Adult Orthodontics - Catch the Wave!

Dr. Wolfson's Dental  Diary

The new awareness of the impact of our smiles has caused a boom in cosmetic dentistry and is prompting more adults to consider wearing braces to straighten their teeth.  What was once considered a rite of passage for teenagers has become an adult phenomenon. Whether the cosmetic advances of orthodontic treatment has prompted this new interest, or whether the interest of adults has caused the dental industry to reinvent orthodontics into a new and less visible arena is a checken-egg discussion.  What is important is that adults no longer have to feel self-conscious about straightening their teeth! So if you think you’re too old for braces, think again. If you thought that your "on the job" public persona is too visible to consider straightening your teeth, consider invisible treatment!  Your options have definately expanded.

Traditional metal braces and brackets have been updated to allow for ceramic or clear brackets.  No longer is it necessary to have a mouth full of metal.  Braces for adults are often more complicated and time-consuming than for teens, whose jaw bones are still growing and whose adult teeth have recently emerged. Treatment for adults may take longer, but the highly visible "metal-mouth" has become unnecessary.  The new Invisalign system does not even involve brackets and wires at all, but a series of clear acrylic mouth-guard style trays that are replaced every 6-8 weeks as the teeth move.  And for some, lingual (tongue side) appliances can move teeth from inside instead of from the outside. Adults tend to have other dental problems, such as gum disease, that may require treatment before braces can be attached; some clear or tooth-colored brackets can discolor from exposure to cigarette smoke, coffee and tea.  All these issues will be discussed with your Dentist before your treatment is determined.  But the stigma of wearing braces as an adult is a thing of the past.

Carch the wave! Dr. William Wolfson is a certified Invisalign Dentist, and his office also offer a full range of Orthodontic and Cosmetic treatements.

Author Credit:

http://www.drsmile.net

www.212smiling.com