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Orthodontic treatments are typically associated with childhood and adolescence, so if you’re well into your adult years, you might wonder if your chance at an aligned smile has passed. We discuss how age plays into orthodontic qualification here.
There is no right or wrong age for undergoing orthodontic treatment. The science behind how teeth-straightening treatments work doesn’t change depending on age. Teeth will always be very responsive to the force that orthodontic treatments put on them to move, and that counts for kids, teens, and adults.
So, whether you never got around to aligning your smile in the first place or your teeth are crooked again after previous treatments, adults of any age can straighten their teeth.
No matter if you’re 18 or 80, now is a great time to start your orthodontic treatment journey, and our team led by Farid Hanachi, DDS, PA, at Hanachi Orthodontics in Gastonia and Mooresville, North Carolina, is here to help.
Orthodontic treatment for adults might look a little different than it does for children or teens, so in this month’s blog, we discuss your orthodontic treatment options and what your treatment plan might look like.
Beginning your orthodontic treatment plan
When you decide you’re ready to straighten your teeth and correct a “bad bite” (malocclusion), our team sits down with you to discuss your goals before performing a dental exam to get a better picture of what needs to be addressed.
If you have any oral health issues, those will have to be taken care of first. Tooth decay, gum disease, and missing teeth can impact the efficacy of orthodontic treatment, so we will help you take the steps to get those treated before moving on in your treatment plan.
Choosing your orthodontic treatment
Once we give you the green light to begin orthodontic treatment, you can choose how you’d like to straighten your teeth. While there may be some options that are better than others, depending on what you’re trying to correct, ultimately the decision is up to you.
Let’s take a look at each of your options:
Braces
Braces move your teeth through brackets, bands, and wires. A metal bracket is attached to each tooth and a wire slides through them all to connect them. Bands are placed over each one to keep the wire in place. The wire is slowly tightened over time to move your teeth.
At Hanachi Orthodontics, for braces, we offer the Damon® Smile and Damon® Clear systems which use a “self-ligating” bracket and wire device. This means that the wire will adjust itself as your teeth move, making it much more effective. It’s also more comfortable and less bulky since these systems eliminate the need for bands.
The Damon Smile option uses traditional metal while the Damon Clear opts for ceramic materials, giving it a more subtle and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Otherwise, there are no differences between the two braces options.
Clear aligners
While braces use brackets and wires to pressure and force your teeth to move, clear aligners use clear, plastic-like trays to shift your smile to a new position.
At Hanachi Orthodontics, we use the Spark™ clear aligner system. Each tray you wear is custom-made to fit your teeth, and every few weeks you swap out your current tray for a new one to slowly work toward reaching your orthodontic needs and goals.
Clear aligners are generally more favored since they’re much more discreet than braces and are removable, making it easy to eat and care for your oral health. However, they tend not to be as effective at addressing severe orthodontic issues.
What to expect from your orthodontic treatment
Typically, orthodontic treatment is done in childhood or adolescence because kids and teens are still growing and their teeth are much more malleable and responsive to treatments like braces and clear aligners.
While as an adult, you still have teeth that can easily respond to braces and clear aligners, your teeth’s tissues are more fully formed and may take longer to move. You can still expect beautiful results from your treatment, it may just take longer than if you were a child or teen.
To get started with your orthodontic treatment journey, schedule a consultation with Dr. Hanachi by calling your nearest office location or using our online booking feature today.