Best Braces for Adults and How to Choose

A Perfect Smile has NO Age Limit

If you’re an adult considering braces and wondering you’ll want to consider all options to help determine the best braces. We wondered too so we asked orthodontist, Dr. Satish Pai of Putnam Orthodontics for information on the best braces for adults.

If a smile has no connection with age, then why should age be a hindrance for braces that can give you a perfect smile? If you desire to age gracefully, a perfect set of straight teeth should be on your list. It not only makes you look and feel good, it also improves the quality of your life.

If you are apprehensive about wearing braces in adulthood, don’t be. The evolving dental technology has presented us with various teeth straightening options, and in this article, we’ll talk about a few popular ones.

Best Braces for Adults

Damon Braces

These braces are equipped with a slide mechanism which attaches wires to brackets. This helps them move naturally along with the teeth as they shift to their ideal position. There are no steel or elastic ties used with Damon brackets. The patient experiences faster results and can maintain better oral hygiene as there are lesser chances of plaque formation.

Ceramic Braces

Also known as ‘clear’ braces, ceramic braces consist of white wires and tooth colored brackets that blend well with your natural teeth. They have the same type of functionality as metal braces, but are aesthetically more pleasing and hence preferred by adults.

Traditional / Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are a cost-effective option to fix teeth crowding, space between teeth and bite issues. The brackets may be silver or gold, and they give you an option to change the color of the o-shaped rubber bands. Traditional braces are more commonly used by children, but adults who don’t mind having visible braces can opt for this too. These braces are sturdy and can withstand most treatment forces.

Aligners

Clear aligners are a relatively new form of orthodontic treatment that are practically invisible braces that you can remove when needed. They’re comprised of a series of invisible trays that gently move your teeth at small intervals without employing any obvious apparatus. Aligners are transparent and fit seamlessly on your teeth, which is why they are often known as ‘undetectable braces’.

Most Popular Aligners

Two of the most popular types of aligners include:

Invisalign

• These aligners are nearly invisible and removable, gradually straightening your teeth. They are usually switched every two weeks or so as the teeth shift. They do not have any brackets or wires.

ClearCorrect

• These aligners have transparent trays too, and must be worn for at least 22 hours of the day. They will also require a periodic change of the clear aligners.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are similar to traditional braces, but they are fixed to the back of your teeth or the lingual side of the teeth towards the tongue. They are virtually invisible and effective to correct most bite issues.

Lingual braces may temporarily affect your speech since your tongue touches them while speaking. But eventually, your tongue will get accustomed to it and your speech will return to normal.

Is it safe to exercise or play a sport with braces on?

Absolutely, it’s perfectly okay to visit the gym, hit the treadmill and stick to your workout routine with braces on. If you are playing any contact sport like boxing, baseball or football, ensure that you use a mouth guard that fits around your braces. Alternatively, you can also consider removable braces that can be kept aside for the one or two hours of your fitness regime.

A smile has no age limit. So, if you’re looking for your best smile, visit an orthodontist and invest in quality adult braces without delay.

A healthy smile goes hand in hand with a healthy body, so you may also enjoy reading about the health benefits of outdoor exercise.

Adult patients who finally made the decision to have braces often say they wish they’d done it much sooner.
~MyTrainerFitness.com

Contributing Writer

Author Bio: Creating perfect smiles is what Dr. Satish Pai of Putnam Orthodontics is committed to. An orthodontist by profession, he believes that a perfect smile is a powerful part of a person’s personality. When Dr. Pai isn’t working hard on perfecting his patients’ smiles, he enjoys writing engaging articles about everything related to healthy teeth and orthodontics. His other passions include golf, yoga and surfing and spending time with his family.

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