If you are an adult in Austin, TX who needs to fix your teeth, then you should know that you can repair your malocclusions with adult orthodontics. You may not have had access to orthodontic care as a child, or perhaps, you wore braces during adolescence, but you now have new dental misalignments. More adults are opting to repair their teeth because having straight teeth is important for several reasons.
In addition to improving your self-esteem, having properly aligned teeth can improve your health in other ways, including making it easier to keep your mouth clean. It is also easier to brush and floss your teeth when you don’t have teeth that are overlapping. An adult’s teeth tend to shift forward with age, and you may notice that your front teeth are difficult to clean because there is no space between the teeth. First, it is essential to visit our orthodontist for an evaluation of your mouth, and the orthodontist will also collect X-rays of your face to determine the best adult orthodontics for you.
Clear Plastic Aligners
Our orthodontist in Austin, TX will determine if you have mild, moderate, or severe malocclusions that require treatment with clear plastic aligners or braces. Adults with minor misalignments can use removable aligners to fix their teeth, but the treatment time for adults is often longer than it is for teenagers. This is because adults have harder alveolar bones, making it more difficult for the aligners to push the misaligned teeth into the correct positions. While a teenager may only need to wear aligners for six months for a mild problem, a mature adult might need to use removable aligners for a year or longer. Your plastic aligners are made in a series of devices that are made in a slightly different way to apply pressure against your teeth. During your treatment time, you will wear each set of aligners for approximately two weeks, and also, you must wear the devices for most of the day and night.
Braces for Adults
Alternatively, you might have moderate to severe malocclusions that are only repairable with braces. If you are on a tight budget, then metal braces are the most affordable option, but modern metal braces have thinner wires and smaller brackets than the devices did in the past. For many adults, choosing a type of braces that aren’t as noticeable is a better option. It is possible to wear adult orthodontics that are made with clear or color-matching ceramic brackets and almost invisible wires. While these types of braces are placed on the front of your teeth, it is difficult for others to see the wires or brackets.
To learn more about adult orthodontics, feel free to reach out to our educated staff at Central Texas Orthodontics in Austin, TX. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
