adult, you may think that the time has passed to get braces, but that’s not true. More and more adults are open to having braces to correct their teeth. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, about one patient in five is an adult. Even patients in their later years are seeking orthodontic treatment. As long as your teeth are healthy, they can be straightened. Having braces as an adult can even be advantageous. In an interview with Time, Dr. Morris Poole, president of the AAO, notes that adults tend to be more careful when they get braces. He says, “They are making the investment, and they want to make sure they are getting their money's worth.” If you’re thinking about adult braces as a way to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted, here’s what you need to know.

Ask Yourself: Do You Really Need Adult Braces?

If you’re considering adult braces, the first question to ask yourself is whether you actually need them. You could be a candidate for adult braces if:

• Your teeth are misaligned.
• You have an underbite (upper front teeth are behind the lower front teeth) or overbite (the opposite of an underbite).
• Your teeth are crowded.
• You have a crossbite (upper tooth is behind the lower opposing tooth).

It’s best to speak with your dentist: Tell him or her about your concerns, and ask whether braces would help you. If so, your dentist can then refer you to an orthodontist. The common perception is that braces are meant to straighten your teeth, but that’s not all they do. That’s why getting that initial dentist consultation is important. Braces are not just cosmetic, either. Yes, the end result is a gorgeous smile, but having your bite and the alignment of your teeth corrected can improve your overall dental health. Straight teeth without gaps or overlaps provide less opportunity for the buildup of plaque and tartar. Take blogger Krystal Yee, who opted for braces for this very reason — “not only to straighten my teeth, but to prevent problems in the future.” Or, there’s Jess Horwitz, who tells Yes and Yes that she needed braces as an adult to correct her open bite. She had braces once as a teenager, but her teeth shifted over time, and so as an adult she required additional treatment.

Life After Braces

The day that your braces come off is certainly a day to celebrate. Finally, you have the healthy bright smile you’ve been dreaming of! Having braces as an adult can change your life. Steffanie Entralgo at Brighter Darling found that braces corrected her bite, and this helped her speak more clearly. Naomi Garnice at The Muse writes about how having braces and transforming her smile helped to make her more confident in the workplace. She smiled more, came across as more friendly and approachable. Ultimately, she credits her newfound confidence for helping her land her dream job! Finally, be sure to follow your orthodontist’s advice and consistently wear your retainer to ensure that your teeth stay in their new position. If you’re interested in whitening your newly aligned teeth, it’s best to wait at least a month, as your teeth and gums may be sensitive from the braces. Images by: Yingpis Kalayom, oswaldoruiz, StockSnap, Lesly B. Juarez