Children and teenagers sometimes need braces for a period of time to help adjust their smile and bite pattern. This is usually related to the alignment of permanent teeth after they emerge, long term cosmetic reasons or other issues related to the growth of their jaw structure.
At the same time more and more adults have started wearing braces to help improve their smile or correct alignment issues with their teeth.
Traditional braces with their visible metal brackets and wires are not very popular with adults, for cosmetic reasons. Ceramic braces are one possible alternative. These are simply traditional braces that have been covered with a porcelain-ceramic material that is color matched to their natural teeth.
Lingual braces are growing in popularity with adults for their cosmetic appeal. They are just like traditional braces except they are secured behind the teeth. The disadvantage of lingual braces is that they can sometimes be hard to clean.
For adults that are looking for minor cosmetic adjustments, clear braces such as Invisalign and ClearCorrect have been growing in popularity. These aligners are made from a clear durable plastic. For maximum effect and shortest duration of treatment, you will need to wear the aligners for around 22 hours each day. While you can drink normally, the aligners should be removed while eating. In most cases the casual observer can rarely even notice you are wearing them.
Every two weeks you will switch to a new set of aligners as your teeth gradually conform to your ideal placement. The average duration of treatment time varies but for most people it only takes six to eight weeks to meet their alignment goals.
If you have questions about what bite adjustment options are right for you, please call us at 281.376.4533 to schedule an appointment.
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