4 Reasons to Get Adult Braces

Adults can benefit from braces. And adults in the Chicago area are no exception. You might have heard a stereotype that braces can only serve kids and teens. Dr. Pakravan and the rest of the Windy City Orthodontics team are here to dispel that stereotype. If you’re an adult, you deserve a smile to be proud of. Here are 4 reasons to get adult braces.

Our Top 4 Reasons To Get Adult Braces

Reason #1: Yes, You Can Afford Them

Our team understands how hard it can be to obtain care for ourselves and our families. Orthodontic remedies are more affordable now than they have been in the past. For adults, braces might be the first line of defense. 

Dr. Pakravan will never recommend anything a client doesn’t need. We’re happy to work with you to design a payment plan that fits your budget. Have insurance questions? No problem! We can work with your insurance company to make certain you get the best possible outcome.

Reason #2: Increased Sense of Self-Confidence

An improved smile doesn’t just alter how you look. It can change how you feel about yourself. Adult braces can influence how you perceive your own face. The American Association of Orthodontists estimates that nearly 2 million adults receive orthodontic treatment. At our Chicago location, many patients are over the age of 18 and some are over 80. Braces can help you find confidence and security in your appearance. 

Reason #3: Improved Mental Health

Still not convinced that orthodontic intervention is right for you? Dr. Pakravan’s mission for our Chicago office is to change lives for the better. And that means much more than rearranging teeth. Adult braces can decrease anxiety and depression and boost overall mental health. Furthermore, if you like your smile, you’ll want to show it off. Smiling makes your brain pump out neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters influence your motivation and sense of well-being. And guess what? People who feel good about themselves smile more! Windy City Orthodontics wants to help you tap into this kind of healthy feedback loop.

Reason #4: A Physical Health Upgrade

Proper brushing and flossing contribute to oral health. But they aren’t magic. If teeth are out of alignment, brushing and flossing may not be able to resolve the problem. Misaligned teeth create nooks and crannies in which plaque festers. If left untreated, excess plaque can lead to sore or bleeding gums, pain in the jaw, and headaches. 

But the physical ailments don’t stop with oral hygiene. Especially later in life, irregularly aligned teeth can complicate our ability to chew food. This means that a task as simple as eating has now become a choking hazard. And what’s worse, swallowing unchewed food can cause severe abdominal discomfort. 

Orthodontic Options for Grown-Ups

Dr. Pakravan will speak with you directly to determine which treatment option you need. Here are some of the possibilities you may come across. 

Clear Aligners

What if you had braces that you could remove whenever you wanted (with Dr. Pakravan’s guidance, of course)? Our team uses clear, lightweight plastic aligners primarily by Spark™, but also Invisalign. Clear aligners offer the wearer much more comfort and convenience than conventional braces. Generally, you’ll wear your aligners for 12-15 months and use between 24 – 30 sets. We recommend keeping your aligner on for 22 hours a day. 

Clear Braces

You may also hear clear braces referred to as ceramic, tooth-colored, or aesthetic. This is because they are designed to blend in with the teeth. Clear braces empower you to continue your daily routine without fretting about your appearance. They are more discreet and less obvious than metal braces. Additionally, the LightForce Orthodontics braces we use at Windy City Orthodontics are custom-designed by Dr. Pakravan to fit the shape of your teeth in their desired alignment!

Winning Smiles in the Windy City

Make sure you wind up in one of our chairs! To find out if adult braces are right for you, visit us here to schedule a free exam.

Posted by Dr. Pakravan