Are You Too Old for Braces?
Ideally, human teeth would line up as neatly as the keys on a piano. Unfortunately, many people must contend with crooked teeth, crowded smiles, or poorly aligned bites. These problems raise more than cosmetic concerns. Crowded or overlapping teeth can be difficult to clean, making tooth decay and gum disease much more likely. Teeth that don’t come together properly when you close your jaws — a problem called malocclusion, or “bad bite”—can cause chewing and swallowing problems. Poor tooth alignment can also make it difficult to pronounce certain sounds and can put excessive stress on the chewing muscles, causing facial pain.Although childhood is the ideal time to make changes in the positioning of the teeth, more adults are opting for orthodontic treatment and coming away with excellent results. The American Association of Orthodontists notes that one in five orthodontic patients is older than age 18.
If you’re considering orthodontic treatment to correct longstanding cosmetic or bite problems or to remedy the effects of tooth loss, keep a few things in mind. Because the bones of adults have stopped growing, some (but not all) structural changes cannot be accomplished without surgery. Also, the entire process may take longer for you than for a child or adolescent. While the time it takes to straighten teeth varies from person to person, on average, treatment lasts about two years. If you are undergoing orthodontic treatment, you may also need to see a periodontist as well as your general dentist and Dr. Boschken to ensure that the treatment is not complicated by bone loss resulting from gum disease.
How Braces Work
The science of orthodontics relies on placing pressure on the teeth to change their position. Dr. Boschken and his talented staff accomplish this by attaching mechanical devices, or appliances, to the teeth to gently push them in the desired direction. When a tooth is subjected to pressure from one side, its root presses against the underlying alveolar bone. Eventually, this force causes a portion of the bone next to the root to dissolve, allowing the tooth to move in the direction it is being pushed. As the tooth migrates, new bone builds up in the space vacated on the other side of the root. This prevents the tooth from moving back into its original position. You may need to have one or more teeth removed before you can start orthodontic treatment.Braces are the most commonly used orthodontic appliance. They are extremely versatile, able to move the teeth in a variety of directions at once and treat many teeth at the same time. These devices rely on the use of brackets cemented or bonded to the tooth surfaces. Archwires, which are attached to the molars on either end of the dental arch, are threaded through the brackets to direct the force being applied to the teeth. The arrangement of the wires can be customized to apply different pressures to individual teeth. Sometimes elastic bands or springs are attached to the archwire to boost the directional push.
Typically, it takes one hour to place braces on the teeth at two separate appointments (2 hours total time). You’ll probably notice a bit soreness and discomfort for a few days after getting braces and having adjustments made, but an over-the-counter pain medication, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can truly help.
Innovations in Braces
Today’s braces are more comfortable and less obtrusive than those of the past. They’re smaller and use fewer brackets. The wires are less noticeable and more effective than those used previously. Because they are effective and economical, stainless steel brackets are still commonly used. Some people, particularly teens, opt for colored elastics for a bolder look.Others take a different tack, opting instead for tooth-colored ceramic or clear plastic brackets because they are less noticeable. However, these have some drawbacks. Ceramic brackets can break, and they may not be as comfortable on lower teeth as metal brackets, which tend to be smaller. Also, because ceramic brackets are stronger than tooth enamel, if the ones on your lower teeth come into contact with your upper teeth, they can wear away the enamel. For these reasons, some people opt for ceramic brackets on their top teeth and metal brackets for their lower teeth.
Still , another wonderful option for orthodontic correction treatment for teens and adults is Invisalign® which uses a series of clear aligners that are custom-molded to fit you! The virtually invisible aligners gradually reposition your teeth into a smile you'll be proud to share. Benefits with this system include:
- Removeing your aligners to eat, brush and floss
- Changing aligners every two weeks
- Your teeth move little by little
- Regular progress checks with Dr. Boschken
- Results often in 6 months to 2 years
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