Orthodontic treatment (sometimes just called “orthodontics”) is all about moving your teeth and fixing your bite. For many people, they get braces or similar orthodontics when they’re young. However, more and more adults are choosing to get orthodontic treatments. That’s because so many can benefit from it. With modern options like ceramic braces and Invisalign, it’s getting easier to hide orthodontic treatments too. Here are the top five reasons why adults get orthodontics.

1. It was too expensive when you were growing up. Orthodontic treatments like traditional braces are very involved. Brackets have to be put on teeth individually, wires must be connected to help move the teeth, and you have to visit our northwest IN dental office every so often. All in all, braces can be too expensive for some families.

Teens often get braces because that’s when your teeth have slowed down enough to make orthodontics successful. Yet many adults had to skip orthodontics back then because of the cost. Now that you are on your own, it’s more likely that you can afford to get orthodontic treatments. You can even opt for more involved orthodontics such as ceramic braces or Invisalign.

2. You had an accident or injury that moved some teeth around. You can never be completely ready for a dental injury. There are steps you can take to protect your teeth, such as wearing athletic mouthguards for rough sports. Keeping your teeth clean and healthy also helps, as strong enamel can withstand more pressure than enamel with weak or worn spots. However, injuries and accidents come out of nowhere.

Some adults have had dental injuries that hurt the teeth but not enough to require repairs. For example, getting hit in the mouth with a hockey puck might not crack the teeth. Instead, the force could push a tooth or two out of alignment. You had an even smile, and now you don’t. Getting orthodontic treatments like FAAB (Fast Acting Adult Braces) can get you back that even smile after an injury.

3. You don’t want malocclusion to lead to worn enamel or TMJ pain. The technical term for how your teeth come together when you bite is occlusion. Your teeth are supposed to just come together when you bite down. However, it’s easy to have malocclusion. This is when that bite doesn’t come together correctly. Overbites, underbites, and crossbites are all types of malocclusion. When this happens, your teeth often touch too much. You can develop worn spots on the enamel. Malocclusion can also put extra stress on your jaw joints, leading to TMJ pain.

Orthodontic treatments do more than just move your teeth. They can help shift your jaw and correct for any malocclusion. This can help protect your teeth and reduce your chances of having TMJ pain.

4. You are ready to boost your confidence, self-esteem, and even your career. Imagine waking up in the morning and stumbling straight to work. No shower, still in whatever you slept in, and your hair is a mess. How confident would you feel? When you’re embarrassed about how you look, your self-esteem and confidence can drop. That can affect how people see you. People can often notice when you’re not confident, and that can take a toll on your career. So when you have teeth that are crooked or misaligned, you might be embarrassed about your smile.

That’s why many adults get orthodontic treatments like Invisalign, traditional braces, and more. They’re tired of being embarrassed and are ready to feel confident again. Plus, a great-looking smile can help in your career. People are more likely to take you seriously when you look professional.

5. Your teeth never really stop moving. Why do so many teenagers get braces? Because that’s usually when teeth have slowed down and mostly stopped moving. Getting orthodontic treatments before then is often pointless. (Unless you have a serious problem with your bite.) Your teeth will simply move out of alignment, ruining the work done by your braces.

However, your teeth never quite stop moving. Even if you had braces as a teenager, your teeth as an adult can start to look like you didn’t. Tiny gaps between your teeth can get bigger. All of that pressure from years and years of chewing can nudge teeth out of alignment. Even your bite can start to change over that much time. The only way to get your teeth and bite back to where they belong is through orthodontic treatments like traditional braces, ceramic braces, and Invisalign.

Getting orthodontic treatments as an adult can help you in many ways. To learn more about how adults get orthodontics, call us today at 219-809-6584.