Am I Too Old for Braces?

The short answer to the question of, ‘am I too old for braces?’ is simply, no! At MSC, age is never an issue and it’s never too late to get braces. MSC have patients in their 50’s and 60’s who are benefiting from wearing braces to correct the position of their teeth with great success. Our dentists at MSC know how important a great smile is to the way you view yourself.

Patients at MSC have different reasons for wanting to have this treatment. It might be a family occasion such as a wedding, having professional or corporate photographs taken or simply just wanting to correct the position of your teeth. Invisible braces are a popular option for patients and are a great option to help fix dental problems such as overcrowding or misaligned teeth. These issues can have a negative impact on your mental well-being. If you dislike your teeth or have the urge to hide your smile in photos or when meeting friends, this can contribute to low levels of self-confidence, low self-esteem, stress and being self-conscious. At MSC, we offer invisible braces as treatment to improve your smile so you feel confident and proud of your teeth, your smile and your overall appearance. 

What Do You Think of When Imagining Braces? 

You might picture the traditional fixed metal braces which have been mainly worn by teenagers. These types of braces have been well used to straighten teeth over the years but as technology has progressed, so have braces. Dental orthodontics now offer the option of using invisible braces to help straighten teeth. These are clear and colourless which keeps your smile looking great and ensures you feel confident about wearing them. They blend in with your teeth and smile, eliminating that ‘metal mouth’ appearance associated with the fixed braces. 

How do Invisible Braces Work for Adults? 

Braces are designed to move teeth by applying tension to help move them slowly in the desired direction.  Any bone in the way gets reabsorbed by the body and new bone forms behind the tooth to keep it securely in place. New bone can form at any age which is why invisible braces are suitable for all to wear. So, if you are considering braces to correct a problem like misaligned or crooked teeth invisible braces are a great option.

Advantages of Invisible Braces

One of the advantages of choosing invisible braces is that they reduce the likelihood of other problems developing such as plaque and gum disease. Fixed metal braces can be hard to clean and requires a strict dental routine to keep teeth clean that can be time consuming but invisible braces eliminates this. It’s important to note however, that invisible braces and your teeth both still require thorough cleaning to maintain oral hygiene. Adults also have a higher level of success over a longer period of time than younger patients when using invisible braces. This is down to several factors, the financial cost and a willingness to comply with the treatment. Part of having this kind of dental procedure includes patients wearing a retainer long after the brace comes off.  It is just as important to wear a retainer as wearing the brace itself. Newly moved teeth can easily move back into their original place and the retainer helps to keep the newly positioned teeth in place.

Fact:

Nationally speaking, UK private spending on improving teeth sharply increased reaching £1.86bn in 2014 with 3 in 10 adults unhappy about the appearance of their teeth. The rising trend of make-over shows and the influence of celebrities are both factors in of people becoming more interested and pre-occupied by the condition and appearance of their teeth.

Orthodontics at Midlands Smile Centres

Our dentists at MSC are highly trained and experienced in providing orthodontic treatment. If you’re looking to improve your smile, whether it’s cosmetically or for health reasons, we can help. Book a consultation today to find out more.

Orthodontics at Your Local MSC dentist in Birmingham

Orthodontics play a large part of the dental industry today. It isn’t uncommon for a person to know several people in their lifetime who have or have had braces. Orthodontic treatment has become much more popular with young adults who are looking to aesthetically improve their smile. The decision however to have braces can be a difficult one to make due to the lengthy treatment plan and the unappealing visuals of traditional braces. What many of these patients are not aware of, is that there are now several different options on the market that could help to address your concerns and give you the smile you’ve been looking for.

Here are just a few of Midlands Smile Centres treatments that are used to address crowded and misaligned teeth to give you an aesthetically pleasing smile.

Traditional Braces

Traditional braces are very well known and are respected as the most common orthodontic treatment for correcting teeth. These are made of metal and are glued to the teeth, where a wire is then put in place to apply pressure to the teeth. This pressure is then used to pull and push the teeth into place, adjusting your smile to provide straighter teeth and correcting your bite. While this is an effective way of helping to address orthodontic issues, there are some things the patient should consider. Traditional braces can be uncomfortable when first placed, sometimes causing bleeding and irritation of the gums and cheeks or causing an aching sensation due to the pressure on your teeth. It’s important that you contact your dentist if you experience these symptoms for a prolonged amount of time.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces adjust your teeth to provide a straighter smile and correct bite, without getting in the way of your smile. This treatment involves a brace being applied to the rear of the teeth where it is less visible. However, lingual braces are commonly only used for specific cases where the patient requires a lifting of the teeth. If you think this could be for you, you can find out more by booking a consultation with your local dentist in Birmingham. Another consideration of this treatment is that it can cause a sore tongue, due to the braces position on the inside of the mouth.

Damon Braces

Damon braces are your middle ground of the previous two orthodontic solutions. Like traditional braces, they have a similar aesthetic look due to both treatments using a metal material for the brace. Where this treatment differs however, is its ability to complete the treatment much more comfortably. This is due to the fact that this treatment uses a wire which is able to remember it previous shape, and consequently maintains a more gentle pressure that is consistently applied to the teeth and gums, while traditional braces have to be adjusted at each appointment with a great deal more pressure. Alongside this, patients who receive Damon braces often complete their treatment much sooner, in some cases this can be as much as six months.

