Lies You Might Have Heard About Getting Braces as an Adult
As a dentists, orthodontists and Platinum Invisalign Providers, we’re all too familiar with the common misconceptions and myths about getting braces as an adult, which is why we’ve decided to put a few to rest…
Adult braces are more painful
Truthfully, wearing braces is uncomfortable, whether you’re a teenager or an adult. No matter your age, you’ll experience the same level of discomfort with each adjustment or change of aligners, which will dissipate over the next few days.
You might have heard reports that adult braces are more uncomfortable and painful than fixed braces they might have had in their teenage years.
However, the pain level depends on which orthodontic appliance is used to straighten teeth, the frequency of adjustments, and the complexity of your bite problem, which might have worsened with age.
Pain is also relative. You might not remember the pain of wearing braces as sharply in the past as you experience it now, so there’s also that to consider.
Straightening adult teeth takes longer
Braces are effective at any age. They work the same way, putting pressure on the teeth to move them, which works even after the bones have stopped growing.
However, it’s indeed easier to straighten teeth when you’re still developing, but it’s a myth that it could take longer as it will entirely depend on the orthodontic appliance you use to straighten your teeth.
There’s a greater chance of relapse
Orthodontic relapse can happen at any age, and it’s often a result of not wearing retainers following treatment. Relapse happens when the gum fibres take time to remodel and settle down, a process that can take up to a year. So, just because your braces have been taken off doesn’t necessarily mean your treatment has ended.
Braces will stick out
Many patients fear getting braces, even in their teens, because they’re not the most aesthetically pleasing dental devices. For example, the stigma attached to fixed metal braces is one reason many people try to avoid braces at all costs. But dentistry has advanced, and we have many invisible and discreet options now available to all patients to realign their smiles.
Invisible brace options:
Braces are your only option to straighten teeth
Depending on the complexity of your problem, braces are not your only solution to straighten your smile. If you have slight overcrowding or mild bite issues, you can turn to veneers (composite or porcelain) to improve the way your smile looks. While the treatment will not address the misalignment, it will help your smile look better.
You can’t get braces over 25
Braces? They’re for kids, right? Wrong. New statistics from the British Orthodontic Society have revealed that over three-quarters (76%) of patients seeking orthodontic treatment were adults, and we can’t help but feel it’s due to the emergence of invisible, removable orthodontic appliances like Invisalign.
While it’s generally recommended that patients receive orthodontic treatment during their teenage years, receiving them as adults is not impossible.
Whether you’re 10 or 70, the process for getting adults is the same because many adults have the same jaw positioning, bite and spacing problems they had when they were teens, which means braces are still effective in treating those exact problems.