When you have lived through your whole young life into adulthood with teeth that are not quite as straight as you would like them, you may at one point decide that enough is enough and want to do something about it. There are many different options available to you to help you to get those teeth straightened out as soon as possible. Orthodontists offer a wide variety of services to adults in need of orthodontic care. All you need to do is get to know some of those options so you can make the right choice for yourself.

Traditional Dental Braces

The most common and by far the least expensive orthodontic option available to adults is the traditional braces option. These dental braces are generally made of metal brackets that are bonded to the teeth using dental cement.

The braces are attached together by small, thin wires and are anchored to the back teeth, which have metal rings around them that allow your orthodontist to tighten the wires periodically. Dental braces work by slowly shifting the positions of the teeth in your mouth until they are better aligned. If you are worried about the appearance of dental braces on your teeth, it may also be possible to install your braces on the back of your teeth rather than the front depending on the type of dental alignment issues you are dealing with and the extent of the adjustments required.

Invisible Braces

Invisible or clear braces are also an option available to adults looking to straighten out minor imperfections in their alignment. However, oftentimes orthodontists do not generally recommend invisible braces for major alignment issues that may need closer observations or more fine-tuning than this option allows.

Invisible braces are essentially clear plastic trays that fit snugly around the teeth. These trays are changed out for new ones that are in a slightly different position every week or two until your teeth shift into the desired position and alignment. They are far less noticeable than traditional braces and can feel less obtrusive in your mouth as they do not protrude out from the teeth as much as traditional braces.

 Factors to Keep in Mind

The main difference between getting orthodontics as an adult and doing so as a child is the different risks that the process entails. For adults, there is a higher chance, for example, that the root of the teeth being moved and adjusted will be reabsorbed by the body, making the tooth unstable and leading to possible tooth loss or rot.

However, the risks of such issues are still relatively low. You will just want to be sure that you maintain pristine oral health habits prior to getting your orthodontics as well as while you have them. This will help to prevent unnecessary infections or damage to your teeth.

It also may not be possible to fully correct all of the alignment issues with your teeth with just orthodontics alone. You might also need to look at cosmetic dentistry options like dental crowns to help get your smile to look the way you would like it to.

With these options and factors in mind, you can be better prepared for your first appointment with your orthodontist in your pursuit of a more aesthetically appealing smile.