Over the past three years there has been a steady increase of adults in
braces. Our office has definitely noticed it. We came up with a few ideas as to
why adults may feel more comfortable in braces now than they have in the past.
This increase often times is accredited to our society having an increasing
concern in appearance. Although having braces can slow down the physical
changes in the aging process by creating a broader more attractive looking smile,
we’ve found that often times it’s health reasons driving our adult patients to
see us.
Quality of life is important. More and more research is being released
about the importance of keeping a healthy mouth because the mouth is the
gateway to the rest of the body.
When teeth are crowded and crooked it can make cleaning down in the gums
harder, unless you see your dentist to clean below your gums. This leaves
pockets for bacteria to brew and then spread to the rest of your body.
Another concern is when your teeth do not come together in occlusion (all
teeth touching). This means the upper and lower teeth do not line up resulting
in jaw pain, clicking, or popping. These problems are often called TMJ
symptoms. Having braces on can guide your teeth and jaw into proper alignment
making talking, eating, and general comfort better.
Once someone does come in for their free consultation, they are often
relieved to discover that technology for braces has evolved for the better over
the past 20 years. Brackets are smaller, treatment is comfortable, and best of
all braces can be clear!
