Braces for adults are a lot more common than many people realize. For one reason or another, some adults may have never had the opportunity as teenagers to get braces. Many of us are also not as good at wearing our retainers as we should have been and our teeth have reverted from our original orthodontic treatment. Some teenagers don’t end up needing or opting to have braces but then end up needing them later on in life. Whatever your reason, we at VIP Smiles can help your teeth how you want them to be with full orthodontic braces for adults.  

What is getting braces like as an adult?

Really, getting braces as an adult isn’t much different than if you were a teenager. The only major disadvantage is that as an adult, your gums and teeth have become more set over time. This means that treatment typically takes longer but can be just as effective as braces in children and teenagers. If you have relatively healthy jaws and teeth, adult braces can be a great way to give you an even stronger and crisper smile. Even people well into their 60s and beyond can be candidates to get braces so long as their dental health is in good shape. 

Options for Braces for Adults

The options for adult braces are also no different than for teenagers. And as an adult, you have full control over what option makes most sense for you. Below, we’ve listed the most common options for braces in adults. We can go over them with you in greater detail in a full examination 

Traditional Metal Braces: The traditional braces you might remember as a teenager remain the most common option. Depending on the severity of your desired orthodontic correction, metal braces are typically the least expensive option and the most effective. Metal brackets are placed on each tooth and connected by thin wire and rubber bands. While the rubber bands can come in many colors, most adults prefer the most subtle look possible.  

Self-ligating Braces: The biggest difference between traditional metal braces and self-ligating braces is the lack of rubber bands. Instead, a clip holds the wire to the bracket. The overall look is subtler than rubber bands and requires less maintenance at appointments. The only major drawback is that self-ligating braces can’t always put as much pressure on the teeth to correct issues as effectively. We can advise you on the difference this might make depending on what needs to be corrected with your smile. 

Clear Ceramic Braces: Ceramic braces function similarly to traditional and self-ligating braces, but they are made of a clear ceramic material that is much subtler relative to metal braces. On the other hand, ceramic braces are larger and not as sturdy, so they must be treated more gently to avoid breaking. Ceramic braces are also prone to staining, so you want to be careful with what you drink and eat so they don’t become discolored and stand out. They are also typically more expensive than traditional or self-ligating options. 

ClearCorrect Invisible Aligners: Many adults prefer getting ClearCorrect aligners when possible, despite being one of the more expensive options. These clear aligners don’t have to be attached by metal or wires to your teeth. Instead, we take impressions of your teeth and have you wear these aligners to subtly move your teeth closer to the desired end state. Every couple of weeks, we give you a new aligner that is designed to move your teeth just a little bit more.

ClearCorrect aligners can be removed for eating, flossing, and brushing. Unlike ceramic braces, you don’t have to be as worried about what you eat or drink because there is no material on your teeth to stain other than your teeth themselves. ClearCorrect aligners are a great option for most adults, and we would be happy to discuss this solution for you during your examination. 

There are many good reasons to get braces for teens. Teenage years are the most common age for braces. All of your teen’s permanent teeth have likely come in by now, other than the infamous wisdom teeth if they have not been extracted yet. This is also a time when several kinds of oral health issues can emerge or become more pronounced, such as:

• Teeth becoming crowded or cooked
• Growing gaps between teeth
• Overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites

There are several reasons you might now be exploring orthodontic options. Your teen may have started becoming more concerned about the appearance of their teeth and are looking for a crisper smiler. There could be health or oral issues that are interrupting speech, chewing, or even breathing. Your dentist might have indicated it is time and recommended you make an appointment.

The good news is that braces for teens is often the best time. Teeth and jaws are going through a lot of change, meaning your teen’s teeth are more responsive to treatment than when they reach their adult years and jaws and teeth are more set. 

Getting Braces for Teens at the right time

It is recommended that a child start seeing an orthodontist annually from ages 7-8. But it is okay if your teenager has not been to an orthodontist until now. Even if the time is not right yet for your teen to get braces, we want to see them for a full examination as soon as we can so we can identify where their teeth are in their development. This will help give you an idea of what is going on and what you can expect from treatment in the future. It also is a chance for us to identify potentially problematic issues and stay ahead of them.

Types of Braces

There are many different types of braces we can offer. Picking the right one is a combination of a patient’s situation with their teeth, the severity of various issues in how teeth have come in, and personal preference. We can discuss options with you and your teen as the time for braces approaches. 

