Are braces worth it for adults?  There are both pros and cons to getting braces at an older age.  Ultimately, you will have to make the decision about whether or not it is worth it depending on your specific situation.

Talk to your dentist

The first step is talking to your dentist.  If do not have a dentist you can use to TalkLocal to be connected to multiple highly rated dentists in your area today.  If your dentist believes that braces may be an option for you, they can put you in touch with an orthodontist.

Consult with an orthodontist

Consultations with an orthodontist are typically free, so you can get opinion from multiple orthodontists before making your decision.  Make sure that you go to a qualified professional, you want to make sure that you have quality advice before making a major decision like getting braces.  Additionally, “cheap” alternatives to braces, such as the “Six Month Smile” can often have negative effects that a dental practitioner may not know about or tell you.

Decision-making factors

The main things to consider when deciding whether or not you should get adult braces are health, aesthetics, comfort, and cost.  Crooked teeth can cause serious health problems, and they will be harder to brush as you get older and your dexterity wanes.  If you are considering braces for health reasons it may be worth it, especially if your orthodontist says your are at risk for health problems.  If you are only considering braces for aesthetics it may not be, (unless your teeth are very bad.)

Braces are expensive, a nuisance, and sometimes painful.  Although braces will eventually lead you to have a more beautiful smile, having metal in your mouth for 1-2 years is not exactly attractive.  There is an option called invisalign, which are clear braces, but they are much more expensive.  The decision depends on you, your financial situation, and your lifestyle.  Do you think the potential long term benefits are worth the short term financial cost and annoyance?  If so, then get braces.  If not, then don’t.

This entry was originally posted on Monday, September 10th, 2012 at 10:00 am and is filed under Dentists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.