Six Month Smiles

Six Month Smiles is a relatively new form of orthodontic treatment that has begun to make waves in the dental world for its effective and easy treatment. This service works much like a traditional brace but tackles two of its major concerns. Like traditional braces, Six Month Smiles braces are applied to the front of your teeth, but these are made from a clear plastic material. The same can be said for the wire which is usually clear or coloured to match the colour of your teeth. This not only helps to provide a more aesthetic look during the treatment phase but also allows the wearer to avoid discomfort during the treatment, of which is usually between 4 to 8 months long. If you’re interested in receiving straighter teeth in less time than traditional orthodontic treatment, you can book a consultation with your dentist to find out if this treatment is for you.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a new and innovative form of orthodontic treatment available at Midlands Smile Centres. Invisalign works by applying several plastic transparent retainers, which over several months will adjust the positioning of your teeth. Each retainer will be slightly different and will apply gentle pressure to move your teeth into position. Not only this, but they are also nearly invisible to the eye, meaning you can still enjoy smiling without worrying about the look of traditional braces. If you’re looking for a service which can provide you a comfortable and natural looking way to change your smile, Invisalign could be ideal for you. Book a consultation today to find out more.

Midlands Smile Centres

Midlands Smile Centre is your local dental practice that can offer you all of these orthodontic treatments. Our team of orthodontic specialists have over 30 years of experience working with some of the toughest orthodontic cases. Our aim is to provide you with the treatment and service which will give you a smile you can be proud of.

If you’d like a straighter smile, or just want to find out more, book an orthodontic appointment at your local MSC today.

MSC - The Place To Go for Orthodontics

What Midlands Smile Centres Offer

Damon Braces-               

These braces have a slightly similar appearance to that of traditional braces, but they are actually a highly modern approach to achieving aesthetically pleasing teeth. One noticeable advantage to having Damon brace as opposed to other forms of orthodontic treatment is that their process is a speedy one; the Damon system necessitates 50% of the amount of appointments as would be expected with traditional braces, and compared to traditional braces, the Damon System is finished 6 months earlier.

Six Months Smiles-       

This type of orthodontic treatment is absolutely ideal for patients who are insistent on avoiding forms of braces that are unsightly. This is due to the fact that Six Months Smiles are tooth-coloured and therefore, very inconspicuous. And, as you might have assumed from the name of this type of treatment, the process takes a minimum of 6 months to complete, with the average duration of treatment lasting between 4 and 9 months.

Invisalign Braces-

By utilising impressive contemporary technology, Invisalign braces are an effective form of orthodontic treatment available through MSC that feature definite cosmetic merits as well. The cosmetic appeal of Invisalign braces derives from their use of clear alligners, meaning that you can enjoy the benefits that they will bring to your teeth without being concerned about your smile being affected by braces that are unpleasant-looking.  

Lingual Braces-

Whilst Lingual Braces could be compared to traditional braces, they actually sit behind instead of in front of the teeth. The fact that they cannot be detected by an outsider’s perspective whilst you wear them has earned them the nickname “hidden braces”. Dependent on how misaligned or crowded the patient’s teeth are, Lingual Braces will require between 18 and 36 months for their treatment.  

What’s Involved

Damon Braces-              

 Whereas traditional braces make use of brackets attached to each tooth and a connecting wire that is “tied” to each bracket, the Damon system utilises high tech brackets that have built-in clamps to hold the wire. As a result of this, the tightening that occurs at each appointment with traditional braces is not necessary with Damon Braces. The brackets are glued to the front of the teeth.

By way of the Damon Braces’ high-tech wire – known as ‘shape memory wire’- which is able to return to a predetermined shape, they will gradually shift your teeth into the intended position with ease.

Due to Damon Braces making use of light pressure, they are more comfortable than traditional braces, and numerous patients have claimed that there is little to no discomfort involved in Damon Braces treatment.

Six Months Smiles-       

Six Months Smiles treatment is able to straighten teeth and work by moving the patient’s teeth at a gradual pace. This form of treatment is known for its ability to create excellent results within a relatively short period of time. You will also find with Six Months Smiles that they are comfortable to wear, too.

Invisalign Braces-          

To begin with, the treatment process for Invisalign braces starts with moulds of your teeth being taken, in order to ensure that you have the most comfortable fitting. There is also the option to view what the expected result of the treatment will be by making use of ClinCheck® 3D treatment plan. Following this initial stage, clear aligners will be made for you by one of Midlands Smile Centres highly experienced orthodontists. Once on, the Invisalign braces will begin to move your teeth into the required position and will do so at a gradual rate and without discomfort.

Lingual Braces-               

With Lingual Braces, one of our dentists must first assess whether this is the correct type of treatment for you, and if it is deemed suitable for you, then the process begins with an impression taken of your teeth. The purpose of this is to produce brackets and wires that are tailor-made for your teeth. These small, personalised brackets are subsequently attached to the back of your teeth. A wire will also be connected to exert the correct amount of pressure. Regular visits to your dentist will be required so that adjustments can be made and to check that the treatment process is unfolding in an expected manner. The Lingual Braces use their light yet constant pressure to move your teeth into the desired position.

Some patients have initially found that their speech has been affected by Lingual Braces, but this is swiftly resolved after they have become accustomed to Lingual Braces. It has also been reported by some patients that their tongue can become irritated or swollen due to Lingual Braces being placed behind teeth instead of in front. To help alleviate this soreness, a small amount of wax can be applied on the inside of the teeth over the braces. 

About Us

At Midlands Smile Centres we believe we provide excellent care for all our patients. As a team, we are compassionate and caring, with a commitment to helping our patients. We are honest and integral and believe in doing the right thing to offer our patients the attention and best possible treatment that they require.

Whether it is orthodontics you require or another form of treatment, get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.