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People used to be stuck with crooked or misaligned teeth unless their parents were upper middle class.
The bright metal railroad tracks only were on the smiles of the rich kids, not the average teenager. As ugly as they were, it made some of the other kids jealous. More like a class envy thing, really.
But for some people, they always secretly wished their parents could have had the funds so they, too could have had braces to straighten their teeth. More and more adults in the work force that have dental coverage are now opting to finally get their teeth straight.
The problem is, in the high school classroom it is kinda cool to have braces on your teeth. In the board room, not so much. Dentists keep coming up with innovative ways to either hide or accent braces.
Traditional braces are made of metal, usually a nickel titanium based stainless steel. There are brackets that are fitted on the fronts of the teeth into which wires are inserted. Slowly, through torque pressure, the wires are tightened again and again until the teeth are moved into place. People with crooked teeth, teeth that never dropped into place correctly, or with an incorrect bite (where the upper and lowers meet) can all benefit from braces. Large gaps can be tightened, and over crowded teeth edged wider into the jaw.
It takes time (usually a year or so) and can be mildly painful, especially each time they are tightened. The brackets can cause minor irritation to the inside of the lips and gums. Plus, you have to be fastidious about keeping food particles out of them. But all in all, many, many people find this is the solution to having a straight, uniform smile.
Today, there are many types of braces and options.
- Some are practically invisible. Clear plastic or ceramic braces brackets can be made to blend in with your teeth, so unless you are really up close and personal, they hardly show at all. Instead of stainless steel wires, white ones or elastic like clear ones are used.
- There are what are called lingual braces. They fit on the inside of the teeth, not the outside that people see. They can be more difficult to tighten and can hinder tongue movement. But, they are more discreet and many adults choose them.
- For people allergic to nickel, or who just want a classy look, braces can be made in gold plate. Of course, they are more expensive.
- A new idea is called the A brace. Basically, the bracing is outside the mouth, hardly inconspicuous. It is similar to the older headgears that attached to little tubes in the molar brackets.
- In development are microchips that can actually apply pressure to teeth, but this is still in the developmental stages.
Adults are better candidates for braces. They are more compliant in keeping them clean, keeping appointments and keeping positive about he treatment. But no matter your age, braces can work well to slowly but permanently re-align your teeth. That's important because a poor bite can lead to trouble later on down the road. Getting your teeth straightened have heath benefits as well as cosmetic ones. That is why a lot of Insurances help out with the cost.
If your teeth are out of line, you have a bad bite or your teeth are overcrowded, jaw pain in later life is common. So is gum disease. You may have speech or digestive issues because your teeth can not functions the way they should. Temple headaches are not uncommon. Even your sinuses can be affected.
If you opt for braces, you can get them in a variety of colors now. Many people have the philosophy that if you gotta have 'em, why not flaunt 'em? They come in lavender, blue, red, green, maroon . . .In fact, there are 21 colors you can chose from. Sometimes, springs or tiny elastic bands called ligatures are also used in conjunction with the wires to add more pressure in shifting the teeth into place. The wires form an arc over the teeth and the ligatures and springs help maneuver the teeth where the orthodontist wants them to go.
After a year or two, when the braces comes off, to avoid shifting, many patients wear what is called a retainer, often just at night. This is a clear plastic piece molded to fit the roof or the lower part of the mouth with a small arced wire. The average retainer time is about six months.
It is hard to determine how much braces will cost. It depends on the length they are on, the type and if your dental insurance will pick up some of the expense. The average is between $2,000 and $5,000. Of course, you orthodontist will have payment plan options to fit more easily into your budget. Since the braces will be on your teeth a while, monthly payments are a viable alternative for most folk.