Adult Treatment Orthodontics Chances are when you think of braces you think of teenagers, but did you know that one in three orthodontic patients are actually older than 18? At Smile Dental Clinic, we know that having the perfect smile is even more important for the professional adult than it is for teenagers. It's never too late to have orthodontic treatment. It can help prevent gum disease, tooth decay and other oral complications at any age. A great portion of our patients here at Smile Dental Clinic are adults, and many are receiving non-invasive treatments that use minimally distinguishable appliances to correct their teeth. If you've had mouth-related issues for many years, we can accommodate your problems and help eliminate pain and discomfort. How Orthodontics Can Benefit AdultsOrthodontics offers adults the same benefits as kids and teens, namely, teeth that are properly aligned. For adults, though, these benefits can be more tangible because as a professional it can be more important to have a smile that you can be proud of. While the short-term burden of braces may seem unpalatable, the long-term benefits are many. Ignoring crooked teeth will not make them go away, and usually teeth that are crooked will only continue to get more and more crooked. The worse your teeth get, the harder, longer, and more expensive the inevitable treatment will be. Additionally, the longer treatment is delayed, the more likely it is that you will begin to develop cavities or gum disease, which can complicate future treatments and necessitate other interventions. How We Help AdultsWe know that most adults are not looking forward to the idea of wearing braces with bulky and noticeable metal wires and brackets, so we offer a variety of alternatives. Ceramic braces are more similar to traditional metal braces, but are clear, while lingual braces cannot be seen at all because they are on the inside face of your teeth. What Can I Expect From an Appointment?The difference between pediatric orthodontics and adult orthodontics comes down to two factors. One is that the adult mouth is fully developed, which means all the teeth that should be there, are there, whether they're properly aligned or not. The second depends on how well a patient has maintained their oral health. Complications in oral health can make orthodontic treatment harder to complete, but it doesn't mean it can't be done. Other treatments may need to take place first in order to allow orthodontic treatment to occur, especially if it is more important or urgent. Things to RememberThere are a few other things to keep in mind if you plan on getting braces as an adult. First, because your bones will have stopped growing by the time you reach adulthood, there are some structural changes that we can't bring about in the mouth with braces alone. You may need oral surgery to bring about these changes. This may surprise you, but there are advantages to getting braces as an adult. You will also have much more say in the kind of treatment you want than a child or teen would. If you have goals for how you want your smile to look, we're here to help you reach them. For more information, please contact our office at (703) 457-9910. |
Contact InformationFalls Church Office5645 Columbia Pike Falls Church, VA 22041 (703) 457-9910 Herndon Office905 Alabama Dr Herndon, VA 20170 (703) 579-9223 smiledentalclinic@gmail.com Follow Us |
