Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought to yourself, “I sure wish I could’ve had braces when I was a kid”? You can’t go back in time, but you can still get the healthy, beautiful smile you’ve always wished for. It’s not too late! Orthodontic treatment can be as successful for adults as it is for adolescents. Don’t let your age keep you from consulting with an orthodontist.
Whether you’re 8 or 80, it’s the same physiological process that moves teeth through bone. Adults have denser bone tissue than children, so treatment may take a little longer, but age does not keep teeth from moving.
Adults can have complicated cases for a variety of reasons. They may have fillings, missing teeth, misshapen or worn teeth, or dental disease. This is just one reason it’s so important to be treated by an orthodontist. Dr. Hage had years of formal education in orthodontics after graduating from dental school. Therefore, he has the education and expertise you need to manage your orthodontic care and reach your best possible result.
To move your teeth to their ideal positions, Dr. Hage will use an appliance, braces or aligners, to deliver controlled forces that gently and predictably reposition teeth. There has been a revolution in orthodontic appliances — much of it driven by adults who want to straighten their teeth, but want to be inconspicuous about their treatment. Today’s options include tooth-colored braces, tiny but more traditional metal braces, braces that go behind the teeth, gold braces and braces that aren’t braces at all. Not every type of appliance is suitable for correction of every kind of orthodontic problem. This is another reason to make sure you are being treated by an orthodontist. They have access to the full range of appliances and more than anyone else in the dental profession, orthodontists know which appliance is right for an individual patient’s care.
Treatment lasts an average of 22 months. During that time, your visits are scheduled about every six to eight weeks. It’s a comparatively small investment of time that pays big dividends in improved dental health, better function (biting, chewing), the ability to easily clean your teeth and higher self confidence.
It’s so heartwarming to witness the first time an adult patient sees his/her new smile. The only regret expressed is that the step was not taken sooner. The opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile has not passed you by. You don’t have to spend the rest of your life hiding your smile. Just because you didn’t have orthodontic treatment when you were a youngster doesn’t prevent you from doing something about it now. Your age doesn’t matter. You can have the smile you’ve always wanted. It starts with a consultation with Dr. Hage!