Orthodontic treatment has been mostly associated with children and teenagers, but thanks to new technologies and innovations, a healthily, beautiful smile is attainable at any age.
In our practices, we currently have patients in Orthodontic treatment as young as 6 years of age and the oldest patient is 81. I know if you are reading this, you are thinking why would we treat a patient as young as 6 since they do not have all their adult teeth and on the other hand, why would someone 81 years old want braces?
I will explain both situations to you and share with you the options that are available at any age to improve your smile, make room for adult teeth, correct severe bite problems and eliminate jaw pain and excessive wear on your teeth and even help your heart!
Early interceptive Orthodontic treatment at ages as young as 6 or 7 is needed when patients have severe crowding (to prevent future extraction of perfectly healthy adult teeth) or to stop a bad thumb or finger sucking habit. In some cases a severe underbite or overbite will also necessitate early orthodontic treatment.
Many adults, who did not have the financial ability as a child or teenager, now want to have a beautiful smile. Fortunately, most adults can now have that picture perfect smile without braces! Invisalign, a series of removable clear aligners, will move both adult and teen teeth effectively and predictably based on a computer-generated model of the teeth moving in stages. Each stage of movement is a new set of aligners. No “metal mouth” and best of all less pain and typically treatment is completed sooner than with traditional braces.
Besides having a beautiful smile, straight teeth are easier to keep clean which greatly enhances the overall health of your gums and teeth. Studies done in both medicine and dentistry have shown a link to cardiovascular disease and periodontal (gum) disease. So straight teeth that are easy to floss and brush with also improve your heart health.
