Adult Orthodontics
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Braces are for teenagers, right? Sure, but that’s not all. As many of our grown patients can attest, braces are also for adult teeth.
If you suspect that you need braces as an adult, you’re in good company. While it used to be unusual to see people over 20 sporting braces, the American Association of Orthodontists reports that 25 percent of all orthodontic patients today are adults.
Why do Adults Need Orthodontics?
Every day, we apply adult braces to teeth in Salt Lake, Lehi, and South Jordan to help people achieve perfect smiles. Adult orthodontics patients just like you seek out our care for a number of reasons:
- Teeth have shifted from original orthodontic treatment. Even if you’ve had a round or two of braces already, teeth shift. It’s not unusual for people to get braces again as adults to realign their teeth after their jaw has grown and their teeth have shifted.
- Orthodontic treatment has improved over the years. Even if you have had braces, the orthodontic treatments of your youth were not what they are today. For starters, imaging is better, giving us a perfectly clear picture of what we are working with in less time and with less invasive technology. There’s also today’s highly advanced 3D modeling, which allows us to correct all kinds of bite problems and spacing issues with pinpoint precision.
- Jaw is misaligned. Maybe your alignment problems were never addressed in your youth. Or maybe they were properly addressed, but your jaw continued to move. Jaw problems can develop in adulthood due to gum disease, which weakens your gums and gives your teeth more wiggle room. Teeth grinding can also cause teeth to shift as can tooth removal and even the CPAP device, which is worn for sleep apnea and can put pressure on your teeth.
How Do I Know if I Need Adult Braces for my Teeth?
While an orthodontist who specializes in adult braces is uniquely qualified to make this call, there are some common symptoms you should watch for. These may include:
- Your teeth look crowded or crooked
- Your teeth are so crowded it is difficult to brush or floss them properly
- Your teeth don’t meet properly when you close your mouth or smile (causing you to feel self-conscious)
- You can’t chew or bite properly
- You have difficulty making certain sounds (due to your teeth)
- Your jaw makes clicking sounds or other noises
- You have jaw pain
- Your jaw becomes tired from activities like chewing
Aren’t I a Little Too Grown Up for Tinsel Teeth?
You successfully survived middle school and high school. Why would you want to look like you’re reliving it? Fortunately, you don’t have to. We offer a number of options for discreet braces. Not only will you not look like you have a mouth full of metal, many people won’t even notice that you have braces at all.
Options for adult braces include:
- Traditional braces. Yes, you’ll still have that metal gleam, but the brackets will be smaller and more subtle. The result will be a much less conspicuous version of the tin grin of your adolescence that no one could miss.
- Ceramic/clear adult braces. These offer the advantages of traditional braces, but they come with ceramic instead of metal brackets. The brackets can be tooth-colored, or they can be translucent if you prefer clear adult braces. Even the metal archwire that threads through the brackets can come in tooth-colored material. These braces are fully camouflaged.
- Damon braces. These state-of-the-art braces, also known as self-ligating braces, have smaller, lighter, sliding brackets that are continuously tightening over the archwire. That means constant, subtle movements vs. sudden, dramatic tightenings that can cause you a lot of pain. People choose Damon braces for the comfort factor, but they’re also more aesthetically pleasing with their smaller brackets. Damon braces are even available as clear adult braces in our South Jordan, Lehi, and Salt Lake City offices.
- Clear aligners/Invisalign. It used to be that braces were the only option, but clear aligner trays (commonly known as Invisalign) can work the same magic as traditional braces for many patients. Patients are fitted with a series of trays that move teeth toward a desired end. You don’t have to worry about brackets at all, and you can remove the trays when you eat rather than getting food caught in your braces. Imagine an orthodontic treatment that still allows you to eat corn on the cob and caramels!
Are There Adult Braces That Won’t Cut my Cheeks or Make my Teeth Ache?
