Am I Too Old for Braces?

That’s a question that some of my patients ask, and it’s often based on what they learned about braces one or two decades ago. Some of these people never had braces when they were younger because family finances wouldn’t permit it. Others had braces, but their teeth drifted somewhat out of place after the braces were removed. Some people who have had their teeth whitened feel that the new brightness of their smile draws more attention to misalignments that were not so noticeable before.

The answer is that you’re not too old for braces. A couple of decades ago, adults probably accounted for about 5 percent of the patients wearing braces.  Today, probably a third of the patients getting braces are adults, and the trend could drive that number higher. There are several reasons for that. First, there are new technologies. But more importantly, there are options for braces that are far less noticeable than ever before. You may have friends or colleagues who are wearing them without your even being aware of it. Adults have always been “sensitive” about appearing in public with braces on – maybe because “braces are for children” or maybe because they feel braces could interfere with how they are perceived in the workplace.

One of the most exciting options to be considered for adults is the Invisalign system, which is actually a form of “removable braces.” Not every occurrence of teeth misalignment can be corrected with Invisalign, but people whose misalignment is less severe are usually good candidates. We (Raleigh Comprehensive and Cosmetic Dentistry) are excited to have been named a Preferred Provider of Invisalign in Raleigh, based on our extensive experience with using this system. Even if you’re not a good candidate for Invisalign, we can talk to you about less visible options than the metal braces that were the only option years ago.  See our FAQs About Invisalign to learn more about the system.

If you’ve been thinking about braces or have been wondering if there’s a provider of Invisalign in Raleigh, come talk to us about the options that make sense for your situation. In addition to performing the important dental assessment, our staff can help you understand and plan for the financing, including the possibility of using your healthcare flexible spending account to cover some of the cost.