Many people consider braces and orthodontics to be mainly for children and teens. These days, however, more and more adults are getting braces, and they have their own set of unique challenges to go with their orthodontic treatment.
Social Challenges of Adult Braces
Looking ‘young’ - Some adults are concerned that braces will make them look younger or less mature, since they're typically associated with children and teens.
Looking unprofessional - This is tied in with the perceived ‘youthful; appearance of braces. Many adults feel that metal braces just don’t fit with the professional appearance they try to maintain at work.
Treatment Options For Adults
As adult braces are becoming more common, many of the social issues that had been associated with them in the past are falling by the wayside. At the end of the day, braces are a medical treatment, and there’s certainly no shame in taking good care of your health!
Adults who would like to have their teeth straightened have more options these days than the traditional metal braces. The following orthodontic treatment options are lower profile, and more practical for many adults.
Invisalign - Invisalign clear plastic aligners straighten your just like traditional braces do, but they do so without metal and wires. They’re transparent, making them pretty much invisible when worn, so most people won’t even notice they’re there.
Lingual Braces - These braces are similar to regular metal braces, but you wear them on the backs of your teeth. They face into your mouth toward your tongue, so they’re very hard for others to see unless you make a point of showing them.
In-Ovation Self Ligation Braces - These metal braces are are placed on the fronts of your teeth, but they have a more low profile, streamlined appearance because they require no ties or elastics. This makes them smaller and neater in appearance than regular braces.