The Impact of Adult Orthodontics on Your Overall Health

You are never too old for orthodontic treatment. If you would like a straighter, more functional smile, adult orthodontics can help you reach this goal through one of several treatments. Moreover, these treatments have other benefits to consider. Adult orthodontics can impact a patient’s overall health, from oral and jaw health to general well-being.

Understanding adult orthodontics

Adult orthodontics are not all that different from orthodontic treatments for preteens and teenagers. The focus will remain on shifting the teeth into proper alignment to correct overbites, underbites, crossbites, and crooked or crowded teeth. It may even be more straightforward since orthodontists do not need to consider jaw development for adult patients. Their jaws are already fully developed. However, orthodontists can still realign the jaw through adult orthodontics.

Common orthodontic treatments for adults

Traditional metal braces are always an option. They utilize a network of brackets and elastic ties that secure an archwire. Together, these components shift teeth into their proper position. That said, adult patients often opt for more discreet orthodontic treatments.

For instance, metal braces can also be cemented to the backs of the teeth, such as with lingual braces. Alternatively, patients considering metal braces but would like to avoid the elastics around each bracket may be interested in self-litigating braces. This popular type of braces does not require elastic ties; instead, it uses sliding mechanisms built into each bracket to secure the archwire. Clear braces are another discreet option, straightening the teeth with ceramic brackets and a thin archwire.

Finally, there are clear aligners. With this adult orthodontic treatment, the orthodontist creates a series of medical-grade plastic aligners to push the teeth into their proper positions. Patients switch to the next set of aligners, called trays, in the series every one to two weeks. Clear aligners are popular because they are removable and practically invisible.

How adult orthodontics impact overall health

Besides giving patients a more picture-perfect smile, adult orthodontics can also improve overall health in several ways. Explore adult orthodontics’ key health benefits in greater detail here:

Oral health

The most notable health benefit of adult orthodontics is its ability to improve oral health. By shifting teeth into their proper positions, orthodontics makes it easier to care for teeth and prevent gum disease and tooth decay. For example, it is easier to floss between straight teeth than crooked ones. Nooks and crannies created by overcrowding can also be impossible to reach with a toothbrush. Once overcrowding is remedied, patients can clean more teeth surfaces. 

Further, the results of orthodontic treatment can inspire patients to take better care of their teeth in general. Increased confidence can motivate patients to brush, floss, and visit their dental provider regularly. A checkup every six months for a dental cleaning will often feel like less of a big deal after going to an orthodontist’s office every other month.

Nutrition

Good oral health can lead to better nutrition. This is partially due to the fact that patients may eat a tooth-healthier (and also more nutritious) diet to help maintain their picture-perfect smile after orthodontic treatment. Fixing bite issues can also make eating easier and less painful.

Jaw health

Adult orthodontics can realign the jawbone, thereby treating and preventing jaw issues. A common one is temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, dysfunction. Along with jaw pain, it can:

• Negatively impact sleep
• Cause headaches and earaches
• Cause shoulder and neck pain
• Lead to tinnitus
• Wear away teeth

The symptoms above can progress into other problems, such as missed work due to frequent headaches, tooth decay from worn-down teeth, and illnesses due to a lack of sleep. While adult orthodontics cannot treat these exact issues, they can help prevent them by remedying or preventing TMJ dysfunction. The result is good overall health and a higher quality of life.

Well-being

Adult orthodontics can enhance a patient’s sense of well-being whenever they look in the mirror. This is most noticeable when they had confidence issues before, such as not wanting to smile to show their teeth or remaining quiet due to speech problems from misaligned teeth. After treatment, patients are often more inclined to talk and show off their teeth, smiling and laughing without covering their mouths. And with better social and mental well-being comes better overall health, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).

Book your orthodontist’s appointment today

Adult orthodontics brings benefits beyond the appearance of your smile. To learn more about how these treatments can positively impact overall health, schedule an appointment with our Reston orthodontist. We can discuss what orthodontic treatment may look like for you.

Request an appointment here: https://www.orthodonticprecision.com or call Precision Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry at (703) 391-8800 for an appointment in our Reston office.

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