Should You Get Braces as an Adult?
Prior to the turn of the century (2000), only children and teens were seen with braces on their teeth.
After, with all the cosmetic advances that have taken place, it’s become almost natural to see adults with braces. Some people end up with their second set as adults, to try and save the teeth they have and the straightness they worked so hard for in their earlier years.
If you are an adult (over 21) and have teeth that are either moving (because of age and because you didn’t wear your retainer, or have had some mouth issues such as wisdom teeth, you might be considering braces. Or maybe your smile has always bothered you and you finally, as an adult, are making the decision to do something about it. Regardless of the reason, this article is written to help you make the decision on whether braces are for you or not.
When making the decision, make sure you do consult with a few orthodontists. Also, it’s a good idea to speak with friends and family to get good perspective.
For example, I had decided to go round 2 with braces because my teeth had moved, and my parents were having severe teeth issues. I personally would like to avoid any teeth issues and keep them in my mouth for as long as possible. Here are the reasons I decided to get braces:
The better your jaw/teeth fit together, the better your digestion
When your teeth fit together, they will not conflict with eachother, and you do keep your teeth longer.
Also, it helps keep your gums healthy, as well as avoiding as many cavities.
When I finally made the decision, these steps were next:
Finding a good orthodontist at an affordable rate: I did go with Comfort Dental because it was within my price range and there were several locations as well as I had a dental policy through them.
I would say, typically, braces probably cost most people on average, about $3,000. I’ve talked to many people and gotten different price quotes and it seems to fit within that range.
Make sure I can either pay all up front or afford monthly payments. Sometimes, if you have health insurance, you may have dental. Make sure you check to see what coverage you might have. Most dental plans any more don’t really provide coverage for adult orthodontics.
Here is a list of questions to ask the orthodontist:
Which treatment would be best for me? (what you desire)..I wanted the quickest and cheapest route, so I ended up with the metal braces instead of invisilign or retainers or braces on the back side of the teeth.
Will any teeth be taken out?
Will I need to use rubber bands and for how long?
Will I need any other items like headgear and how long?
They will TELL you if you need surgery. I personally have TMJ and have been told I need jaw surgery to correct my bite perfectly. TMJ is expensive and not ever covered by any insurance. I was told I would be able to do fine without it and they would correct my bite as much as possible without the $15,000 surgery.
To be honest, I wish I would have asked some of the questions I didn’t, as I actually may have reconsidered. I’ve been wearing 5 rubber bands/day (only to be taken off when I eat) for almost a year. I wish I would have asked the rubber band question….
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