Most people are conscious of their smiles. Almost half of the adult population is unhappy about their smiles. Might be in an ideal world, all of us would be born with a perfect set of teeth. But as you know, this isn’t the case, and so countless people are still contending with crooked, crowded, spaced, and misaligned teeth.
It is always ill-advised to ignore seeking orthodontics near you whenever you have malocclusion and other orthodontic issues. You might have to deal with gum disease, cavities, headaches, jaw pain, etc.
But since you have decided to get your teeth straightened using the plethora of options available such as traditional braces, Invisalign® in Seattle, etc., you must be wondering if there’s any benefit to the procedure. Is it really worth it to get your teeth straightened early? You’ve come to the right place; let’s delve right into it.
If you are an adult, you must be wondering whether there’s an age limit to getting traditional braces or Invisalign in Seattle. Childhood is always the ideal time to deal with orthodontic issues. Also, braces are not ideal for kids who still have milk teeth. That’s why you see most kids and teenagers in braces.
It’s all about bone development. Kids and teenagers are still developing, so moving their teeth to new positions is way easier than an adult. The bones cease to develop anywhere between 18 and 22 years.
But this doesn’t mean that adults cannot receive or even benefit from orthodontic treatment. However, the experience will be a bit different.
When you wish to get your teeth straightened, you might have to keep the following issues in mind:
As an adult, your bones have already ceased to develop. Therefore, you might not have the same experience as teenagers or children. Also, certain structural changes might not be possible unless you undergo surgery with severe orthodontic issues.
Your treatment time might be a bit longer than a teenager’s or kid’s because their bones are developing, making moving the teeth to their new positions easier. But the time will be different from patient to patient.
In any case, treatment time for adults will take about six months to two years. Additionally, you will need retainers to ensure that your teeth don’t move back to their old positions.
Teenagers and kids might wear braces without feeling too self-conscious compared to adults. Most probably, some of their peers are wearing them. But when it comes to adults, you might not have peers wearing dental appliances.
The beauty of getting orthodontic treatment as an adult is that you have a plethora of options. You can go for metal braces, lingual braces, or clear braces; it all boils down to the severity of your case and choice.
Regardless of your age, the best time to start orthodontic treatment is always today. Look at some of the ways that you can benefit when you receive orthodontic treatment early:
Our dentist in Seattle will be the first to know if you have an orthodontic issue that can evolve and become a severe issue. Some of these issues can be caught and treated early, saving you from invasive procedures and complications later.
It’s always best to start treatment before the issue progresses. If you wait until the issue becomes a problem, then you might need more treatment time to rectify the problem.
Orthodontic treatment can cost you a healthy chunk of money, close to $5,000. So, you might need some time to plan to ensure that you receive the treatment you need financially.
As mentioned earlier, so long as you choose to get treatment today, you are better placed to receive care than when you choose to postpone treatment. You might even be shocked to find out that you have plenty of options that would not require plenty of time and money.
If you need to know more, contact us at 3rd & Columbia Dental, and we would love to help you.