Teeth Straightening for Adults: What Do I Need to Know?

Teeth straightening is more common during childhood and the teenage years as this is when the teeth are still emerging and the jaw is still quite soft. This means that interventions to correct the alignment of the teeth and the bite are easier to achieve.

While treatment might be more common for children and teens, this doesn’t mean that adults cannot achieve straighter teeth. The treatment plan is the same and can achieve similarly beautiful results.

Adults in need of teeth straightening are more likely to have less severe alignment problems, as they would have qualified for braces as a child if their issues were very extreme. So, while treatment might take longer for adults, the severity of the condition is often less dramatic.

In this guide, we’re exploring the procedure for teeth straightening in adulthood. We’ll look at why you might choose treatment, what you can expect, and how you can keep your teeth looking beautiful long after treatment has finished. We’ll also look at some of the benefits of teeth straightening that have nothing to do with aesthetics.

Why choose teeth straightening?

Very often, the reason for an adult opting to have braces fitted to their teeth is cosmetic. Yet it is not only the appearance of the teeth that will be improved. Problems with the positioning of the teeth can cause issues with the way the teeth fit together, known as the bite.

Issues with your bite can be very uncomfortable and lead to further issues, including digestive problems, sleep issues and headaches.

Another benefit of teeth straightening is that straight teeth are much easier to care for. When your teeth are properly aligned, you’ll find it much easier to brush and floss your teeth. You won’t have to deal with hidden pockets between poorly aligned teeth that create space for bacteria to thrive.

Opting for braces later in life could be as a result of missing out on having braces fitted when a child, or because the teeth have moved over the years making an issue more pronounced.

Braces are also becoming more socially accepted, so while you may have felt self conscious about wearing braces as a teen, this might not bother you as much as you get older.

What can adult braces help with?

Adult braces are a popular choice for helping to improve the alignment of your teeth and also to achieve an improved bite. Your bite is important as it influences things like how well you digest your food and how you breathe when you are asleep at night. Braces could be used to correct:

- Misaligned teeth

- Rotations

- Gaps in the teeth

- Overbite, underbite or crossbite

If you had braces as a teenager and stopped wearing your retainer, you may have found that your teeth have returned to their original position. Or you may have narrowly missed out on orthodontics as a teenager, but your teeth have gradually moved more out of alignment over the years.

Whatever the problem, adult orthodontics can help you to address it. After treatment, you can continue to wear a retainer at night to help keep your teeth in the correct position.

What braces are available for adults?

The beauty of modern technical advances is that dental intervention looks far less obtrusive than you may remember in your youth. Yes, metal braces are still used and are very effective – but there are other options available.

Metal braces are still the fastest way to straighten teeth, but these have reduced in size and are now available in different colours. You could choose to have tooth-coloured brackets and clear wires, for example, as a more discreet treatment option.

Adults having their teeth straightened are often more conscious about the appearance of the braces. To counter this, a number of more discreet options are available.

These include ceramic braces that are clear or can even be matched to the colour of teeth, lingual braces that are fitted to the back of the teeth, and virtually invisible teeth aligners that fit over the teeth.

Invisalign is a hugely popular treatment plan that uses clear and removable aligners to gradually move the teeth into the optimum alignment. Since the aligners are removable, you don’t have to change your diet or oral care routine during the treatment.

Does teeth straightening take longer for adults?

The length of your treatment plan isn’t linked to whether you are a child or an adult. It’s all about the position of your teeth and how much each tooth needs to move. For minor imperfections, your treatment could take as little as 6 months, but it’s more likely that your treatment will take longer.

Teeth straightening treatment usually takes between 12 and 18 months. Longer treatment plans might be possible if you have severe alignment problems.

How do I get started with teeth straightening?

The first step would be to arrange a consultation with an orthodontist. This will help you to understand the treatment plan and find out if you are a good candidate. You can also explore the treatment plans available and determine which one would be right for your lifestyle and requirements.

Are you considering teeth straightening? Get in touch with Bhandal Dental Surgery for more advice.