I’m Over 40: Can I Get Braces?

As you’re brushing your teeth before work one morning, you watch yourself in the bathroom mirror. Your eyes closely follow the toothbrush as it glides over a row of white, but misaligned and crooked teeth. Your self-esteem takes a small hit, and you wonder if you’ve missed your window of opportunity to have your teeth straightened; braces are for children, not 40-year-olds, right? Not necessarily—there are many orthodontic treatments available for adults, along with many reasons for why adult braces should be considered.

Can Adults Benefit from Braces?

Crooked teeth that remain untreated will make brushing and flossing more difficult and less effective, which can increase your risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gum problems. A misaligned bite or other dental imperfections can become more serious as you grow older. The loss of collagen as you age can also negatively affect your teeth, sometimes causing them to move around or become loose.

There are many things that can make you unhappy with your smile and can cause oral health problems, but fortunately, braces have been shown to reverse and even prevent many of these issues. Other common issues that can be remedied include difficulty chewing food, speech impediments, and swollen gums.

Are There Any Common Orthodontic Treatments for Adults?

If you’re visualizing your mouth filled to the brim with metal wires, loops, and brackets, don’t worry—today there are many more options than just traditional metal braces. Invisalign is an aligner system that is not only removable and easy to clean, but also virtually invisible, as the name implies. Plus, you don’t have to adjust your eating habits much at all while receiving Invisalign treatment—which is very appealing for many adult patients.

Being an adult does not rule out many, if any, options when it comes to orthodontic treatment. It’s never too late to straighten your teeth, and with accessible solutions like Invisalign available, it’s only logical to go that route and enhance both your smile and your self-esteem.

About the Author

Dr. David Fisher Jr., DDS has been caring for patients and families in the Greensboro area for over 20 years. Dr. Fisher completed his dental doctorate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has extensive experience in various specialty fields including oral surgery, special care/geriatric dentistry, and sedation dentistry. He has a passion for aesthetic dentistry and greatly enjoys revitalizing the smiles and overall confidence of his patients. If you have any questions about the article or for Dr. Fisher, he can be reached at his website or (336) 288-1242.