Some adults who are considering getting braces to improve their set of teeth are often times hesitant because they think that dental braces are only for children or teenagers. Let us get the facts straight: braces are for children, teenagers, and adults alike.
While ideally the most appropriate time to get braces, as reported by Dentaleh, is during childhood or teen years, the procedure do not exclude adults entirely. However, it is best to bear in mind that getting teeth braces in Singapore as an adult may not undergo the same process that a child or teen would experience in their journey to straighter teeth. But that should not stop you from achieving your desired set of well-aligned teeth.
Benefits of braces
There are several benefits that people can get from dental braces aside from the fact that it can straighten your teeth and make your smile more attractive as soon as your braces are taken off. Braces can do the following:
- Address overcrowding of teeth
- Correct misaligned teeth
- Improve a person’s bite
- Improve a person’s oral health
Duration of braces
How long the braces must be worn will depend from person to person. The least number of years for braces use is one and a half. A complicated teeth misalignment condition may take up to two and a half year to complete and achieve the desired results. Once the braces treatment is completed and the appliance is taken out, expect to receive a set of retainers. This device will aid retain your pearly whites in their new place and avoid them from relapsing to their old spot.
Braces use for children
Ideally, dentists recommend children to use braces within the age of 10 to 14 years. By this time the baby teeth are presumed to be replaced by their permanent teeth, including the two pairs of 12 year molars. By the age of 14, a child should have 28 teeth.
Childhood or the early teen years are considered as the best time for braces because during this time, a child’s jaw bones are still in development. The bones are still soft and easy to manage. At the same time, because the bones remain pliable during this stage, they respond faster to restructure.
Your child will most likely need early orthodontics intervention using braces when he or she shows an overbite, underbite, or extreme teeth overcrowding.
Getting braces for adults
In the recent times, there is a growing number of adults that have turned to orthodontics procedures to improve their dental health. We can say that a person can never be too old for a braces treatment. The most common reasons why adults decide to get braces are:
- Aligning of crooked teeth – If an adult’s teeth were not able to receive any early intervention, then chances are they may be misaligned. Straightening crooked teeth is best achieved by wearing braces.
- Aligning of teeth that have shifted – Adults who used to have braces when they were in their teen years and have not been regularly using their retainers may notice that their teeth have shifted through the years, resulting in misalignment.
- Bite correction – Misaligned teeth highly affect the way the mouth closes. A person may have an underbite, which is identified by the lower teeth’s outward protrusion past the upper front teeth. Another bite condition that needs correcting is overbite, which is the opposite of underbite.
- Improved oral health – Straighter teeth are easier to clean. When the teeth are brushed and flossed thoroughly without challenges, then the risk of your teeth’s being susceptible to decay will be low. Your gums will be healthier too.
There should be no problem in using braces for adults who have healthy teeth and gums.
Options for dental braces
There are more options for dental braces available now, thanks to the continuous advancements in the world of orthodontics. Here are some options to choose from:
- Metal braces – these are the usual braces which use stainless steel for all of its components (e.g. brackets, wires).
- Ceramic braces – this kind still uses metal wires, however the brackets are made from ceramic. For people who do not want their braces to be too obvious, they can choose ceramic brackets as these blend in with the colour of the teeth’s enamel.
- Lingual braces – this kind of braces will not be visible at all as the appliance is attached to the teeth’s back part.
- Plastic aligners – this is the latest and most advanced braces in the market. Plastic aligners are like a mouth guard fitted to your teeth. They are customised to shift your teeth gently to their proper alignment. Aligners made of plastic are better off used by adults and teens.
The cost of braces will vary depending on the type you wish to get. Metal braces are usually more affordable, while plastic aligners do not come cheap.
