Straighten Your Smile With Adult Braces

If you made it through your childhood and adolescence with less-than-straight teeth, you might think that it’s too late to do anything about your smile. This is a common misconception, but it’s not true! Adults have several options available to them when it comes to making their smiles straighter. You won’t even have to go through the fear of being called “metal mouth,” since braces for grown-ups don’t have to be metal, or even visible at all. Check out these three types of adult braces you might not have known about.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a type of braces that looks more like a teeth-whitening tray and less like an orthodontic appliance. With Invisalign, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth and have a series of trays fabricated. These trays will gradually move your teeth into the correct place. Invisalign is, as the name would imply, difficult to see (though not completely invisible). The trays can be removed when you eat, which makes them convenient and easy to keep clean.

Lingual Braces

Usually metal braces go on the buccal side of your teeth, or the side that is closest to your cheeks and lips. With lingual braces, they go on the lingual side of the teeth, which is the surface closest to your tongue and palate. They’re undetectable when you smile or speak (unless you open your mouth wide). These are not appropriate for every type of bite, however, and they can be more uncomfortable than traditional braces at first.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are similar to traditional metal braces in terms of placement, but they are made of tooth-colored ceramic. While these are not invisible, they are less visible than their metal counterparts. In some cases, the wires between the braces can be clear or tooth-colored, as well.

Your cosmetic dentist or orthodontist will be able to tell you which types of braces for adults are a good match for you. It’s never too late to straighten your smile, so be sure to ask about your choices when it comes to orthodontic work!