Are you unhappy with your smile and have spent years thinking that you’d like to improve it through orthodontics? You may have hesitated due to concerns that it will be a bad experience as an adult. There are probably a number of reasons you’ve put off getting treatment, but you might wonder whether or not they are valid. There are many misconceptions about adult orthodontics; learn the truth so that you can decide if treatment is right for you.
Will I look silly wearing braces?
Your appearance is very important in both your personal and professional life. Many adults worry that wearing braces will negatively impact their looks and decrease their self-esteem. Due to the advancements in orthodontics, this is no longer true. One of the biggest breakthroughs is Invisalign, which is a system of wearing clear plastic aligners to shift teeth into better positions. It’s possible to correct your smile without any ugly metal wires and brackets; others may not even notice you are wearing the aligners!
Will it hurt?
Orthodontics today have improved so much that pain isn’t a big issue. This is especially true when Invisalign is the option chosen, because teeth are shifted gently using the aligners. Even traditional braces have become less painful over the years, as orthodontists offer numbing agents or anxiety medications for patients who require them. Typically, over-the-counter pain relievers are sufficient to address any discomfort.
Will I have to wear braces for years and years?
Treatment times have decreased for most patients compared to years past. The average treatment time for Invisalign is often just a year or less!
Will orthodontics work at my age?
It is just a rumor that braces work better on young people than adults. Orthodontics after age 30 are just as effective as those on a teenager or child. The only difference is that adults may require slightly more time in traditional braces than younger patients, but the outcome is just as great.
Dr. Fotovat is an orthodontist that treats adults and kids from Sherman Oaks and the surround area.
One of the most recent innovations in modern orthodontics is Invisalign. These unique clear aligners are becoming increasingly popular for improving smiles without the stigma associated with traditional braces. Invisalign aligners straighten teeth by placing gentle pressure on them to move into better positions. This solution offers distinct advantages to some of the other options in orthodontics.
Hidden appearance
One of the most obvious benefits of Invisalign is that the clear plastic is practically invisible in your mouth. The subtle appearance of the retainers is much less obtrusive than traditional metal braces. For patients who want to diminish the fact that they are undergoing orthodontic treatment, Invisalign in the perfect solution. Personal and professional relationships are not at risk of embarrassment due to being self-conscious about your smile.
Easy removal
You will remove aligners from your mouth when eating or performing oral hygiene tasks. There are no impacts to your diet during Invisalign treatment, since you take out the aligners anytime you eat. Brushing and flossing are performed normally without having to worry about cleaning food debris out of intrusive wires and brackets. This can have positive impacts on your oral health as well.
Increased comfort
The lack of metal pieces in the aligners means a more comfortable experience. Traditional braces have a reputation for poking the mouth or breaking. Invisalign offers a clear advantage of being very comfortable when worn.
Boosted confidence
No matter if you are a teenager or an adult wearing braces, it can be embarrassing to have a mouth full of metal in your smile. The invisible quality of Invisalign eliminates those self-conscious feelings, giving you the confidence to smile, laugh and eat as usual even while undergoing treatment.
If these benefits of Invisalign sound appealing to you, schedule an appointment with a Sherman Oak orthodontist Dr. Fotovat who provides this type of treatment. It may be the winning route to your beautiful smile.
If you want to straighten your smile but don’t want to wait years for the results, accelerated orthodontics can make your dreams a reality. With accelerated orthodontics, your dentist or orthodontist can straighten teeth, adjust spacing, and close gaps, especially for the front teeth. Instead of taking two years, accelerated orthodontics will transform your smile in just four to eight months.
Accelerated orthodontics won’t work for every case, but is often a good choice for adult patients who want to correct the appearance of the front teeth. Dr. Fotovat will perform a complete examination to determine the best course of treatment. Besides using traditional orthodontic methods, like braces, patients will also undergo a minor, in-office procedure.
Treatment with accelerated orthodontics will also involve wearing braces. Patients can choose from metal, ceramic, or lingual braces. Although metal braces are a less expensive option, these brackets aren’t as aesthetically pleasing as the other choices. Ceramic braces blend in more with the natural tooth color and they are more esthetically pleasing.
Just as with traditional orthodontic treatment, regular appointments and routine care are key to your success. Brush at least twice a day and floss regularly. You may need to use floss threaders to get under the arch wire. To monitor progress, expect your doctor to schedule visits approximately every six weeks.
Visit our Sherman Oaks CA orthodontics office and see how we can enhance your smile.
When most people think of orthodontic treatment, they envision the braces that middle-school and high-school age kids wear on their teeth. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, parents should have their children evaluated by an orthodontist by age seven. Some children require evaluation at an even earlier age because of issues such as thumb sucking, tongue thrust, or speech concerns.
If treatment is needed between approximately ages 7 to 10, this is considered Phase 1, or early orthodontic treatment. Usually, the second phase of orthodontic treatment starts when kids are 11 to 13 years old.
Orthodontics isn’t just about improving the appearance of your smile, but also correcting bite problems, alleviating crowding, and monitoring growth. Catching any issues as early as possible increases the odds of successful treatment. For example, conditions like crossbites, underbites, and large overbites respond better to earlier treatment rather than later correction.
Advantages to early orthodontic treatment include:
– Addressing bite problems that can cause facial asymmetry
– Improving appearance of teeth
– Making more room for permanent teeth
– Lessening risk of injury to protruding teeth
– Reducing time spent in full braces
– Stabilizing the anterior teeth
Early treatment provides a solid foundation before Phase 2 treatment begins. Typically, Phase 1 treatment lasts six to 18 months. Often, Phase 1 treatment involves the use of oral appliances such as expanders, retainers, or partial braces. During this phase of treatment, your child will probably have a mixture of primary and permanent teeth. When the early treatment ends, your child’s teeth probably won’t have moved to the final position. Phase 2 treatment usually shifts the teeth into the correct position and creates a straight, attractive smile.
If you’re looking for an Orthodontist in Sherman Oaks CA, contact us to schedule a consultation.
Whether your child needs an evaluation for potential treatment or you have decided to consider adult orthodontics to straighten your teeth, finding the right orthodontist will help ensure a good experience. Ask friends, coworkers, and your general dentist for names to begin the process. When you start looking for potential candidates, you may want to consider the following points as you make your decision.
• Convenience
As with many things, location matters. You may want to find an orthodontist close to your child’s school or near your office to minimize drive time and disruption to your daily routine.
• Availability
In this day and age, people have a myriad of commitments, so they need medical providers with flexible hours. Make sure the orthodontist you are considering has appointment times that work with your schedule.
• Experience
Find out how long the orthodontist has been in practice and what technologies the practice utilizes for treatment. For instance, make sure the orthodontist is up-to-date on the latest options for adult therapy.
• Recommendations
As you narrow down your choices, talk with people you know or ask for referrals from current patients so that you can gather specific feedback about the candidates you are considering.
• Personality
Before making your final selection, schedule consultation appointments with the top candidates. When you arrive, talk with the office team to get a feel for the practice environment. These meetings will also give you a chance to meet with each orthodontist one-on-one to determine who you would feel comfortable with as a provider.
Give us a call at our Sherman Oaks California orthodontic office – Dr. Fotovat – Burbank Orthodontist – WebBraces.com
