ADULT TREATMENT
Many adults are receiving the benefit of orthodontic treatment to correct problems that had not been corrected in earlier years.
It was once thought that orthodontic treatment was limited to children and adolescents. However, crooked teeth and bite problems, etc., are not limited to growing individuals (children and adolescents) alone. The same percentage of non-growing individuals (adults) have malocclusion and crooked teeth.
It was also once thought that when a person finished growing, orthodontic treatment could not be rendered effectively. However, as long as the bone and gum tissues around the teeth are healthy, the teeth can be moved and tooth alignment can be corrected. Optimum results can be obtained from orthodontic treatment in adults the same as they can be achieved in growing individuals.
More and more adult men and women who either didn’t need or couldn’t afford to have their teeth straightened when they were adolescents are opting to have braces today. Braces have never been as affordable, as inconspicuous or as socially acceptable as they are today.
Many individuals realize that orthodontic treatment is an investment not only in their oral health but in the way they perceive themselves and the way other people perceive them.
Why Adults Have Orthodontic Treatment
Several reasons why adults have orthodontic treatment are for an improved and more youthful appearance, to help assure long-term health and preservation of the teeth and jaw structures, comfort in chewing and simply to feel better about one’s self and one’s overall appearance and health.
One or all of these benefits is reason enough for most people to seek orthodontic treatment. It’s all part of looking and feeling your best. For whatever reason, having the smile you’ve always wanted will provide a more attractive and youthful appearance and more self-confidence in dealing with others.
Orthodontic treatment can also help people keep their teeth healthier longer. Crowded or overlapping teeth can create problems in cleaning and contribute to periodontal disease, which can lead to eventual loss of teeth if allowed to go unchecked.
Many people suffer unnecessarily from headaches, earaches and facial soreness and pain, which can be the result of an improper jaw relationship or improper tooth relationship between top and bottom teeth and jaw structures. Correcting the tooth and jaw relationship can provide comfort in chewing over a lifetime.
Embarrassment: Are People Embarrassed to Have Braces?
Many adults hesitate to have orthodontic treatment because they feel the appearance of braces is associated only with younger children, adolescents and teenagers. This is no longer true any more than wearing contact lenses or going to school is strictly for younger children and teenagers. Many adults wear contact lenses and many adults are returning to school to learn, change and grow or to change careers. Likewise, many adults are opting for orthodontic treatment in order to improve their appearance, quality of life and to help pursue their life and career goals.
Some individuals are embarrassed to smile because of a self-conscious feeling about malaligned teeth. At the same time, an individual may feel embarrassed to wear braces for a period of time to correct the problem. However, considering the benefits of wearing braces may last 20 to 60 years and beyond (depending on the age at treatment), 2 or 3 years in relation to a lifetime is very minimal. The advantages and benefits outweigh any self-consciousness that may come with wearing braces.
In fact, many people find that friends and co-workers really admire them for choosing to improve their appearance and self-image. After all, they are doing something about their future, and most people admire that.
What Types of Braces Are Used?
Appliances that are used to correct orthodontic problems consist of two types:
Fixed Appliances
There are four basic types of fixed appliances that can be used to correct most problems:
- Conventional braces – these consist of metal brackets which are attached directly to the front teeth and metal bands which are placed around the back teeth.
- Mini-braces – these are much newer and more visually appealing. These consist of metal brackets that fit in the same manner as conventional braces; however, the attachments are approximately one-half the size of the conventional brackets. This type is smaller, neater, less noticeable and cleaner in appearance when properly cared for.
- Clear braces – these work in the very same manner as the metal attachments, except that clear porcelain brackets instead of metal brackets are cemented directly to the outside surfaces of the teeth. At most distances, conversational and beyond, these are hard to notice and only smile wires give them away.
- Invisible braces – these consist of metal brackets cemented to the backs of the teeth so that everything is hidden. Invisible braces work very well in correcting some types of problems, and in other types of problems, it is advisable not to use them.
