NEWISSUES
By Dr. Innocent Nnabuike Uzuh
This question can be reframed this way: Is wearing braces suitable for adults of all ages?
The answer is a resounding Yes!
Many adults are wearing braces to correct their poorly arranged teeth and Jaws now. Adult braces account for a large percentage of braces fixed on patients every year in dental clinics and hospitals all over Nigeria and beyond. In fact more and more adults go for fixed orthodontic treatment just like teenagers do.
There is a saying that when a man wakes up becomes his morning. Many people who never had the opportunity of getting braces when they were younger may decide to wear braces in their later years in life to strengthen their teeth and give them beautiful smile. Some other people wear braces to make corrections to treatments they received as kids which may have relapsed over the years.
No matter the reason for getting braces, adult braces offer excellent results.
WHAT ARE BRACES?
Braces are dental tools that are used to correct dental problems such as crooked teeth, gaps in between teeth, protruded or reclined teeth, overlapping teeth, overbite, etc.
WHY DO WE WEAR BRACES?
Braces help to straighten your teeth amd give you a more natural smile. Braces also give you back your confidence.
It’s been stated that our teeth form a significant part of our personality so that an investment on one’s smile is an investment in his or her personality. It’s an investment that is adjudged by experts to be as good, (if not even better) as buying nice designer bags, shoes and suits to improve our personality.
We may have noticed that the first place we look at when speaking face to face with someone is their mouth and teeth. It is therefore important to boost our confidence with straighter teeth and beautiful smile. For most patients, including adults, braces offer life-changing opportunities.
Having now established the benefit and importance of wearing braces, we will now look at a few other questions.
DO BRACES TAKE LONGER IN ADULTS TO WORK?
Yes!
Adult Braces take slightly longer time to work than they would for younger persons. The adult bone and the ligaments holding our teeth in their sockets are stronger. So movement of teeth is much more slower.
In addition to the above reason, certain habits such as teeth grinding, smoking, etc can affect the outcome and length of treatment in adults. Treatment that typically should last for two years may extend beyond the planned period. Presence of certain disease conditions, use of medications, etc can also affect treatment outcome. The good thing about braces in adult is that because adults are more motivated they usually follow the dentist’s instructions better, and are compliant with their clinic visits.
WHEN ARE YOU TOO OLD FOR BRACES?
The truth is that braces have no age limit as long as one is in good health condition. The only factor that may stop a 80 year old lady from getting braces is the absence of good health. Disease conditions such as diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, etc might prevent adults from wearing braces.
WHY DO ADULTS NEED BRACES?
As briefly stated earlier adult braces help correct oral health issues in remarkable ways. I will list just for reasons that will make an adult wear braces.
They include :
- Teeth movement occurs as we age. Some people may notice protrusion of their front teeth, widening of the spaces in between their teeth, crowding of their teeth, etc. Apart from their negative cosmetic effects, teeth movement also affect chewing.
- Better Smile: Adults want an improved smile by going for orthodontic treatment. An improved smile will give an adult a higher sense of confidence.
- Adults may find it difficult cleaning their teeth due to crowding. Over time this may lead to gum diseases, bleeding gum, tooth decay, etc.
- Teeth movement can lead to jaw problems such as pains. This can be corrected with braces. TYPE OF BRACES:
Traditional metal braces
Traditional ceramic braces
Clear aligners such as Invisalign®
Incognito braces
Etc etc.
ARE THERE DISADVANTAGES ASSOCIATED WITH ADULT BRACES?
Despite the positive impact braces have on your adult teeth and the results obtained, there are a few downsides to wearing braces. But be assured that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. For example, i mentioned earlier in the article that the process might take a long time unlike when the treatment is carried out in a child. Other issues that may arise when you undergo orthodontic treatment involving wearing braces include :
- Sore gum especially when oral hygiene practice is poor.
- Sore on your lips and inner cheeks caused by bracket hooks scrapping your cheeks. This usually goes away after a some days.
3. Restrictions on your diet. You will definitely change the way and what you eat. 4. Discomfort in the mouth initially as a result of presence of brackets, wires, elastics, etc. - Pain on the teeth. This is a temporary problem. It happens when the braces are put on at first or when wires are being changed. Just imagine what happens when you wear a new pair of shoes. Initially you will feel the discomfort but soon you won’t even notice they are there.
In conclusion, you as an adult can wear braces to straighten your teeth and give you a beautiful smile. Usually you will begin to see changes in your smile after just few weeks of wearing braces. These changes will happen slowly however.
Pay that visit to your dentists to discuss your dental problems with them. They will recommend the right treatment options for you.
Final word: Remember your smile reflects your personality.
©Dr Innocent Nnabuike Uzuh (Dr Iyke) is an Abuja based dental surgeon. He can be reached easily at 08033327789. 15 November 2024
