You're Never Too Old for Straight Teeth

While braces almost seem like a rite of passage for adolescents and teenagers these days, many adults missed out on this early, corrective procedure. Recognizing that straight teeth not only lend to a better smile, but also help with overall oral health, adults are turning to braces in significant numbers. And there are options that take a more adult approach to correcting crooked teeth.

Here at Yousefian Orthodontics for Children, Teens and Adults, as our name implies, we find orthodontic solutions for all of our patients in the Bellevue, Washington, area, no matter their age. Under the expert direction of Dr. Joseph Yousefian, our team provides teeth-straightening solutions that fit every lifestyle and every age group, giving our clients something to really smile about.

Here’s a look at why you’re never too old to straighten your teeth.

Why should adults consider braces?

While a great smile full of straight teeth is one of the goals behind orthodontics, the fact is that straightening your teeth can also benefit your overall oral health. Crooked teeth tend to be more prone to decay and gum disease since cleaning the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies that come with crooked teeth is more difficult.

By straightening your teeth for easy cleaning, especially as an adult, you make it harder for bacteria to set up shop inside your mouth and wreak havoc.

As well, if your teeth don’t fit together properly, it causes a malocclusion, which can lead to chewing and swallowing problems.

Keep it on the DL

One of the options that our adult clients like most is Invisalign® for straightening crooked teeth. Invisalign relies on clear aligners to guide your teeth into position rather than the more obvious metal braces. These clear aligners are barely noticeable, making them appropriate for both the homeroom and the boardroom.

These aligners are also removable, which means that you can maintain your pearly whites while you straighten your teeth since you can pop them out for eating and cleaning your teeth.

And Invisalign corrects the same problems that more traditional orthodontic solutions remedy, including:

• Overbite
• Underbite
• Cross bite
• Crooked teeth
• Gapped teeth

The aligners are custom-manufactured to fit snugly over your teeth and you swap them out every week or two to keep your teeth on a straight path toward a great smile.

Going metal

While many adults like the clear advantage of Invisalign, we also offer the more traditional route with metal braces. Adult metal braces are the same as we use for teens and they can make quick work of straightening your teeth.

But, as an adult, your bones have stopped growing so you may need to wear braces for a little bit longer than you would have as a kid. Most adults need two years to get their teeth in line. But the end result is worth the wait as your teeth and bite line up perfectly.

If you’re an adult and you’d like to explore your options for straightening your teeth, please give us a call or use our convenient online scheduling tool to set up a consultation.