Unlocking the Benefits of Adult Orthodontics

McClellan Orthodontics

For many, the idea of braces conjures images of adolescents with metallic smiles. However, the world of orthodontics has evolved significantly, and now more adults are turning to braces and other orthodontic treatments to achieve the smile of their dreams. Adult orthodontics offer numerous benefits beyond aesthetics, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking not only a beautiful smile but also improved oral health.

The most apparent benefit of adult orthodontics is the transformative effect it can have on one's appearance. Many adults have lived with misaligned teeth or other dental issues for years, and orthodontic treatment offers a chance to correct these concerns and attain a beautiful, straight smile. Whether through traditional braces or clear aligners like Invisalign, orthodontics can discreetly and effectively enhance the aesthetics of your smile.

A beautiful smile can do wonders for one's self-esteem and self-confidence. Many adults may have felt self-conscious about their teeth for years, avoiding smiling or covering their mouths when laughing. Adult orthodontics can be life-changing, giving individuals the confidence to smile freely and feel more comfortable in social and professional settings. Improved self-confidence can lead to enhanced mental well-being, positively impacting various aspects of life.

Beyond the cosmetic advantages, orthodontic treatment also significantly impacts your oral health. Misaligned teeth can create numerous dental issues, including difficulty in cleaning and uneven wear on teeth surfaces. Over time, these problems can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and even jaw pain. Orthodontic treatment aligns the teeth properly, making it easier to maintain oral hygiene and reducing the risk of dental problems, leading to better overall oral health.

Orthodontic treatment can also address functional issues. For instance, malocclusions (bad bites) can cause problems with speaking, biting, and chewing. Chewing is the first step in the digestion process, and misaligned teeth can hinder this crucial function. Adults with crooked teeth may not be able to chew their food thoroughly, leading to poor digestion and potential gastrointestinal issues. Orthodontic treatment can correct bite problems, facilitating proper chewing and allowing individuals to enjoy a more varied and nutritious diet, contributing to better overall health.

One of the great advantages of modern orthodontics is that age is no longer a barrier to treatment. Whether you're in your 20s, 40s, or beyond, you can benefit from orthodontic correction. With various discreet options available, such as clear aligners, adults can undergo treatment without drawing attention to their orthodontic journey.

Investing in orthodontic treatment is an investment in your oral health and overall well-being. If you have been living with misaligned teeth or other dental issues, consider scheduling a consultation with McClellan Orthodontics to explore the treatment options available for our adult patients. Embrace the journey to a healthier and more confident smile and discover the life-changing benefits of adult orthodontics. Remember, it's never too late to achieve the smile you've always dreamed of!

 

 

Give Yourself a BraceLift

McClellan Orthodontics

As we grow older, many of us turn to expensive and invasive cosmetic treatments in an effort to retain a youthful appearance.

Despite all of the gimmicks out there, studies show that your smile can do more to make you look younger than anything else! “Just as white,straight teeth convey youth, a smile with crooked, discolored, worn, or missing teeth is associated with an aged look,” says Edmond Hewlett, DDS, professor of restorative dentistry at UCLA's School of Dentistry.

“Bracelift” treatments can help you look younger and feel more confident about your appearance. Of course, most people want a nice smile with straight, white teeth, but properly aligned teeth can do much more than just improve a smile. By enhancing the alignment and widening the arch of the teeth, orthodontic treatment can create better facial balance and aesthetics, lending the appearance of fuller cheeks and lips, smoother and higher cheek contours, and broader smiles.

We all know that healthy teeth are important to maintaining overall health. But we sometimes overlook the impact our teeth can have on our emotional well-being. Orthodontic treatment can provide a life-long improvement to your overall appearance...improving your self-confidence.

3 Easy Steps to Take Years Off of Your Appearance

Step 1: Oral Hygiene - The way to take years off your appearance is to practice good oral hygiene. Maintaining good oral health throughout your life doesn’t just preserve the appearance of your smile, but it can preserve your overall health too. Brushing twice a day and flossing regularly promotes healthy teeth and gums and keeps your smile looking and feeling clean.

Step 2: Whiten Your Teeth - Teeth naturally darken as we age. One reason is that your teeth absorb color from food and drinks. Even if you take fantastic care of your teeth, they will eventually yellow over time. Micro-fractures, thinning enamel, and built-up stains all make your teeth look duller and older. Ask our team about how you can whiten your teeth with custom whitening trays. Custom whitening trays are the best way to achieve a deep and thorough color change that can take years off your appearance.

Step 3: Straighten Your Teeth - Even if you start out with perfectly straight teeth, something called mesial drift will cause them to shift over time. Crowded teeth are an instant giveaway of age and straightening your teeth can often take 10 to 15 years off your appearance. Crowded teeth also increase the risk of tooth decay, premature tooth loss, and gum recession, all of which guarantee looking old.

Beautifully straight, symmetrical glowing white teeth cannot only make you look younger, but they can dramatically improve your confidence.

If you have any questions about how we can help give you a healthier, younger looking smile, give our Kenilworth orthodontic office call to schedule an appointment with Dr. McClellan and Dr. Hedger today.

And remember…One of the best ways to appear more youthful is to smile more!

4 Ways Your Smile Can Change As You Grow Older

McClellan Orthodontics

Just as with most things in our bodies, your smile does change with age. From the teeth shifting to the enamel wearing down, the appearance and function of your teeth and bite evolve as you get older. The good news is, there are ways to minimize these age-related changes and keep your smile looking its best throughout your life.

Why does your smile change as you age? Some changes are due to natural biological processes, including bone remodeling and the tendency of the teeth to shift towards each other. Other reasons your smile changes with age may include:

1. Bottom Teeth Crowding - As you age, your jaw bone loses density and shrinks. The mismatched size of the jaw bone with teeth can lead to crowding of the bottom front teeth and this crowding can worsen with age. Crowding can also occur because other issues such as mouth breathing, gum disease, and even facial trauma.

2. Overlapping Teeth - As you get older and the jawbone changes, many people experience what’s known as physiologic mesial drift. It’s a slow, natural shifting of the teeth towards the front of your dental arch. As the teeth move towards the midline, they can overlap. It can be worsened by missing teeth, gum disease, bruxism and decay.

3. Collapsing Teeth - If you have gaps in your teeth, missing teeth that weren’t replaced or severe wear of the enamel, the teeth around the spaces can collapse inwardly. This is because the teeth try to fill in the empty spaces. As the teeth tilt or shift into the gaps, it will impact the appearance of your smile, as well as your bite. Missing teeth may also change your face shape.

4. Bad Bite - Misalignment of the teeth or jaw, known as malocclusion, doesn’t sort itself out. In many cases, if issues like crowding, spacing or an excessive overbite, underbite, open bite or crossbite aren’t treated, they will get worse as you get older. After years of living with a bad bite, you may also be dealing with the consequences of misalignment, such as tooth decay, gum disease, excessive wear of the enamel. These issues will create further changes to your smile.

While these changes may be completely normal, that doesn’t mean you just have to live with them. Whether you’re eight or 80, the biological process of orthodontic treatment is the same. Age does not keep teeth from moving. Check out our website to learn more about the options we have for adult orthodontics and then give our Kenilworth, IL office a call to schedule your initial exam.