Many people believe that braces are for kids and teenagers only. However, you can get braces at any age. The only difference is that for an adult, yours will take relatively longer to work. Therefore, if you have crooked or misaligned teeth, it's never too late to have them corrected. However, knowing your options when it comes to braces will keep you in a better position to choose the one you feel will work best for you. With that in mind, here are some of the common types of braces.
Traditional Braces
These are the conventional braces with metal brackets that many people tend to think of when they hear of braces. An archwire links the braces together, helping move your teeth in the required position by applying pressure on them. One of the greatest selling points of these braces is that they are the least expensive. What's more, they tend to have the shortest treatment time. Unfortunately, they are also the most noticeable of all types of braces. This may be a concern for many adults especially those working in departments such as customer service, front desk or sales where they interact with many people.
Keep in mind that while most traditional braces are made of metal, you can opt for ceramic instead. Ceramic braces will be much clearer and less noticeable than their metal counterparts. However, they may cost you slightly more than metal braces.
Lingual Braces
If you want a less conspicuous look than the ceramic braces offer, lingual braces would be the ideal alternative. They work the same way as the traditional metal or ceramic braces, with the only difference being that they are placed on the tongue side of your teeth. They will also cost you more than either their metal or ceramic counterparts. Also, because of how they are placed, they will often get in the way of your tongue. This may affect your speech, which means you may have a few problems with them during the first few days of your treatment.
Invisible Aligners
These types of braces are the most invisible. They are highly flexible because you can remove them when eating or brushing your teeth and even when cleaning them. Invisible aligners are simply clear trays that resemble mouthguards, worn on your teeth to correct your misalignment. However, treatment with invisible aligners tends to take longer. Also, they are the most expensive and won't work for serious dental defects such as deep overbites and underbites.
For more information, contact your local dentist.
Share7 September 2018
As a retired dentist, I work with charities which visit developing countries and educate children about dental care. It gives me great satisfaction to revisit these communities and see how proud the children are of their efforts. I am acutely aware that good dental hygiene can help prevent a range of serious conditions when these children become older. I started this blog because it greatly distresses me that many people in Australia do not seem to care for their teeth as much as children in these poor communities. This is happening despite ready access to items like toothbrushes and toothpaste which are luxuries in the places I visit. It is my hope that this blog encourages you not to take dental health for granted. My greatest wish is that you can be as inspired as the children I see in my charity work. Please read on and enjoy.
