As an adult, if you never had braces as a teen, it’s common to wonder if it’s time to do something about your smile.
Even if your bite isn’t terribly crooked, you may experience regret and wish you had gotten orthodontic treatment when you were younger.
However, deciding to get braces as an adult is complicated.
There’s no one to make your decision for you, and there are a variety of factors to consider—from the severity of your malocclusion to the amount of information you have on your treatment options.
If you’re trying to decide if you should get braces, this article will give you 7 questions to help you choose what’s best for your smile.
1. Am I self-conscious about my teeth while talking?
Sometimes, individuals get braces because their malocclusion is creating unwanted dental problems.
However, others may have a simple reason for straightening their teeth: they want to improve the appearance of their smile.
Maybe your malocclusion isn’t highly noticeable, but if you’re embarrassed and self-conscious when you talk, laugh or smile, it may be time to consider orthodontic treatment.
(Check out this article to see why Invisalign can empower adults to straighten their teeth no matter their age.)
2. How severe is my malocclusion?
Perhaps your smile doesn’t simply create self-consciousness. You may suffer from an open bite, widely gapped teeth or another problem that creates...
- Difficulty keeping your mouth closed.
- Difficulty when you chew.
- Difficulty speaking.
If your malocclusion is making normal life difficult, it’s time to get braces.
3. Do I avoid pictures?
Another way to determine if you should get braces is to take a closer look at your behaviour when someone pulls out the camera.
Even if you’re not embarrassed when talking to people, avoiding pictures can be a sign that your malocclusion is negatively impacting your life.
If you do choose braces, you can avoid conspicuous brackets and wires and the self-consciousness these can create. With Invisalign, you’ll wear clear braces that allow you to easily snap a selfie or join a group picture without drawing attention to your treatment.
4. Is it difficult to clean my teeth?
The relative difficulty – or ease – you experience while cleaning your teeth can be another clue as to whether it’s time to straighten your smile.
Crooked and misaligned teeth can create challenges when it comes to…
- Brushing properly—as some teeth may be tilted, making it easier to miss certain spots.
- Flossing—as your floss might become wedged between individual teeth.
- Avoiding gum loss—as a malocclusion can cause you to improperly brush, leading to receding gums.
It may be time to get braces if you find that cleaning your teeth is less than easy.
However, it’s important to recognise that traditional metal braces can increase the difficulty of oral hygiene because you’ll need to clean around brackets and archwires.
You can avoid these difficulties with Invisalign. Invisalign’s clear aligners are removable, allowing you to take out your aligners to easily brush and floss your teeth.
5. If I get braces, can I commit to proper oral hygiene?
Before you decide to get braces, you need to do more than evaluate the challenges you have when cleaning your teeth. You also need to determine how committed you are to proper oral hygiene.
As WebMD points out:
Most orthodontists recommend brushing after every meal or snack… and carefully removing any food that may have gotten stuck in your braces.
If you choose traditional metal braces, you’ll need both the time and the willpower to take care of your teeth so you avoid tooth decay.
While Invisalign can greatly improve the convenience of cleaning your teeth compared to metal braces, you’ll still need to consider if you can keep a steady oral hygiene routine.
6. Have I researched my orthodontic treatment options?
It’s vital that you research your orthodontic treatment options before making a decision about your smile. If you haven’t looked into the pros and cons of different treatments, then you’re not ready to get braces—yet.
Here are a few resources we’ve written on this topic that you can use as a springboard to conduct other research:
- An overview of your treatment options
- How metal braces work
- Problems with ceramic braces
- Issues lingual braces create
- The dangers of homemade braces
7. Have I researched a potential orthodontist?
Another important question to consider is the information you’ve gathered on orthodontists in your local area.
The orthodontist you choose can have a positive or negative impact on your treatment experience, and it’s unwise to make a decision until you check the credibility of the orthodontists you’ll consult.
(If you’ve decided to leverage Invisalign to straighten your teeth, you’ll want to read this article on how to choose an Invisalign orthodontist.)
After sorting through these questions, you may have decided that Invisalign’s clear braces can straighten your smile and provide the convenience and confidence you need.
Discover more about Invisalign’s clear aligners when you schedule a complimentary consultation at your local MiSmile Invisalign Provider.
Take the first step toward straightening your teeth with Invisalign today.
