Adult Braces Guide

If up until now, you have assumed that only children and teenagers use braces, think again. I have come across adults with braces and I’ll openly state that I had braces as an adult as well. The first time I put braces on was when I started going to college. I believe that smiling plays an important role in connecting with people and particularly in the process of attracting someone. So whether it's in the corporate world, doing business with clients or in a social setting, if you can do something to improve your smile, you should do so, regardless of age.

There can be a number of reasons why someone who had crooked teeth in their youth would leave having braces until adulthood. During the teenage years, the ego tends to be more easily bruised and more sensitive to criticism and ridicule, so having braces may prove to be detrimental to one’s social life. Also, in the past, choices of braces were pretty much limited to the obvious looking metal variety or even worse, those unsightly headgear for the more serious cases. Another big deterrent to invest in braces could be because of the cost. Easily costing upwards of $3000, not every family could manage this, so even when the person wants to have braces is forced to wait until adulthood so that he/she can afford for him/herself.

With this hub, I present a guide on choosing an orthodontist and braces for adults.

The first step to take is to find the right orthodontist for you. A good starting point is to approach your family and friends, especially those that have gone through the process, and ask for recommendations. An alternative source that you can check out is your dentist with whom you go for your regular checkups and cleaning.

Similar to medical doctors, there are good and bad orthodontists. Also, each orthodontist could have a different approach to treatment and you would want to go for the one that you feel comfortable and confident with since getting adult braces should be treated carefully like any other medical procedure.

Since the entire treatment is going to be quite costly, you should thoroughly check whether your health plan or health insurance will cover any part of the treatment. Also, it may pay to shop around for a dental plan.

When you go talk to the various orthodontists, you should prepare some questions beforehand. I’ll just run through some of the important ones:

There are a few different kinds of braces (which I’ll discuss later) some of which may or may not be suitable for your particular case. So you should ask the orthodontist which will be appropriate for you. As for those options that won’t work, ask why not.

Inquire as to whether you need to undergo extractions or even jaw surgery. This may be associated with the type of braces you can use and will impact on the treatment.

Another question to consider is what you can expect from the treatment. Are the braces going to only align your teeth or would they also correct your bite (e.g. from an underbite or overbite)? Also, will the treatment change your facial profile? If so, in what way?

The cost is an important topic to be clear about. Ask about the total cost (not just the adult braces cost themselves but the entire process), how it is itemized, what the payment plan will be, and whether insurance is accepted.

Gain an understanding on the length of the entire treatment. Since you will be wearing the braces for a while, get an idea of any pain and discomfort to expect. What can you, as the patient, do to minimize the discomfort? I guess this can be a subjective matter since different people have different thresholds for pain.

As pointed out earlier, the types of adult dental braces vary, some of which may or may not be available in your area and also some of which you may not be suitable to use. Here’s a brief list of the more common types:

• Metal braces - all components are primarily made from stainless steel. This is the traditional variety.

• Ceramic braces - similar to metal braces except that the brackets are made from composite materials and are off-white/clear so they blend with the natural teeth color better. So for those worried about the appearance of braces, these can be a more subtle.

• Lingual braces - instead of being fitted to the front of the teeth, these braces are fitted behind, so it is completely obscured from sight.

• Invisalign - these aren’t so much as braces but rather strong plastic trays customized to your teeth. The major advantages with this type are that they are practically invisible and easily removable without the need for special equipment.
  

So to conclude, I just want to emphasize that if you are an adult reading this hub, it's not too late to get adult orthodontic braces. The classic example is Tom Cruise. He didn't adults braces until he was nearly 40 years old. Therefore, if such a high profile actor whose job requires to be scrutinize by several people can go get braces at that age, then you shouldn't have any excuse.