San Francisco Orthodontist Recommends Best Braces for Adults

As an adult, your teeth will face a different challenge than when you were a teenager when it comes to achieving a straight smile. Straightening teeth as an adult can take longer for several reasons. Once you’ve reached adulthood your teeth have stopped shifting, and your jaw is fully formed. Because of this, it is less receptive to orthodontic treatment making it a bit longer period for teeth to shift and straighten out. Gum disease can also be an issue in adulthood as it is a fairly common dental disease that can hinder any treatment.

Before Treatment

Your San Francisco orthodontist will look for signs of misalignment, gum disease, cavities, or any other dental problems that should be considered before choosing the right option. It’s also important to note that you’ll need to make time for regular scheduled appointment. With hectic schedules as an adult, in can be difficult to squeeze in your orthodontist, but it’s something you have to make time for to see results. You should also be prepared to ask your orthodontist other questions to make the most out of your consultation and ensure you’re getting the right fit. Here are some things to consider:

• How long will treatment take?
• How do I take care of my teeth with either braces or aligners?
• How often do I need to visit the orthodontist for check ups?
• Do you offer payment plans?
• Will the office accept my insurance?
• What happens after the treatment is over?

Types of Braces for Adults

The type of braces that are best for adults will truly vary from patient to patient. Understanding which treatment option is right for you is the key to getting straight teeth the first time through. If you have complex dental issues such as bridges, the need to rotate canines, or the need to move teeth vertically, metal braces may be the only way to straighten your teeth. There are also other considerations based on your daily schedule and habits you should keep in mind before choosing your treatment option.

Braces: If you’re picturing a big mouth full of metal with traditional braces, it’s time to rethink that picture. At Bright Now! Dental we offer braces with different style brackets to choose from, including brackets made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. Brackets are also much smaller than they once were, making them less noticeable. The brackets themselves can also be made to be clear or the color of your tooth enamel so it blends in with your existing teeth.

The length of your treatment will vary on the condition of the patient’s smile. Because the jaw has fully developed as an adult, it can take more time to straighten teeth. Treatment can take anywhere from 1 to 3 years to fully correct one’s smile, all dependent on the patient. Once your smile is straight and ready to go, you’ll have to maintain the treatment by wearing a retainer that holds the teeth in their new positions. While there is some discomfort shifting teeth, the new types of braces do a great job at minimizing any issues that may arise along your treatment.

Invisalign: What makes Invisalign so great amongst adult patients is that it’s virtually invisible. The technology behind Invisalign uses a BPA-free plastic to form an aligner tray that shifts your teeth over a period of time. The mold is taken with 3-D imaging of your mouth, making the aligners fit just right. When conducting you “orthodontist near me” search, consider an orthodontist that is willing to work for you and your smile. The customization behind Invisalign is imperative to creating different aligner trays that gradually push your teeth to a straighter smile.

Typically patients will change their aligner trays every 2 weeks. With Clear Aligners, the trays are removable, allowing you to eat and drink as you normally would. You must always clean the trays and brush your teeth after eating and drinking to avoid plaque build-up and tooth decay. You will visit your dentist or orthodontist every 4-6 weeks to ensure the process is going smoothly. Treatment time will vary, but is typically about a year. Even with Invisalign, it’s imperative you wear a retainer after treatment to keep teeth in place.

Let’s Talk Retainers

We know you’ll love your new smile, which is why retainers are so important. Regardless of whether you chose traditional braces or Invisalign, retainers are a must. They will keep your teeth in their new positions, maintaining all that hard work you’ve put into straightening your teeth. Most patients will wear their retainer for about a year, then you will transition to wearing them only at night. Doing so will keep your smile the way it is, straight as an arrow! Often times, patients will come in seeking orthodontic treatment after they’ve already undergone treatment in their teens due to refraining from wearing their retainer on a regular basis.

There are all kinds of reasons why we want to straighten our teeth – for your wedding day, for business, for self-confidence, or for oral health. Whatever the reason, it’s your orthodontist that knows how to help you reach your goal smiling. That’s why at Bright Now! Dental we offer the best orthodontists in the San Francisco area that always prioritize you, the patient, first.

Ask about Payment Plans

One potential downside to straightening your teeth can be the cost. At Bright Now! Dental, we understand that it can be difficult to justify spending money on straightening your teeth, especially if you see this process as merely cosmetic. However, there are so many benefits to your overall oral health by straightening your teeth, that not doing so isn’t recommended. We never want cost to hold you back which is why we offer affordable payment plans that will help minimize the initial payment. We have flexible payment plans with no interest and extended term options available.

We also accept most insurance plans. You may be surprised that your insurance may cover more than you initially thought. Be sure to ask our staff if your insurance works for your orthodontic treatment. At other times, certain Bright Now! Dental offices will run promotions with special pricing to help patients get the smile they’ve always wanted. You can type in your zip code and see if any offers are within your neighborhood. A new smile may just be a click away to help you save money and reach your smile goals.

Orthodontist Near Me

There’s nothing quite like getting a personalized consultation that surrounds you and your needs. If you’re unsure where to start when it comes to getting straight teeth, call your local Bright Now! Dental office to schedule a consultation. You can make an appointment by visiting us online or calling at 1-844-400-7645. Getting all your questions answered by an orthodontist that is just as concerned about your well-being as you are is important to us. We’ll make sure you choose an orthodontic treatment option that’s right for you. From there, we promise it’ll be nothing but smiles!