Did you know that there are more than 4 million people in the United States alone who have braces? Most people get braces in their teenage years, but adult braces have become more and more popular in recent years. If you’re thinking about getting braces for adults, you might be wondering what you should expect.
What are the pros and cons of getting braces in adulthood? How long will it take until you can get your braces off? How should you care for your braces while you have them?
Keep reading and learn more about the process below.
What You Need to Know About Adult Braces
Metal braces are the most traditional and classic type of braces that you can get. They have long been used to straighten teeth and they obviously do a very good job. The process of getting metal braces is not complicated and it usually doesn’t take very long.
Your dentist will first apply brackets to the center of each of your teeth. A bracket is the square part of the brace. It functions to anchor the rest of the braces in place, especially the wires.
The dentist will stick the brackets to your teeth using special glue. This glue is safe and it will not damage your teeth or cause any health concerns. After the glue dries and the brackets are in place, the dentist will start to add the wires.
The wires are especially important because they are what make the teeth shift and straighten. You may feel some discomfort once the dentist applies the wires, especially when he tightens them. Many people who get braces find that when the dentist first tightens the wires, they may feel too tight and may cause some discomfort, but this simply means that the wires are doing their job.
The tightness you feel comes from the wires pulling your teeth into place. If the wires are too loose, they’ll never be able to accomplish what they’re designed to accomplish. Keep in mind that while the wires may be uncomfortable at first, the discomfort will fade after a week or so.
This is because your teeth will start to shift and the wires will no longer put so much pressure on them.
The Details
However, as your teeth shift and the wires become looser, you will likely have to go back to the dentist to straighten them again. This will ensure that your teeth continue to shift at an even pace.
In addition to the brackets and wires, your dentist will also apply some rubber bands to surround the brackets. You can choose the color of these rubber bands since they come in many different shades, although most adults prefer to choose neutral and unnoticeable colors. After getting the braces, you can go right back to your daily routine.
There is no downtime involved and the procedure should not be painful besides the discomfort you’ll feel from the tightening wires. But what are the pros and cons of having braces?
The Pros and Cons of Braces
The first benefit of braces, of course, is that you will end up with straight teeth. It usually takes around a year for your teeth to become completely straight. However, it may take longer if your teeth are very crooked.
Braces are also very important for the quality of your dental health. For example, if your teeth are crooked, you may have trouble brushing or flossing them. This could eventually lead to tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.
In some cases, these dental conditions can progress to even worse conditions such as tooth infections or tooth loss. Braces can also help correct certain jaw problems. If your teeth are very crooked, they may be forcing your jaw into an unnatural position.
This could cause neck and jaw pain as well as headaches. You may even have difficulty chewing food or pronouncing certain words if your teeth are crooked. Fortunately, braces can fix all of these problems and make your smile more attractive as well.
There are also certain braces that may straighten your teeth faster than metal braces such as Invisalign aligners. However, metal braces are particularly beneficial because they tend to be more affordable than other types of braces. This is important for those on a tight budget who don’t want to spend a lot of money on braces.
What You Need to Know
Of course, there are also a few cons when it comes to these braces. In particular, you will need to have a very close eye on your dental health. You will need to brush your teeth quite often because if you don’t, food could get stuck behind your braces.
When this happens, bacteria will be attracted to the food particles and start to produce acid which will eventually break down your tooth enamel. Again, this can lead to tooth decay and cavities. But besides that, if you don’t take good care of your teeth when you have braces, your teeth could end up stained.
Another downside is the discomfort of the tight wires. However, keep in mind that your teeth will eventually get accustomed to them and they soon won’t be so uncomfortable.
All About Adult Braces
Adult braces can be highly beneficial if you’re thinking about straightening your teeth. Getting the braces is a straightforward and fast procedure. This is not to mention that metal braces are typically more affordable than other types of braces.
In about a year, you can get your braces off and enjoy perfectly straight teeth. To learn more about straightening your teeth with braces, check out our service page.
