Braces are for kids!
I’m too old, now.
It’s too late to fix them now.
Are you using these excuses to convince yourself that you don’t deserve a beautiful smile? It’s understandable. When the average person thinks of braces, they think of the pimply-faced teenager with a full metal-mouth, who wants straight teeth before they hit adulthood. While much of the orthodontic information available today is created for parents searching for assistance with their child’s needs, the reality is that half of all orthodontic patients today are adults.
Here are a few myths we’ll debunk and help you to take that plunge into the adult orthodontic pool.
Braces are just for kids
We’ve already talked about this one, but let’s reiterate. Braces are NOT just for kids and aligning your teeth and jaw bones can be beneficial to your mouth, digestion, and overall health. Depending on other dental issues you may have, the time needed to correct your smile is not much more than a child. Orthodontic treatment can work for all ages.
Braces are just so ugly
Orthodontic treatments have come a long way in the last 10-15 years. The days of big, bulky metal braces and bands are long gone. While metal braces are still an option, they are now a lot smaller and can, in some cases, be placed inside the teeth so they’re not noticeable. There are also clear “braces” or aligners that fit over the teeth and slowly move the teeth into place without being noticed at all.
Only complex dental issues need orthodontic care
Orthodontic treatments can run the gamut from simply whitening your teeth a few shades, to correcting the alignment of crowded teeth. Your treatment might take a few office visits or up to 10 visits over a 12-month period. Your orthodontists can make a professional assessment to determine what is needed to give you a great smile.
The tighter the braces, the faster I can get them off
This is simply not the case. While some force and pressure is needed to slowly move the teeth and jaws into place, too much force can do more damage than good. It can damage bones and gum tissue, and can actually cause the teeth to move in an awkward or wrong direction. This can result in the need to wear the braces even longer than originally anticipated.
If my top teeth aren’t straight, I only need braces on top
It may sound logical, but it just doesn’t work that way. When teeth are misaligned on the top or bottom, the misalignment typically affects the entire mouth. Correcting the alignment of the top or bottom will affect the other half, so both halves must be taken into account. It is best to treat the entire mouth so the end result meets the expectation of the patient and orthodontist.
