The good news is that you can straighten your teeth no matter your age. Even adults age 50 and older can benefit from treatment by an orthodontist. It is important to note that treatment with braces is not limited by the patient's age; therefore, do not get carried away by certain stereotypes. You can use braces to correct crooked teeth at any age, as long as your teeth and gums are reasonably strong and healthy.
At Whites Dental, our dentists believe that no patient is too old to receive dental care of any kind. In fact, dental care becomes even more fundamental as you age. Teeth naturally change over time as teeth are lost or enamel begins to wear out, and the arch that naturally forms by the teeth begins to sag. This inclination often causes food to become trapped and clumped up and, at the same time, hinders the natural process of cleaning teeth.
In short, no, you're never too old for orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontist takes many variables into account when developing your personalized treatment plan, but age is rarely a decisive factor. Orthodontic treatment can be as successful for adults as it is for teens. In fact, one out of every three orthodontic patients is an adult.
Don't let your age stop you from seeing an AAO orthodontist. If you're thinking about wearing braces and still have doubts about the decision, keep in mind that it's never too late to make improvements that make you feel and look better. Current options include transparent aligners, tooth-colored braces, small but more traditional metal appliances, and appliances that are placed behind the teeth. There are many new braces in orthodontics, including Invisalign, that can help you without the need to wear braces fixed to your teeth.
In addition to straightening your teeth, at any age, braces can also realign your jaw to improve your bite while closing gaps in your smile or spacing out overcrowded teeth. There are many compelling reasons to seek orthodontic treatment and consider using orthodontic appliances, whether you are 40 years old or older. It goes without saying that you need healthy gums that can recover if you want to undergo treatment with braces. You'll probably feel aches and pains at first, especially during the first few days after you put on your braces and make the necessary adjustments, but an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen, can help.
There are many reasons why people don't wear braces during the more traditional adolescent years and end up wearing them later in life. Almost translucent, these orthodontic appliances are similar in color to teeth, but are not as durable as metal braces. The orthodontist achieves this by placing mechanical devices, or appliances such as braces in terms of braces, to the teeth to gently push them in the desired direction. Very popular with adults who don't want anyone to know that they are wearing braces, these custom-made transparent acrylic trays slide over their teeth and are removed to eat and brush.
To move the teeth into their ideal positions, the orthodontist will use “braces”, braces or aligners, for example, to apply controlled forces that reposition the teeth in a smooth and predictable way.
