Is It Ever Too Late for Braces?

Patients of all ages ask about getting braces for a variety of reasons. Whether it’s for aesthetics, altering their bite, realigning malposed teeth, or repositioning teeth to allow for replacement teeth.

Is it ever too late to get braces? The simple answer is no. However, there are some factors to consider at every age to ensure best results.

Both children and adults can enjoy the benefits of braces. As a child, which is classified up to the age of 22, still has jaw growth as the braces move teeth. This means careful monitoring is required to utilize the growth to move teeth properly. As an adult wanting braces, it’s important to understand how your teeth move and your unique root structures.

Who Benefits from Braces?

People of all ages who have problems with misaligned teeth or jaws will benefit from braces. Common reasons why people choose braces are:

• Crooked or Crowded Teeth: Braces can help to straighten teeth that are crooked, crowded, or overlapped, making it easier to clean them and improving their appearance.
• Overbite or Underbite: Braces can help to correct bite problems such as overbite (upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth) or underbite (lower front teeth overlap the upper front teeth).
• Crossbite or Open Bite: Braces can help to correct crossbite (where the upper and lower teeth do not align properly) or open bite (where there is a gap between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are together).
• Jaw Misalignment: Braces can help to correct jaw misalignment, which can cause problems with chewing, speaking, and breathing.
• TMJ Disorders: Braces can be used to treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which can cause jaw pain, headaches, and other symptoms.

Braces offer all ages improved oral health, a better bite for chewing, and an enhanced appearance. Braces also provide all patients with preventive measures to avoid future dental problems. Correcting misaligned teeth with braces can prevent future dental problems that may require more invasive and costly treatments.

Types of Braces Offered at Hass Family Orthodontics

At Hass Family Orthodontics, we offer two types of braces that are beneficial for all:

• Damon Braces
• Titanium Braces

Damon braces are a type of self-ligating braces used to straighten teeth and correct bite issues. They use a sliding-door technology that eliminates the need for traditional elastic or metal ties used in traditional braces. Instead, the brackets in Damon braces use a passive self-ligating system, which allows the archwire to move more freely and reduce friction, allowing teeth to move more quickly and comfortably.

Some benefits of Damon braces include:

• Faster Treatment Time: Because Damon braces allow teeth to move more efficiently, treatment time can be shorter than with traditional braces.
• Fewer Appointments: Damon braces require fewer adjustment appointments than traditional braces, making them a more convenient option for some people.
• More Comfortable: The sliding-door technology of Damon braces can reduce discomfort and irritation compared to traditional braces.
• Easier to Clean: Damon braces are easier to clean and maintain than traditional braces because there are no elastic or metal ties to trap food and plaque.
• More Discreet: Damon braces come in clear or tooth-colored brackets, making them a more discreet option for people who want to minimize the appearance of their braces.

Titanium braces are a type of orthodontic braces that use brackets made of high-grade titanium alloy instead of stainless steel. The brackets are fixed onto the teeth using dental adhesive and are connected with an archwire that runs through them. The archwire is gradually tightened over time, which applies gentle pressure to move the teeth into the desired position.

Some benefits of titanium braces include:

• Durability: Titanium braces are very strong and durable, making them less likely to break or bend during treatment.
• Lightweight: Titanium braces are lighter than traditional stainless steel braces, making them more comfortable to wear.
• Comfortable: The brackets of titanium braces are designed to be smoother and less irritating to the gums and cheeks than traditional braces.
• Corrosion Resistant: Titanium is highly resistant to corrosion, so the brackets of titanium braces will not stain or discolor over time.
• Low Profile: The brackets of titanium braces are generally smaller and more discreet than traditional braces, making them a more aesthetic option for some patients.

Braces for All Ages

It is not too late to get braces, as orthodontic treatment can be effective at any age. While it is commonly assumed that braces are only for children or teenagers, more and more adults are getting braces to improve their oral health, bite, and smile. In fact, about 20% of orthodontic patients are now adults.

It’s worth noting that the duration of treatment can be longer for adults than for children or teenagers, as adult teeth are more firmly set in the jawbone, and bone density decreases with age, making it harder to move the teeth.

Hass Family Orthodontics, strives to provide families with high-quality – yet, affordable – orthodontic treatment. Their services include braces for all ages, Invisalign, two phase orthodontics, and more.