5 Reasons to Consider Adult Braces

Getting braces is practically a rite of passage for most adolescents. Check out school pictures of middle-school students and you’ll see just how common it is. But it’s not just kids who are getting braces. 

Over the years, as orthodontic treatment options and new materials for braces hit the market, the patient population also changed. Today, about 25% of orthodontics patients are adults. In this blog, our own Dr. Jean Seibold McGill at McGill Orthodontics in Easton and Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. shares her insights into why more and more adults are considering braces.

It’s never too late to capture your dream smile

When you think about getting braces as an adult, two questions likely come to mind: (1) Why bother? and (2) Will it even work? For many patients, the answer to the first question is a personal one, but are you really ever too old to look your best?

To answer the second question about the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment for adults, let’s consider what’s truly required to make teeth move. Spoiler alert: It has nothing to do with age. The efficacy of orthodontic treatment relies on having healthy teeth and gums, a permanent set of teeth, and a strong jawbone. 

Now, let’s take a look at the top reasons to consider braces as an adult.

1. Boosts confidence

Whether you’re 8, 18, or 81, a beautiful smile with straight teeth exudes confidence. So, if you didn’t get braces as a youth or if you did and maybe didn’t wear your retainer as directed, getting braces as an adult allows you to start your next chapter with a gorgeous smile. A beautiful smile is ageless and a real confidence booster.

2. Makes oral hygiene easier

Although well-aligned teeth are aesthetically pleasing, there’s a practical reason for getting braces as an adult. Straight, properly aligned teeth are easier to keep clean. Crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth present many challenges for properly brushing and flossing. Typical at-home oral care plays out more like traversing an obstacle course than a simple hygiene session.

3. Decreases risk for tooth decay and gum disease

When you can easily brush all the surfaces of your teeth and floss in between, you can more effectively remove plaque, that sticky film of bacteria that constantly coats your teeth. Plaque buildup can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, which may cause tooth loss. 

4. Reduces excessive wear and tear

Bite issues and misaligned teeth can lead to worn down and damaged teeth, which are often symptoms of bruxism or teeth grinding. This scenario sets up a perfect storm for jawbone or joint problems like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, resulting in jaw pain and headaches.

5. Provides many discreet treatment options

Perhaps the best reason to consider adult braces is that all the new materials and options allow you to go through orthodontic treatment without broadcasting it to the world. Gone are the days of embarrassing metal mouth. Instead, Dr. McGill offers a sleeker, more streamlined metal braces system as well as Insignia™ braces, a custom, clear braces treatment option. 

We can also take discretion to the next level with our virtually invisible clear aligner treatment options Invisalign® or Spark™. These industry-leading clear aligner treatment options allow us to straighten your smile using clear, removable trays. Most people won’t know you’re wearing them, and if you don’t tell, we won’t either.

If you’re ready to take on the world with the smile you’ve always dreamed about, contact McGill Orthodontics to schedule a free orthodontic consultation. Call our office most convenient to you or request your appointment online today and get ready to smile for many years to come.