Adult Orthodontics

You might be surprised to find out that many – about one in three – of our patients here at Swords Orthodontics are adults! 

We understand that adults want a different sort of approach to their orthodontics and a different sort of service from an orthodontist. For a start, they want to maintain a professional image, so we offer some less-obvious options, including clear, tooth-coloured braces and near-invisible alternatives such as Invisalign and Incognito.

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Why Do Adults Want Braces?

Shouldn’t we have left all of that behind in our teenage years?

Well, not necessarily…there are a variety of reasons that an adult may want to have orthodontic treatment. These are some common reasons we encounter:

• Solving some orthodontic problems resolve best after most of the jaw and face growth is complete, which for many is around age 20.
• Some adults never had the opportunity to have braces as children and are still bothered by the appearance of their teeth. 
• Others did have orthodontics, but it wasn’t as thorough, or comprehensive as modern orthodontics and they didn’t get the result they would like.
• Perhaps they did get a good result, but they failed to wear their retainers as needed, and their teeth have shifted in orthodontic relapse.
• Some people may develop crowding, spacing, or changes in their bite as they get older.
• Some patients would benefit from restorative dentistry to sort out problems with broken or missing teeth, and orthodontics is likely to make this more successful by moving the teeth to better positions before restorations, so their dentist has directed them to see us.

How Adults Benefit from Orthodontic Care

Since an adult patient is no longer growing, there are limits to the results that certain treatments can offer for certain problems. Also, since adults may have had a lot of dental diseases or dental treatment in the past, certain orthodontic treatments may be impractical for an adult compared to the same approach for the same problems encountered in a 12-year-old.

There’s still a benefit to be had from orthodontics, but you can see it’s crucial to balance many things when making an orthodontic treatment plan for an adult. That’s why it’s worth coming down for a chat with us to see how orthodontics could help, what would be involved in the treatment, and what sort of result we’d expect to have.

If you’d like to learn more about why orthodontic treatment is a vital part of your total dental health care plan, click here.

Orthodontic Options for Adults

Fortunately, at Swords Orthodontics, we stay up to date with orthodontic technology and braces that are more suitable for adults. Some of the most popular adult braces options we offer are very discreet clear or tooth-coloured braces like Damon Clear (you can see examples on this page) and invisible systems like Invisalign and Incognito.

Clear and tooth-coloured braces are fixed to your teeth and use brackets and wires just like traditional braces.

They give excellent, precise results and don’t interfere with speech. Instead of metal, these braces are made of a ceramic material that is translucent and shaded to blend with the colour of your teeth. While these braces can be seen at close distance, they blend in so well with your teeth that few people will notice them.

Dr Murray worked with many different varieties of these aesthetic braces before deciding on his current choice a few years ago – he doesn’t use the older plastic ones – and these braces are very hard to see when placed on the teeth.

If you frequently meet with clients and want an invisible braces option, we can discuss Invisalign or Incognito. 

Invisalign Clear Aligners

The Invisalign system uses clear plastic aligners that fit over your teeth and gently move them into the right position. One advantage of Invisalign is that you can remove them for cleaning, eating and special occasions. You can read more about Invisalign here.

Incognito Braces

Incognito is the modern answer to the question that patients have been asking for decades, 'Can you do the braces on the inside of the teeth?' It involves individually made brackets to fit inside the mouth on the teeth.

Adult Orthodontics at Swords Orthodontics

We know it’s not just about the teeth; there are other things about coming to the orthodontist that make the treatment experience right for an adult, and they’re different from the things we need to do for our younger patients. We understand that many of our older patients had bad experiences with dentists when they were younger, and for some of them, it might be the first time they have visited a dentist in years. We know how to put them at their ease and reassure them. We know about good communication with patients and their own dentist as well as any other specialists involved in their care.

We also see to it that the environment is balanced well for the patient age mix we care for – both clinically and non-clinically. We offer a wide range of appointments, including early mornings and late evenings, and certain appointments are offered on Saturdays too. This means you have a wide range of access to us, with maximum control over your own schedule including minimising the time away from work or family commitments.

Ready to Improve Your Smile?

Ready to see what orthodontics can do for you and your smile? Call Swords Orthodontics today (01 810 7622) to schedule your initial appointment with Swords Orthodontics