Traditional Metal Braces: The most common type of braces, metal braces are typically the most economical braces option and are effective in addressing most orthodontic issues. Metal brackets are placed on each tooth and connected by thin wire, which pushes and pulls on teeth to move them to the correct position over time. 

These kinds of braces are smaller and do not stand out as much as braces used to. Rubber bands attach the wire to the teeth. These rubber bands can be customized in different colors to give your teen a unique look, as many patients like adding a personal touch to their braces. 

Self-ligating Braces: These are similar to traditional braces, but they do not require the use of rubber bands. A clip is used instead to keep the wire attached to the bracket. Some patients prefer self-ligating braces because they offer a more uniform look and don’t require rubber band replacement every visit. However, self-ligating braces are not always able to put as much pressure on the teeth in some cases. Because of this, traditional braces might be better for a patient even though self-ligating braces offer some conveniences. 

Clear Ceramic Braces: The design of ceramic braces is similar to traditional and self-ligating braces, making them more difficult to see. It gives your teen’s braces a more subtle look than metal braces, but there are tradeoffs. Ceramic braces are larger and not as sturdy as metal, so your teen will need to be more careful in their brushing. They also can stain and cost somewhat more than metal braces. But if the more subtle look is important for your teen, ceramic braces can be a great option. 

ClearCorrect Invisible Aligners: Unlike the braces above, ClearCorrect aligners are clear aligners that are fitted to the impression of your teen’s teeth. There are no wires or brackets. Instead, each aligner is designed to subtly move and be gradually guided to the final state. They can be easily removed to eat, floss, and brush. This option comes with a higher cost than typical braces and does not work in all situations. But if your teen’s teeth are good candidates for this kind of treatment, ClearCorrect aligners can be a great and seamless experience for orthodontic treatment. 

Many parents can get intimidated by the prospect of getting braces for children, especially younger children years before they might have anticipated orthodontics becoming necessary. 

Braces can be a significant health expense, and parents might think of early braces as an unnecessarily early investment that will require later treatment. Some parents might also think that the way that they received orthodontics is the exact correct way for their children. However, seeing an orthodontist early is not only extremely valuable for a child’s oral health, but also has the potential to save parents money down the road. 

There is no age that is “too young” for braces. Braces are a solution to problems that emerge in the development of your teeth and jaw. There are even rare circumstances when giving a child braces for their baby teeth can help prevent serious issues later on. 

At VIP Smiles, we can help you understand if and when braces would be helpful for your child. Below, we provide some insight on when it might be 

Seeing an orthodontist early only helps children

It is strongly recommended that a child visits an orthodontist by ages 7-8 for a full evaluation. This is not an appointment to get braces or to even indicate that braces should come anytime soon. An orthodontist specializes in the development of your teeth and jaws and is qualified to diagnose irregularities that can create serious problems down the road. Annual appointments are recommended after that until the right time for braces comes along. 

There is no single age that is right for braces, but getting braces at exactly the right time can mean better treatment options and quicker recovery for patients. The best way to ensure the right timing for braces is to have your child see an orthodontist regularly based on the above recommendations. 

Phase 1 orthodontic treatment in children

Phase 1 orthodontic treatment is typically between the ages of 6-10 when children are losing their baby teeth and permanent teeth are coming in. The primary purpose of this type of treatment is not meant to straighten teeth and give a lasting smile like braces for teenagers or adults typically are. Braces for children are usually focused on treating important issues related to tooth and jaw development, such as:

• Issues with anterior or posterior crossbites
• Deep or traumatic underbites or overbites
• Serious jaw development issues that can cause problems like difficulty breathing
• Failure of permanent teeth to grow (impaction) or surface
• Severe tooth alignment issues

Braces are not always the right solution to the above examples, but they can be exactly what is needed in some circumstances. The type of braces or treatments recommended also greatly depend on the condition. Early monitoring of the above issues is critical to ensure the right timing with treatment options. 

It is important to understand that phase 1 orthodontic treatment is not meant to avoid braces later on. Rather, phase 1 braces for children are meant to treat specific issues that if untreated early can require even more significant orthodontic treatment later on. Phase 1 orthodontic treatments are not common, and we will only recommend this type of treatment when it makes strong health sense for your child. 

Schedule an appointment for your child

Your child may get a recommendation from your dentist to see an orthodontist if they notice warning signs of more serious phase 1 problems. You might also notice things that make you worry there is cause for concern. These might include early, late, or irregular loss of baby teeth, serious issues with tooth crowding or placement, issues with your child’s jaw or bite, or other abnormalities you notice in your child’s mouth. We are happy to answer your questions any time on the phone or through scheduling an appointment.