Have you been avoiding orthodontic care because you are worried about the discomfort of wearing clunky metal braces? Even though many adults could benefit from orthodontic care, most are afraid of the way their adult braces will look or feel.

These are very valid concerns, especially if you haven’t been around the orthodontic office lately, but a lot has changed since you were a kid! The braces that your peers wore in middle school are no longer the braces we use here at the office.

That’s great news for patients who could really benefit from care but have been afraid! After all, how would you continue to lead meetings at work, help in your child’s classroom, or meet new people when you felt like a brace face?

Today, we want to share some of the exciting advances in orthodontic care with you! We are sure you’ll be just as excited about them as we are! So, let’s get started!

The Old Stereotype

As we mentioned above, we know the stereotype of braces built into your head. It’s based on what you saw as a kid, isn’t it? You saw your best friend or the kid who sat next to you in math class wearing braces, and you swore that would never be you! No matter how bad your teeth got, you would much rather have your smile than feel like your smile was a machine!

There are two main reasons for these feelings: the brackets and wires.

Clunky Metal Brackets
Orthodontists used to use really heavy, clunky, metal brackets on teeth. These brackets covered such a large portion of the actual tooth that it was difficult to see beyond the bright, shiny metal! These brackets were the reason for nicknames like “brace face” and “metal mouth!”

Heavy, Thick Wires
Another aspect of traditional braces that have many people wary of the procedure is the set of thick wires that people used to wear. These wires were super thick, painful against the soft tissues of your mouth, and had to be replaced or adjusted often. Where do you think the term “tinsel teeth” came from?

The New Reality

Luckily for patients today, there are new options that make adult braces much more comfortable, effective, and less noticeable! Let’s take a look at some of those options next so that you have a better idea of what is available to you when you come in for your initial consultation!

Invisalign Orthodontics: Invisalign orthodontics are completely clear plastic aligners that fit snugly against your teeth. The aligners put pressure on your teeth to steer your smile back into alignment, but no one around you will be able to tell that you are wearing anything on your teeth!

Clear Braces: Brackets today are much smaller and take up less space on each tooth, which makes them less noticeable, but some patients would still like to see less on their smile. For these patients, we can offer clear brackets in your smile zone. These are made of ceramic or plastic. They work just like metal brackets, but they attract less attention!

“Space-Age” Orthodontics: In addition to our advanced bracket options, we are also using a new wire system! We use NiTi shape memory wire that is very thin and comfortable in your mouth. When it is cool, it is very flexible and comfortable, but when it is warmed in your mouth, it will stiffen and get to work on your teeth! It requires fewer adjustments and replacements, which means fewer appointments for you!

Low-Profile Braces: Orthodontics are getting smaller and more comfortable in every way. We call these new systems low-profile braces, which simply means that they are going to draw less attention to you! We don’t have to use ugly rubber bands, headgear, and big bulky metal pieces any longer! You can get quality orthodontic care without feeling uncomfortable at every smile!

Learn More Today!

As you can see, there is no longer a reason for you to avoid orthodontic care! We can treat your teeth while you go about your life in complete comfort and confidence! There has never been a better time to invest in your smile with quality orthodontics.

Contact us today to set up an appointment, and let us know what you would like to see happening for your smile! We can’t wait to see you soon!