Woman with braces standing by a wall

5 Commonly Asked Adult Braces Questions and Their Answers

Adults braces are trending. The reason could be the growing understanding that a beautiful, healthy smile corresponds to professional success and improved social life. Orthodontic treatment straightens your misaligned or crooked teeth and imparts life-long benefits that help you in many areas of personal, social and professional life.

If you want to commit to tooth correction, it’s important to know what exactly you would be getting into. Below are some frequently asked questions about braces and orthodontic treatment.

  1. What are the different types of braces available for adults?

Adult braces have come a long way. From being just metal wires wrapped around each tooth, they have become sleeker and more comfortable than their metal predecessors. If you prefer a more aesthetically-pleasing method, there are many other options. The different types of adult braces available are as follows:

  • Traditional Metal braces
    These braces are most commonly used. However, today’s metal braces are smaller and less conspicuous than their predecessors. They now use new heat-activated archwires to help teeth move more quickly and less painfully.
  • Lingual Braces
    These braces are similar to conventional metal braces. The only difference is that the wires and brackets are inserted on the inside of your teeth.
  • Ceramic Braces
    Ceramic braces come with tooth-colored or clear brackets that are less conspicuous and perfectly blends into your teeth.
  • Invisalign®
    Invisalign® has 18 to 30 custom-made clear plastic aligners, which are removable. These aligners need to be replaced after every 2 weeks.
  • Self-Ligating Braces

In self-ligating braces, a bracket with a small, spring-loaded door holds the archwire in place.

  1. How long will I wear braces?

Since teeth of an adult are no longer growing, it may take a longer time for the teeth to move. An adult wears braces for 18 months to three years on average. Once your braces are off, a retainer has to be used to keep the teeth in their corrected positions.

  1. How will braces change my life?

Braces will change your life for the better. Here are some of the positive changes you’ll see:

  • Improved confidence
  • Better social, personal and professional life
  • Relief from headaches and jaw pain
  • Cleaner teeth
  • Reduce teeth chips
  • Easier to chew food
  • Reduce speech problems
  • Fewer cavities and gum problems
  1. Do braces hurt?

Braces can cause discomfort and pain that can easily be taken care of with pain relievers. While you are getting on the braces you may feel no pain. But within a few hours, you may start to feel some soreness and pain in your mouth. Around this time, you’ll feel the pressure of the wires and bands on the teeth. This may cause some pain which will eventually reduce once you get used to it.

You need to make frequent visits to the orthodontist to get your braces tightened every now and then. You may also experience pain when the orthodontist tightens your braces to ensure that there is enough pressure on the teeth for them to move. The discomfort may be milder than what you faced around the first time. Over-the-counter pain relievers should be enough to control this pain.

  1. Will I need to wear a retainer after treatment?

Yes. Teeth have the tendency to move back to their original position even after the best orthodontic treatment. A retainer helps to restrict their movement, keeping them fixed in their new location.

Orthodontic treatment has life-long benefits for patients of all age groups. With newer and more convenient options, there are many different ways you can get the smile you’ve always wished for. For more information, check out Dr.Koch’s Orthodontic Clinic.

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