Braces after 30 years: can they straighten teeth forever?
It is generally accepted that at this age it is no longer possible to correct the bite, but is this so – we are dealing with an expert.
Let’s be honest, braces are a psychological trauma for many of us. But if children’s complexes regarding glands on the teeth are quickly forgotten, then in adulthood it seems unbearable to overpower oneself and put them on. But in recent years, wearing braces at the age of 30, or even more, has become the norm.
Braces are used by dentists to correct the position of teeth in case of unevenness or malocclusion. This technique is considered the simplest and most painless. And if some 20 years ago, experts argued that braces would only help in childhood, now the situation has changed. Dentist-orthodontist Lina Ledikhova from the Refformat clinic told how effective braces are and what types of them exist.
For two reasons. One of the most common is genetic. The discrepancy in the size of the teeth is inherited from our parents.
The second reason is physiological. The displacement of the lower row of teeth occurs, as a rule, by the age of 30. In fact, this is normal, although from an aesthetic point of view it looks completely unattractive, and therefore it is corrected with braces.
Experts advise to systematically visit specialists from 6-7 years old when teeth change. In this case, the orthodontist will be able to track all changes and will not miss a single detail and take preventive methods of correction at the stage of the problem’s inception.
For adults, this decision can not always help. In each case, the dentist chooses different methods of treatment. From the installation of internal and external braces to aligners (removable mouthguards) and splinting (metal splints are installed).
The widest range of applications have external braces… They can be divided into two groups: ceramic or metal. Thus, they have one function, but the difference is only in material and appearance.
Internal braces are placed with minimal curvature of the teeth. But you cannot avoid external braces if you have a changed root slope and the risk of their exposure.
The duration of treatment does not depend on what type of braces you have chosen
Aligners – these are removable orthodontic appliances, which are special mouth guards made of polycarbonate. They have a narrower range of applications. Mild deformities and minor relapses can be corrected. In the case of more serious disorders, you will be shown a different method of treatment. The duration of therapy with aligners usually does not exceed one year, which is less than alternative treatment systems with braces. The main advantage of the method is point intervention. The specialist can choose which specific teeth he needs to influence, and work with them, without affecting the rest.
The average duration of treatment is one and a half to two years. It all depends on the complexity of the problem (there is also a longer observation). The patient visits a specialist every 4-6 weeks to quickly monitor the dynamics of changes and the possibility of making adjustments to the therapeutic process.
Interview
Have you ever worn braces?
Yes, in my childhood, and they helped me a lot, now I walk with perfectly straight teeth.
Never. And I’m not going to
I did it already at a conscious age, but after a while, the teeth again became uneven
Really want to
After the completion of the use of braces, the doctor continues his work, since it is necessary to exclude a relapse in the deformation of the teeth. He calls the retention phase and lasts twice as long as the active treatment phase. At this time, the obtained result is maintained, and the maturation of bone tissue is formed. A non-removable retainer in the form of a thin metal wire or a replaceable night guard is used. This is a necessary component to consolidate the desired therapeutic effect.