There are pros and cons of each of these types of braces. Metal brackets are usually stronger and more reliable than clear brackets, but clear brackets are less conspicuous and interfere less with appearance. Since metal is stronger than porcelain, treatment can go a little faster using metal brackets and sometimes slower using clear brackets, causing treatment to extend slightly longer. Invisible (lingual) braces, while effective, are the most difficult to use during treatment. The chief advantage is that they are aesthetically pleasing because they cannot be seen.
Removable Appliances
Removables are used in treatment of jaw joint (TMJ) problems as well as in moving teeth.
Length of Treatment – How Long Will It Take?
Most problems can be corrected between 20 to 32 months. However, treatment time will vary with the degree of difficulty of treatment and severity of the problem. Some types of treatment take as little as 6 months, and others can take up to 3 years or more. Given two identical problems, one in a growing individual and one in a non-growing individual, treatment in a non-growing person will take longer than in a growing individual because the bone is usually more dense and changes less rapidly in an adult. However, most problems can be corrected within the 20 to 32 month range. Seldom does treatment last more than 36 months, although occasionally it can.
Can I Make My Treatment Go Faster?
Treatment cannot be rushed, but in many instances, patient cooperation can shorten treatment time by as much as 20%. You will simply need to make sure you clean well on a daily basis, are careful with the foods you eat so as not to loosen the appliances and wear rubber bands consistently to help the teeth move.
Also, a regular appointment schedule is extremely important. We understand that work, travel and emergencies will interfere with your treatment from time to time; however, missing or rescheduling appointments may cause treatment to take longer.
Will There Be Pain or Discomfort?
There will be some soreness for 2 to 3 days after adjustments are made. However, there should not be enough discomfort that a person cannot eat, sleep or work or carry on other normal activities. On days when the teeth are sore, a person may have to alter his/her diet and eat softer foods and avoid foods that require heavy chewing.
A Word about Eating Habits
Whichever types of braces are used, it is necessary to avoid certain types of hard and sticky foods, such as hard and sticky candies, ice, pizza crust, etc. to prevent breakage of appliances. Also with clear brackets, an excess of coffee, tea, tobacco or red wine may tend to cause slight staining or discoloration of the braces.
Fees and Method of Payment
Depending on the severity of the problem and the complexity of treatment, fees will range from several hundred dollars for simple problems to several thousand dollars for problems requiring more involved or extensive treatment. Arrangements can be made to make payments over a period of time.
What is Surgical Orthodontics?
Orthodontic treatment is sometimes combined with surgery in order to gain an optimum result by aligning the teeth and jaw structures and gaining an ideal facial balance.
If a problem is strictly dental in nature, it can be corrected by orthodontic treatment alone. However, many times a problem is skeletal in nature. That is, the growth pattern of the jaw structures at any early age caused the teeth to be malaligned or caused a bite problem to develop. If a problem of this nature is mild or moderate, it can also be corrected by orthodontic treatment alone. However, if the problem is moderate to severe, surgical correction may be necessary in order to bring the jaw structures into better balance.
When deviation of the growth pattern of the upper and lower jaw structures is present while an individual is growing, the problem can be reversed by making changes while growth is occurring. Once a person has stopped his/her growth and the jaw pattern is set, it can still be corrected. However, instead of using growth changes to correct the problem, surgical correction is necessary to reposition the jaw structures.
Will Other Types of Treatment Be Necessary?
Many times, individuals who are undergoing orthodontic treatment may require a multi-disciplined approach. Depending on the problem, an individual may require, in addition to orthodontics and/or surgery, any of the following:
- Periodontal treatment – to correct defects of the gum tissue and bone surrounding and supporting the teeth and to restore these teeth to optimum health before the teeth can be moved.
- Restorative treatment (crown and bridge) – to restore missing teeth or teeth that must be rebuilt.
- TMJ treatment – treatment to correct malfunction of jaw movement and to relieve pain and discomfort (headaches, earaches, facial pain, neckaches, etc.), which result from malfunction of jaw movement.
These forms of treatment are not always necessary but are sometimes indicated in order to achieve optimum dental and overall health.