I have always been an avid hockey player, and my love took a bad turn one day when I got struck in the mouth with the puck. It was a painful moment that left me with two teeth knocked out of my mouth. Had I taken the right steps after the accident, I could have possibly saved the teeth, but I did not know I had that option at the time. Thankfully, I worked up the courage to visit a dentist and ask what my options for teeth-replacement were. I was worried I would would have to live the rest of my life without smiling, but I was ecstatic to learn that I was the perfect candidate for dental implants. I created this blog to help others realize that there are so many options to replace missing teeth today that no one has to "just live with" an imperfect smile!
Dental braces for adults over the age of fifty are becoming much more common; dental practice has changed within the past few decades, and older people are encouraged to keep their teeth rather than having them pulled and replacing them with dentures. This means that it has become advisable for adults to get braces in order to correct dental malocclusions (problems with bite), overcrowded teeth or crooked teeth. If left untreated, these conditions will increase your risk of tooth loss and gum disease. If you think you may need braces, it's important to schedule an appointment with an orthodontist as soon as possible to discuss your options.
Why Would You Need Braces As A Senior?
While it is true that the bones in your jaw stop growing once you reach adulthood, this does not mean that your teeth are no longer capable of shifting out of position. Injuries to your jaw, dental health issues such as gingivitis and general bone loss due to aging can all change the shape of your teeth; this can cause the development of dental malocclusions such as overbite, underbite or crossbite that can be corrected with the use of braces.
Even if you had braces growing up, relapse can be an issue. This happens when you stop wearing your retainer and your teeth gradually shift to their natural maloccluded position, undoing the work of the braces that you were wearing. Sometimes this relapse can take decades, meaning that problems with your bite will return only once you reach adulthood.
Improve Both Your Appearance And Your Dental Health
Although the main reason that people get braces is to improve the appearance of their teeth, braces will also improve the health of your teeth and gums. Fixing overcrowded or crooked teeth makes your smile more attractive, and it also makes it much easier to clean your teeth fully when you are brushing and flossing. Overcrowding, in particular, makes it very difficult to clean in-between the crowded teeth. This gives plaque and bacteria a great place to hide, leading to a higher risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
An abnormal bite, such as overbite or crossbite, can lead to severe consequences if uncorrected. When you are chewing your food, these abnormal bites place a lot of stress on your teeth. This very quickly erodes the enamel on your teeth, and then begins wearing down the surface of the tooth itself, leading to an increased risk of tooth decay. Crossbites especially can progress very quickly, as chewing with a crossbite will pull your teeth farther out of alignment over time. This can result in eventual tooth loss.
Invisible Options Hide The Fact That You Are Wearing Braces
Many adults shy away from braces because they're commonly associated with children and adolescents, making adults self-conscious about wearing them. However, there are forms of braces on the market now that are nearly invisible. One downside of invisible braces is that the treatment period is longer than with typical metal braces; this is sometimes a concern when getting dental braces for adults, as the risk of root resorption (when your body begins to essentially absorb minerals in its own teeth, destroying them) is higher in adults who wear braces for a long period of time. An orthodontist, such as from Montano & Cardall Orthodontic Specialists, can help determine whether or not these invisible braces are a good fit for your personal dental health.
Share14 August 2017