Remember trying to cover your brackets in wax so they wouldn’t dig into your cheeks? Or loading up on Advil and soft foods after tightenings because your teeth hurt so badly?
We fully understand if you’re not up for round two of that. But thankfully, there’s a way to ease the pain. If your orthodontist says you’re a candidate for clear aligners, you can forget brackets altogether and save the lining of your mouth.
And if you do choose traditional braces, they’re not the braces of your youth. They are made of better, gentler materials that minimize metal allergies. The brackets are also smaller with smoother edges, so they’re less likely to hurt the inside of your mouth.
And where you used to dread your next painful tightening, that’s not such a big deal anymore. The archwires that run through the brackets are made of highly flexible metals (like nickel titanium alloys) that allow for more gentle, gradual tightenings.
But for the ultimate in comfort, consider Damon braces. Instead of relying on the traditional ligates (tiny rubber bands) to do the tightening, these braces use sliding brackets. So rather than going into the adult orthodontics office every several weeks for painful tightenings, you can depend on the organic movement of Damon braces, named for inventor Dr. Dwight Damon. The Damon system brackets very gradually move your teeth at all times. Because the tightening is so subtle, you can hardly feel the pressure. The result is a much more comfortable experience—and often a faster one from the start to finish of adult orthodontics care.
What if I Don’t Have Time for Braces?
This concern can take two forms.
- You may not have the time to go to your Salt Lake area adult orthodontics office for regular tightenings. Maybe you have busy work hours and can’t clock out for regular checkups. Or if you stay home with your children, you may be concerned about finding a babysitter while you get adjustments to your adult braces in our Salt Lake, Lehi, or South Jordan offices.
- You don’t want to spend years in braces. Perhaps you have flashbacks of spending your entire adolescence all braced up. Life’s short; who wants to do that again?
At Smile Ranch Orthodontics, we understand these concerns, but we have some good news! For starters, because our self-ligating Damon braces depend on gradually tightening slide mechanisms (vs. rubber bands), your orthodontist won’t likely have to adjust as often. That means fewer disruptions to your schedule.
As far as duration of treatment goes, today’s improved orthodontic care is generally more efficient than that of past years. That can lead to less time wired up. New technologies, including computer-aided design and biomechanics, can often chop weeks or months off of your time in braces. So can new treatments like the above-mentioned Damon braces, whose self-regulating systems keep your teeth moving into place as efficiently as possible. For many of our patients, this has meant a shorter treatment than with traditional braces.
Non-braces options such as clear aligners can increase efficiency, too. While braces move one tooth at a time, aligners provide force to all of the teeth at once, which can lead to faster results.
Add to all of this the factor of compliance. Chances are, when Mom and Dad were footing the bill, you may not have been wearing your rubber bands or headgear or retainers 100% of the time. We find that our adult braces patients here in Utah are among our very best. They have great oral hygiene, follow our treatment guidelines carefully, and show up for appointments. If you can commit to strong compliance, you can keep your time in treatment to the minimum requirement.
What Patients are Saying about Adult Orthodontics at Smile Ranch?
Patients who have spent their life feeling self-conscious about their smiles have reported “life changing results.” Worries about making a strong first impression or looking good in pictures can take up a lot of bandwidth in your head. It can be very liberating to be free from these concerns.
And this is to say nothing of overcoming the jaw pain that plagues many of our patients for years due to bite problems. Breaking free from that pain is indeed life altering!
Patients also love our “kind and friendly staff” who “treat people like family.” This is especially important for adult orthodontics patients who may feel anxious or self-conscious about their adult braces journey.
One of our adult patients summed it up this way: “I could not be happier with the results…if you are thinking about getting braces, book a consult! You won’t regret it!”
Do I Have to Wear a Retainer as an Adult?
If you’ve done your time in headgear and/or rubber bands in the past, you may be leery of having yet another device in your mouth in addition to braces or aligners. And yet, the retainer is essential for keeping your teeth aligned post-treatment.
