Many people would like to do something to improve their smiles.

Teeth whitening can get rid of stains. Veneers or dental crowns can repair chipped and broken teeth.

But what if your teeth are crooked, crowded, or have gaps between them? What if you have an overbite or an underbite? You can fix those issues with orthodontic care.

If you believe orthodontics is just for teens, then we have great news for you. Adults of any age can receive orthodontic care, too.

In fact, 1 in 5 orthodontic patients is 21 years old or older, according to the American Association of Orthodontics. If you are an adult who would like to have straight, evenly spaced teeth, then you should schedule a visit to Orthodontic Alliances. To request an appointment at any of our Indiana locations, call 219-809-6584 or contact us online. We have offices in Michigan City, Portage, and St. John.

Why Adults Need Orthodontics

The first reason is one that anyone can relate to: you want a nice smile. And most people would agree that smiles look nicer when teeth are straight.

We’ve also seen — more times than we can count — how our patients feel more confident when they feel good about their smiles. Patients who used to have trouble looking us in the eye when they spoke now hold their heads high and speak without feeling self-conscious about their teeth.

The second reason to straighten your teeth is your oral health.

We want to be clear about something. Having straight teeth does not by itself make your teeth healthy. However, it is easier to clean straight teeth, which can make brushing and flossing your teeth is more effective.

Consider for a moment a patient with crooked teeth that overlap one another or crooked teeth that are pressed into one another. It may not be possible to effectively clean the overlapping areas with a toothbrush, although bacteria can still get into those spaces. Likewise, crowded teeth can be too tight to floss, but once again, bacteria may be able to form plaque in those areas.

By straightening your teeth and addressing spacing issues, you can remove more bacteria and plaque when you brush and floss.

You may have never worn braces. You may have had orthodontic care as a teenager, but your teeth have started to relapse. That is, they are moving back into their original crooked positions.

Either way, our orthodontists — Dr. Evan Schmidt and Dr. Randy Schmidt — have years of experience and multiple options for changing your smile.

How You Could Change Your Smile

Which orthodontic treatment is right for you will vary depending on the severity of your alignment issues and what you are comfortable with during your treatment.

Here are some options you may want to consider:

► Traditional braces — These may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of orthodontics. There’s a good reason for that. This combination of brackets and wires works on practically any smile.

► Ceramic braces — These are similar to traditional metal braces with one key difference. The brackets are made with ceramic materials that more closely match the color of your teeth.

► Invisalign® — Invisalign was developed with adults in mind. Many adults are not comfortable wearing brackets on their teeth. With this system, you wear clean aligners over your teeth instead, making this a much more discreet way to improve your smile.

► Fast-acting braces — For patients who are primarily concerned with making cosmetic improvements, these braces can change your smile in about six months on average. By focusing only on the teeth in the front of your mouth, you can fix cosmetic issues and greatly reduce your treatment time.

How Can We Help You?

You want to improve your smile. Our doctors have the experience and expertise to make that happen.

Contact us online to call 219-809-6584 to request an appointment at whichever Orthodontic Alliances location is most convenient for you.