What is a good time to get braces?

When you think of braces, you probably think of your teen years. While it is best to get braces at a young age, they work for adults too and are not uncommon. Dental braces are used to correct crooked teeth, crowding, and misaligned bites.

How long do you need to wear braces?

How long someone needs to wear braces depends on the severity of the bite or spacing problem. Usually, the older a person is the longer they need to wear braces. Typically, a child of 12-14 years will need to wear braces for 18 to 24 months and in some cases, they may need to wear a retainer afterward to avoid shifting the teeth.

Adult patients usually get braces to correct minor problems rather than complete treatments. While complete teeth straightening/bite correction treatment may require an adult to wear braces for up to 30 months, minor corrections require braces for a much shorter time.

What is the best time to get braces?

The best time to get braces is between 10-14 years. Since the head, mouth, and jaw are still growing, teeth can be easily be straightened. But if you’re an adult, not to worry. There are great options such as Invisalign, that are virtually invisible.

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Why do people get braces?

There is a misconception that braces are a cosmetic treatment. We heard an adult patient tell us she refused orthodontics because it wasn’t apparent for her. It’s only after this patient completed her braces treatment at the age of 38 that she really understood the significant overbite problem that had been afflicting her and causing her front teeth to wear down.

People receive orthodontic treatment for many reasons:

Overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite
The gap between front teeth
Speech problems (enunciation, lisp)
Cosmetic reasons

Benefits of ceramic braces

While braces for kids are usually metal or plastic, adults prefer ceramic braces. Their performance is similar to metal braces but their color matches the natural color of teeth.

Ceramic braces are far less noticeable than metal
Can be tooth-colored or clear
Reduce chances of broken brackets
Do not affect imaging tests

Ceramic braces help patients maintain social appearances without feeling self-conscious about their teeth. An advantage of braces over the alternative clear-alignment option is that treatment periods can be shorter.

Braces for yourself or your child

Whether you are considering braces for yourself or your child, speak to a dentist at Dawson Dental or schedule a video chat from the comfort of your own home to discuss your smile goals and concerns.