Fortunately, today’s retainers are comfortable and discreet. We offer options like clear adult retainers or permanent retainers that fit inside your teeth and keep your bite in place long-term. They are hardly noticeable to the wearer or to anyone else.
Start Adult Orthodontics Today
If you’ve been searching “adult orthodontics near me,” you’ve probably pulled up a number of results, but we invite you to call our office and schedule an appointment today. We know that as an adult, you’re looking for efficient, discreet, competent care that will give you a million dollar smile. Smile Ranch Orthodontics offers all of that at affordable rates.
We welcome patients of any age to our Salt Lake, Lehi, and South Jordan adult braces offices. You deserve a smile that you can be proud of, and it’s never too late to make it happen.
Smile Support Staff
With their extensive knowledge and friendly demeanor, our dedicated Orthodontic team ensures that every patient receives personalized attention and support throughout their orthodontic journey, making the path to a perfect smile as comfortable and smooth as possible. You can trust our exceptional orthodontic team to be your smile’s greatest advocates and partners in achieving the results you desire.
Smile Ranch Google Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stacy Olson
Three out of four kids have had braces through Smile Ranch in Lehi. They have been awesome to work with and have worked around our schedule. Thank you!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Michelle Williams
We have been using Dr Jensen for a year. It has been a great experience. He is very knowledgeable and takes time to explain to his clients. Great staff and program.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amelia Miyasaki
We love Smile Ranch! Dr. J is fantastic, and the office staff is outstanding! The office is super efficient (three patients in and we’ve never had an unreasonable wait) but we never feel like a number, everyone is so helpful and friendly.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Whitney Rasmussen
Dr. J did my braces a few years ago and I was so amazed with his work. I absolutely love my smile and have received so many compliments on my teeth. I send everyone I know to the smile ranch, including my own kids who have just started braces!! 😁 woo hoo! They also have the best staff and make it so fun. Fresh cookies and rewards for the kids to earn smile bucks that turn into gift cards👍 We love smile ranch!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Aubrie Haymore
We love Dr. J and all the staff! They are soooo kind and my sons bite has improved and we are so grateful! We love them and I’ll bring all my kids here!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rachel Gardner
I love Smile Ranch! I took my oldest daughter here over a year ago. Her teeth look great. Im now back with my 10 year old daughter and myself. Dr J is extremely good at what he does and his staff are amazing. The most welcoming, loving and positive energy. My daughter has anxiety and Dr J and his staff have been so great to talk with her and explain what they are doing. They have eased her worries. They stay on schedule, but you never feel they are rushing you out their door. They truly care about you as a person and take pride in a job well done. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Emily Chidester
I am on my fourth child having orthodontic treatment from Smile Ranch and couldn’t be happier. Initially I went to three other orthodontics for consults and felt that Dr. Alan Jensen was the only orthodontist with the experienced needed to care for my one of my child’s treatment. We have had traditional braces, expanders, and Invisalign. The care we receive from the doctor and staff each time we visit is wonderful. I know that my children are getting the best smiles thanks to the care at Smile Ranch.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amy Sackett
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Robyn Green
We love Smile Ranch! We’ve had nothing but positive experiences and everyone there is amazing and friendly. It feels like a second home, so comfortable and welcoming.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Betsy Broadwater
I love this office! Dr. Jensen and staff make it so easy! They’re so kind to my family and they do a great job. They’re super easy to schedule with. They have a fun office atmosphere and I love taking my boys in. They know what they are doing and they do it well. They give us (all of us!) cookies after every appointment, the office is nice and clean and we are going to miss coming in here now that boys are getting braces off! … and most importantly, my boys’ teeth look fabulous!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Julie Johnson
Happy, clean atmosphere with friendly staff. We appreciate the care and attention they give. We have been very impressed with Dr. Jensen and the hygienists and their expertise. We have been very happy with the results so far!
