Is there an age limit for invisible braces?

As a generation that is now very much 'online', with social media and image sharing forming a large part of life, there is more of a focus on physical appearance than ever before. As such, an increasing number of people are now looking to make changes to their appearance, whether that's weight loss, new brows - or a straighter smile. 

Synonymous with our teenage years, the prospect of undergoing orthodontic treatment fills many adults with a sense of trepidation. After all, there's nothing worse than the thought of a mouth full of metal for the next couple of years. If you have always wanted a straighter smile, but never had braces as a teen, or have relapsed teeth, you may be wondering whether you have left it "too late" to get your dream smile.

The short answer to this question is no - there is no maximum age limit for orthodontic treatment. As long as your teeth are healthy, with no underlying health conditions, you are just as eligible for treatment as any other patient. In fact, taking action can actually be beneficial to your health and prevent future oral health problems from developing.

As one of the key signs of poor oral hygiene, badly aligned teeth can lead to a number of health problems for the sufferer, including: low confidence, discomfort when chewing or biting, and speech impediments, to name a few. There are now various treatment options available for adult patients wishing to undergo treatment, including lingual braces that fit behind the teeth, white braces - and clear braces.  

Virtually invisible, as well as removable, clear braces are an increasingly preferred option for adults. Treatment consists of a series of trays, worn for 2-3 weeks at a time, that gradually move your teeth in small stages until they are in the desired position. Clear braces give you the option to straighten your teeth discreetly, and relatively pain-free, unlike their metal counterpart. The average length of treatment is 6-12 months.

If clear braces sound like they might be a viable treatment option for you, it is important to book in for a consultation with a specially trained Smilelign dentist. As with any patient, they will then check your teeth to see if you would be a suitable fit for clear brace treatment, before taking impressions of your teeth to send to our laboratory. This is a pain-free procedure and will involve holding a putty-like substance on your teeth for a couple of minutes. Our skilled technicians will then produce your bespoke treatment plan in time for your next appointment with your dentist. This will detail how many braces you will need to wear, as well as how long you can expect treatment to take.

We have hundreds of Smilelign providers across the UK (and some abroad too!). To discover your nearest provider and get started on your journey towards a better, straighter smile - click here

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