here are a lot of reasons you might need braces as an adult. Maybe your family couldn’t afford to get you dental care as a child. Maybe your brushing habits left a lot to be desired, and your orthodontist wasn’t confident you could put in the extra effort to clean your braces. Maybe your teeth have just shifted over time. Whatever the case, we’re here for you. Deciding to get braces as an adult can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone – roughly 20% of the people getting braces each year are adults.
Presumably, you’re here today to take that big leap – but maybe you’re not sure where to start, or what exactly it entails. No worries! Today we’ll be covering the process of getting braces as an adult, including:
- Reaching out to your orthodontist
- Figuring out what braces are best for you
- Caring for your braces
- Post-braces care
Talking To Your Orthodontist
We Know Phone Calls Are Nerve-Wracking, But It’s Time To Make That Appointment
If you’re concerned about your teeth, it’s better to act now – dental issues tend to compound over time, and can lead to jaw pain, tooth decay, digestive issues, and more. It’s vital to nip these issues in the bud before they become debilitating, potentially costing you even more when you finally go in for treatment.
If you’ve had a recent dental cleaning, your dentist may have referred you to an orthodontist to address any concerns you may have. If not, you can still make an appointment with an orthodontist – no referral required. Dental care is expensive, so if you have dental insurance, you’ll want to use it (and if you need help budgeting to save for it, we have plenty of tips). Most insurances will have a database that allows for you to search for medical specialists near you that are in your network. You’ll be seeing your orthodontist fairly frequently for adjustments (most likely somewhere between every 4-8 weeks), so you’ll want to find an orthodontist it’s easy for you to visit on a regular basis.
Once you’ve met with your orthodontist, they’ll help you develop a treatment plan. As part of this treatment plan, they’ll take X-rays and molds of your teeth – this will help them not only plan how your braces will go on, but will also help track your progress over the months you’ll have them. It might not be very noticeable while your teeth are shifting, but the difference at the end will be huge!
Choosing Your Braces
What Are Your Options? And What Should You Keep In Mind?
There’s a lot to consider when choosing your braces, but some of the big factors are:
- Cost
- Comfort
- Visibility
- Length of time
We’ll be evaluating these as we go over the most common kinds of braces. Your orthodontist will also have suggestions for you, and be able to guide you through your options based on any particular concerns you might have – but it’s good to have at least a broad idea of what you’d like, or what you wouldn’t like. This can help you and your orthodontist narrow things down. These aren’t all of your options, but they’re the more common ones.
Metal Braces
These are probably the ones you know the most about – they’re the most traditional braces, able to treat even the more severe dental issues, and generally the least expensive kind. They’re very durable, but can cause some irritation (although if you experience irritation, there are ways to reduce it). They’re also very visible, which can be a turn-off for some people, but others love to use colored bands and really show off their personality.
Ceramic Braces
These braces are another popular choice – they’re a little more expensive than metal braces, beginning at around $3,000, but the brackets are made from translucent or tooth-colored materials, making them an affordable alternative for people who want less visible braces. However, ceramic as a material is more brittle than metal, making these braces slightly less durable than their metal counterpart.
Lingual Braces
If ceramic braces are still too visible for you, lingual braces might be the right choice. These braces are attached behind the teeth, effectively hiding them from view when you aren’t talking. On the downside, these braces are more expensive than metal or ceramic braces, and can take longer to treat. Due to their placement, they can also be more difficult to adjust.
Self-Ligating Braces
These braces are similar to more traditional braces, but with one key difference – they don’t use elastic bands to adjust, instead utilizing a sliding bracket system. While they’re a little more expensive, the use of sliding brackets makes adjustment visits shorter, and can make it easier to keep your braces clean, though there is some risk of wear and tear to the brackets that may lead to a need for replacement. Some people also find less discomfort than with traditional braces, though studies show that the difference isn’t large for most.
Clear Aligners
Unlike other braces, these clear plastic trays are removable, making them a highly sought after choice. They’re more expensive than traditional braces, but comfortable and easy to clean, and have a faster treatment time. These braces are only suited to smaller adjustments, though – for more severe misalignment, non-removable braces are recommended.
Now that you have an idea of what kind of braces you’d like, it’s time for the next step.
Braces Maintenance
The Better You Take Care of Them, The Sooner You Can Have Them Off
There’s a lot that goes into maintaining your braces – and this is a long commitment. Expect about two years actively having braces, though this will depend on the severity of your orthodontic issues and how well you care for your braces (oftentimes, adults are able to remove their braces sooner, since they usually are able to take better care of their teeth). Your orthodontist will give you a personalized list of instructions, but these are some more general tips that will apply to most everyone.
First off, be ready to brush your teeth thoroughly, at least twice a day (but be careful not to overbrush). If you’re wearing clear aligners, be sure to clean them daily and store them carefully.
Your orthodontist will also want to see you frequently, to make adjustments as your teeth realign. They’ll tell you exactly how frequently, but expect somewhere between 4-8 weeks. Adjustments can cause some temporary discomfort, but the appointments themselves should only last about 20 minutes. We recommend seeing your dentist regularly, too – braces can be difficult to clean, so getting regular cleanings will ensure your teeth stay healthy in this period.
You’ll also need to watch what you eat – you’ll most likely experience discomfort when you first get your braces on, and for a few days each time you get an adjustment. In this period, you’ll want to stick to soft foods. Once the discomfort fades, you can get a little more adventurous with what you eat, but try to avoid sticky, crunchy foods. If it can get stuck to your wires or break into small bits that can get wedged beneath them, it’s better to wait and reward yourself with them once your braces are off.
This all might seem a bit daunting, but pretty soon it will feel routine. We promise.
And That’s It! Your Braces Are Finally Off…
…But The Work Doesn’t End There
Teeth are fickle. They tend to shift over time, and because of this, you’ll need to wear a retainer – these handy guys will help keep your teeth in place. If you neglect to wear your retainer, your teeth will gradually shift into their old position, so it’s vital to listen to your orthodontist’s instructions when it comes to your retainer.
How frequently you have to wear your retainer will depend on a lot of factors – most people need to wear their retainers full-time for a year or two, only taking them out to eat or drink. After this initial period, your orthodontist might give you the okay to shift to only wearing them at night. Sometimes you might forget to put them in before bed, but as long as you don’t make sleeping without them a habit, you’ll be okay. Retainers are also prone to wear and tear over time, so expect to need to replace your retainer every few years. Trust us, it’ll cost less than having to start the process of getting braces all over again when your teeth come out of alignment.
This ends our guide on how to get braces as an adult. Take some deep breaths, and navigate the process one step at a time – you’ve got this, and pretty soon your brand new smile will be smiling back at you in the mirror!
