Can You be Too Old for Braces or Invisalign?

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People of all ages want to have a smile they can be proud of. Crooked teeth are not only embarrassing, but they can also cause problems in chewing, cleaning, and contribute to gum disease. Traditional braces have been used for decades to treat crooked teeth in children and adults. A new dental appliance, Invisalign, has been developed as an alternative to traditional braces. Both are effective treatments for crooked teeth for all ages. To answer the question, can you be too old for braces or Invisalign the simple answer is no. Braces and Invisalign can be fitted on children, teens, adults, and seniors. Anyone of almost any age can have a straight and beautiful smile with today’s dental appliance options.
Can You be Too Old for Braces or Invisalign

Types of Braces
Braces come in two options; traditional and self-ligating ( Please click here for detailed post on different types of braces). Traditional braces use brackets applied to the teeth with dental cement, archwires threaded through the brackets, and rubber bands to hold the archwires in place. Self-ligating braces also use brackets and archwires, but don’t use rubber bands. Instead they use clips built into the brackets to hold the archwires in place. Self-ligating braces can be passive or active. Passive self-ligating braces use less pressure than active ones. Some orthodontists prefer self-ligating braces because they may cut down on the time the braces need to be worn. Both traditional and self-ligating braces use gentle constant pressure to guide your teeth into position.

Invisalign
Today there is a new dental appliance which helps children and adults have straighter teeth without the use of braces.Invisalign aligners are made of clear plastic you wear over your teeth. The aligners are fitted to your teeth by your orthodontist using a scanning technology developed by the manufacturers of Invisalign. The aligners put gentle pressure on your teeth to ease them into position.Every two weeks you are fitted for new aligners, and your old ones are replaced as your teeth move into proper position. They are virtually invisible and many patients find them more comfortable than braces.

Invisalign aligners are manufactured by Align Technology. In 1999 Align Technology introduced Invisalign to the dental community as an alternative to braces. Align Technology is based in San Jose, California and has offices all over the globe. Since its introduction Invisalign is available in more than 45 countries and has treated over 1.5 million patients.

Adults and Braces
According to WebMD the number of adults choosing braces had increased over the last few years. Today’s braces are much less cumbersome than braces of just 15 years ago. The brackets used are much smaller, and some ceramic brackets are clear. Most adults wear braces from 12 to 20 months. With the introduction of Invisalign, adults can wear braces without anyone ever knowing they have them.

Many adults choose braces for not only dental health, but for cosmetic reasons. Today adults want straight teeth for personal and professional reasons. Dentists and orthodontists say it is never too late for braces. If you are considering braces, no matter what age, there are options available for you today to help you have the smile you want.

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