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It’s a question we hear often. We really believe you are never too old for braces. There are lots of reasons adults consider adding braces to their overall health plan. And all of those reasons are valid!  If you’ve been mulling over the idea of seeing an orthodontist about your teeth, we strongly encourage taking the time to visit with us. We offer a free consultation – so you can find out exactly what would be involved.

Here are some of the reasons adults consider getting braces.

Technology has never been more advantageous. If you are a candidate for Invisalign, you can have straight teeth using these comfortable aligners that no one can see!

It’s getting really hard to clean your teeth properly. Teeth that are really crowded or crooked are sometimes hard to clean properly, making tooth decay or gum disease more likely. There’s a connection between a healthy mouth and overall health – straight teeth may avoid problems later.

You just want to look better. We certainly understand when people want to put their best foot forward. Straightening your teeth may also help you feel more comfortable in social situations. And a beautiful smile can give you more confidence as you climb the corporate ladder!

You’re starting to avoid some foods. Hey, we get it! You’re a foodie and avoiding certain foods was not on your plan. But more importantly, mouths left untreated can sometimes get worse and create long-term health issues.  

You’ve developed a habit of hiding your smile. It started gradually, and now you find yourself hiding your smile more often. Maybe you’re in the public eye more often with your job, or perhaps it’s because you notice how many people have straight teeth. Wanting to be part of that crowd and being able to display a healthy, beautiful smile is a good thing!

If you’ve even “thought” about braces, you should come into our office for a free consultation. You’ll walk away with more knowledge and a workable plan.

And the Benefits of Straight Teeth? There’s a lot of upside to a beautiful smile! Consider these perks.

• Display a beautiful smile.
• Improve your odds of keeping your teeth long term.
• Return to a healthier mouth and improve your overall health.
• Eat healthily without avoiding your favorite foods!

We hope to see you shortly!

When it comes to correcting the alignment of teeth, the thought of an expander or some kind of headgear device sometimes conjures up images of medieval torture – or at the very least, a bulky, uncomfortable device. With the right experience and today’s technology, that process is much more reasonable, and comfortable. One of our younger patients illustrates this new technology quite well.

Patient. An 8-year-old came to us via a recommendation from his dentist. He had a complete crossbite – which means that all of his upper teeth were inside his lower teeth.

Problem. Such a complete crossbite can negatively affect the growth of a child’s jaw. For that reason, it’s important to correct crossbites at an early age. When a patient with a crossbite comes to us, it’s important for us to make room in his/her mouth.

Solution. When the doctors at Baltimore Orthodontic Group first saw this 8-year-old, we recognized that our first course of action was to make ROOM for growth! While you can see by the string of photos below that the need for room was fairly drastic, we were able to start working on this patient using ONE simple appliance to correct his crossbite while bringing his upper teeth forward.

The Process. With time, the appliance used for this patient allowed space for his adult teeth to come in.Once all of the adult teeth erupted in this patient’s mouth, we then placed him in braces to straighten and align his smile.

Results. Before too long, and without enduring crazy mechanical contraptions, this patent had no more crossbite and we were able to remove his braces. Even better, we caught the problem early – the patient isn't even in high school yet!

We hope this articles answers your question! The easiest answer here is anyone with crooked, crowded teeth, teeth that are misaligned or have gaps, or those people who have bite issues. But when a patient asks this question, in most cases they are referring to the age of the prospective patient. Is it wise to start young? What if my career is just beginning to take off? And how old is too old? Instead of saying “everyone” should at least “consider” braces if there’s a problem, we’ve provided some answers to questions we are asked most often. And at the same time, we included tips below on how braces affect our health at certain ages. Please review and give us a call if you have questions. Actually, consider setting up a free consultation in person. Then we can give you information tailored to your particular situation!

Do you think you need braces? There’s usually a reason someone asks if they need braces. Maybe they end up biting their tongue often, or it’s difficult to floss between teeth. Sometimes teeth overlap or are visibly crooked. Teeth can also be too crowded. Whatever you are worried about, it’s best to discuss it with your dentist or orthodontist.

Children and Braces. There’s not a hard and fast rule as to when children should have braces, but the American Association of Orthodontics recommends that most children should visit an orthodontist by age 7. Parents often notice things that may indicate the need for braces. These signs include teeth that don’t come together, teeth that are crowded or crooked, children who breathe through their mouth, or there’s a clicking sound when a child opens and closes his/her mouth. 

Children often start treatment with an orthodontist somewhere between the ages of 9 and 14. Treating a child is advantageous in that the problem can be corrected as the child grows. In most cases, treating a child is easier. As we get older, the remedy can be more complex. Early treatment by an orthodontist can also help avoid problems later. As your child is treated, the orthodontist can correct and guide the growth of the jawline. We can help regulate the width of the upper and lower arches and create more space for crowded teeth. Early orthodontic treatment may help avoid tooth extractions later. And yes, sometimes early orthodontic treatment can help with minor speech problems.

Teenagers and Braces. The teenage years can be scary! The idea of adding braces may not be very appealing! Then again, for some teens, treatment now can be effective and require less time than it might as they get older. Timelines definitely vary with each case. One advantage of getting braces in our current environment is that teens have more options. Sometimes Invisalign is the perfect option for teens. Other times, metal braces will be the quicker option. The main concern during the teen years is to design a treatment that will make it easy to look good and feel good. A more confident smile definitely helps most teenagers feel good about themselves.

Braces And Early Adulthood. Getting braces while in your 20s is becoming more common. Young adults generally have more options. Orthodontists now have much more experience in customizing the treatment for a young adult.  Straight teeth also build confidence and give a young adult a better quality of life. Sometimes there are milestones coming up in a young adult’s life. Important events such as an upcoming graduation, wedding, or start of a new job, are good reasons to take the plunge and visit your orthodontist for advice. And at this stage of life, a person can understand the long-term health benefits of straighter teeth.

As We Get Older.  Whatever habits we take on as we go through life, our teeth have had to adjust. The foods we eat, the medications we take, the activities of our daily life – all of these factors can result in problems with our teeth. When our teeth are aligned properly, we are able to chew better. It may take a little longer to straighten our teeth as we get older, but the benefits far outweigh any inconvenience. We may be older but we still want to put our best foot forward! And many of the treatments available today are designed to minimize the appearance of metal braces.

Getting Braces Is Personal. Whether young or old, getting braces can lead to a healthier, more fulfilling life. When you consider orthodontic treatment, taking the proper action now pays big dividends when it comes to improving overall health. If you’re wondering if now is YOUR time for braces, give us a call for a free consultation.