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All You Need To Know About Adult Braces

Published on 03/12/2024

Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in the number of people looking to improve the appearance of their smile. This has naturally led to an increase in the number of adults looking for ways to straighten their crooked, overcrowded or misaligned teeth.

Not only does this have the effect of improving your smile and appearance but it also can improve your bite and improve the long term health of your teeth, jaws and gums by spreading your biting pressure across all of your teeth as opposed to just a few.

The appliances used can be either fixed or removable and are designed to fit effortlessly around your day to day life.

At Leigh Dental Centre our staff are highly qualified, trained and skilled to provide this treatment. We are currently able to offer two different teeth straightening systems.

Types of adult braces available

Types of adult braces available

There are different braces available to help straighten your teeth as an adult. This includes fixed and removable options. Fixed braces are ideal if you are looking for a simplified treatment plan. There is no risk of losing an aligner or forgetting to wear your aligners and delaying your treatment plan. However, if you choose fixed braces, you’ll need to visit the dentist for every adjustment.

With a removable orthodontic treatment plan, you will manage aligner changes yourself at home. You will also have to remember to remove your aligners to eat and brush your teeth. You need to make sure you’re wearing your aligners for a minimum amount of time every day, which requires self-discipline to be able to stick to the treatment plan.

These are the main two fixed and removable aligner systems that adult orthodontic patients will often choose from. Both systems are affordable, fast and discreet, which ticks all of the boxes for most adult patients.

Cfast Cosmetic Tooth Alignment

Cfast Cosmetic Tooth Alignment

Cfast is a cosmetic alignment system that can be incredibly fast and highly effective. It’s popular with adults as the aligners are nearly invisible and you can usually achieve the results you want in as little as 6 months.

This system is also very affordable. Since it focuses on the front 6 teeth that are visible when you smile, you can achieve results much faster, which can help to make the treatment more affordable.

The Cfast teeth straightening system is a gentle and simple minimally invasive teeth straightening system that straightens the top and bottom teeth. Cfast uses clear brackets and tooth-coloured nickel-titanium wires to help straighten your teeth in as little as 6 months.

Cfast works faster than conventional orthodontic treatment because it focuses on the front teeth that show when you smile.

The main benefit of the Cfast system is that the design of the brackets ensures minimal discomfort and the gingiva follows the movement of the teeth to provide a better overall outcome.

Invisible Braces

Invisible Braces

Invisible braces help to move your teeth without the need for unsightly metal braces. These braces are similar to Invisalign and so will not be visible when you talk or smile. In most cases, you will be able to see results within 6 months.

Following an assessment to determine whether you are suitable for treatment, the dentist will make various sets of clear plastic aligners to progress you through your treatment until your teeth are aligned to your satisfaction. You will need to come to the surgery every 4 to 6 weeks so the dentist can assess your progress and issue new aligners.

When the treatment is finished you will need to wear retainers to ensure that your teeth do not return to their original position.

The main benefits of these invisible braces or clear braces are that you can have them on and carry on with your daily chores without anybody knowing you are undergoing any treatment. They are also very affordable and effective meaning you can have straighter teeth at affordable prices.

How to choose the right system for you

How to choose the right system for you

Your dentist can help you to find the right orthodontic system that will best address your needs. The right system may be determined by the severity of your alignment problems and also by your personal preferences.

During your initial consultation, your dentist will ask you questions about your daily lifestyle and your preferences. This can help them to determine if you would see better results with a fixed or removable aligner system.

Your dentist may also scan your teeth so they can create a 3D rendering of how your teeth could look after treatment. This can be a highly effective way to keep you on track with treatment and to encourage healthy habits. When you know what you are aiming for, it can be much easier to stick to your treatment plan.

Common questions about adult braces

If you’re wondering if you could be a suitable candidate for adult braces, it’s likely that you have a lot of questions. There are so many myths circulating about adult braces, which can make it difficult for adults to determine if they are a good candidate.

Let’s explore some of these common questions and put these myths to rest once and for all. Armed with this information, you should be able to determine if adult braces are the right choice for you.

Is there an upper age limit for braces

Is there an upper age limit for braces?

No, there is no upper age limit for braces. Your suitability for orthodontic treatment has nothing to do with your age. Instead, we look at your oral health to determine if you could benefit from this treatment. Your teeth will need to be healthy enough to be able to withstand the pressure of the movement. If you’re curious about orthodontics, the first step is to book a consultation with your dentist to find out if you could benefit from this treatment plan.

Can I have braces if I did/didn’t have treatment as a teenager?

Another common myth about adult braces is that you could only benefit from treatment if you either did or didn’t have treatment as a child or teenager. This simply isn’t the case. Starting treatment as an adult will not be influenced by whether you did or didn’t have treatment when you were younger.

The only difference may be that you are more accustomed to treatment if you had braces as a teenager. This could help you to better care for your teeth, but your dentist will give you comprehensive instructions to help you care for your teeth. You should be no better or worse off for having had orthodontic treatment as a teenager.

Do adult braces hurt

Do adult braces hurt?

There is a distinct difference between discomfort and pain in dental terms. Adult braces can cause some discomfort, but this isn’t the same as pain. It’s natural to expect some discomfort, as we have to apply gentle pressure to the teeth to encourage them to move into a new alignment. This might feel like something is pressing against your teeth, and it will be more obvious when you switch to a new aligner or visit the dentist for an adjustment. It won’t be all the time, and the majority of the time you will be able to forget you are wearing braces.

Ready to explore adult braces?

If you would like more information on either of our teeth straightening systems do not hesitate to call the surgery on 01702 472929. Book a consultation today and receive £360.00 off either Cfast or Invisible Braces.