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Kids & Adult Braces: What’s the Difference?
When most adults come into our office to get braces they often assume it is the same as treating children, but this is not the case. While the methods and tools we use are the same, there are some distinct differences between treating adults and children with braces. Some are minor while others can be prohibitive to treatment.
Age Concerns When Getting Braces
Younger patients often don’t have the same conditions as older patients. Some of these conditions include:
- Insufficient bone density between roots
- Insufficient blood supply
- Gingivitis
- Bone loss
Adults can also have much harder bones because they have matured and are no longer growing. This along with aging tissue can cause treatment times to be longer when treating adults with braces.
Missing Teeth
It is also more likely for an adult to not have all their teeth anymore. This can be problematic for orthodontists because they might be unable to move teeth into those areas. In some cases this can be overcome by adding prosthetic bone to the area where the old tooth was extracted.
Social Factors
Socially, wearing braces as an adult can be very different for adults than for children. Kids are almost expected to have braces at one point or another while it is uncommon to see an adult wearing braces. This often deters adults from beginning treatment without looking into the different types of braces modern orthodontists provide for their patients today. Even without using modern orthodontic appliances like Invisalign or clear ceramic braces, modern metal braces are smaller then they once were and are much less noticeable when compared to the older versions once used.
Visit WGM Orthodontics
We see more and more adult patients daily, and we couldn’t be happier. We love seeing adults making the commitment to having a happier healthier smile and hope if you’re ready for your smile makeover you choose WGM Orthodontics. Our team of expert orthodontists specialized in not only treating children but adults as well. If you are interested in making an appointment, call one of our offices today. We hope to see you soon!