4 Reasons to Get Adult Braces

If you’ve spent years feeling self-conscious about your smile or uncomfortable with how your teeth look or feel, you’re not alone! At Kovacs Orthodontics, we see adults who are unsure about orthodontic treatment to get a straighter smile daily. If this sounds like you, adult braces could be the perfect solution! 

While orthodontic treatment was viewed as a rite of passage for teens, there’s been a recent shift in how patients think, and we’re treating more adults than ever. About 1 in every three current orthodontic patients is over 18.

At Kovacs Orthodontics, we know it’s never too late to achieve a healthier, happier smile. Our treatment options can correct many orthodontic problems, including crooked teeth, overbites, underbites, and incorrect jaw positioning. While the most commonly known benefit of treatment is a more attractive smile, adult braces have many more benefits. Let’s explore four reasons to get adult braces!

Better Oral Health

Brushing and flossing are essential to any dental hygiene routine, but when teeth are crooked, crowded, or overlapping, it can be challenging to keep them clean. This increases the risk of plaque and bacteria building up, potentially leading to tooth decay, gum disease, cavities, and gingivitis. 

These may be common dental ailments, but they’re also preventable. Orthodontic treatment at Kovacs Orthodontics can help move the teeth into more optimal positions, making it easier to maintain an effective oral hygiene routine!

Improved Chewing & Digestion

When your teeth and jaws are out of alignment, you might have difficulty correctly biting and chewing your food. If left untreated, this can lead to excessive wear and tear on your teeth. It may even lead to the muscles of the jaws weakening. This can cause painful chewing, exacerbating any issues you’re already having. 

Chewing your food is the first step of the digestion process and the most important one. It can affect your whole digestive system if you can’t chew properly due to misaligned teeth. When your teeth can’t properly break down food, it will pass through the digestive system much more slowly. Chewing may also be painful due to tooth or jaw pain, limiting how often you can eat. 

Orthodontic treatment in our Billings or Miles City office can align your teeth and help you chew normally, promoting healthy digestion. 

4 Reasons to Get Adult Braces

Improved Speech

The alignment of your teeth and jaws can also affect your speech. Misaligned teeth can influence the placement of the tip of the tongue, which is essential to properly form certain sounds, including ‘t,’ ‘n,’ and ‘d.’ 

Dr. Kovacs has the knowledge and experience to help identify any misalignment-related speech issues. He can also assess the severity of any problems and devise the most effective solution based on your specific needs.

Improved Jaw Alignment

Misaligned teeth can have a noticeable effect on your jaw muscles and joints. If the jaws have to compensate for wrong positioning, the joints will respond, but it will often be to a position that can cause further damage. This is why we see jaw issues and misaligned teeth in a patient together. Some of the symptoms you may experience with improper jaw alignment are:

  • headaches or migraines
  • a jaw that seems to pop or “creak”
  • pain in the jaw, neck, or shoulders
  • sleep disorders

A personalized treatment plan from Kovacs Orthodontics can help reduce or eliminate these symptoms by properly aligning your teeth and jaws. This approach will give you a smile that feels good, functions well, and looks stunning! 

Find Your Perfect Treatment

Whatever your reason for seeking orthodontic treatment as an adult, you have more options than ever! We offer the following treatments in our Billings and Miles City offices for a total smile makeover.

Metal braces

Metal braces are an orthodontic staple throughout our community and for good reasons! Braces are one of our most efficient treatments, particularly for more severe or complicated cases. 

Modern braces use high-quality stainless steel, but innovations in the design mean they’re much more lightweight and comfortable than previous versions. The total treatment time also tends to be shorter, giving you a beautiful smile quicker.

Ceramic braces

Clear braces work the same way as traditional braces but use ceramic brackets instead of metal ones. These clear brackets can be used with elastics or ties that are also clear, white, or tooth-colored for an almost invisible treatment option. 

Ceramic braces can be an excellent choice for image-conscious patients. Still, they are more delicate than metal braces, so Dr. Kovacs generally only recommends them for older teens and adults.

Invisalign clear aligners

The Invisalign system uses a series of customized, removable aligners that fit comfortably over your teeth. These clear aligners gently move the teeth into the desired positions like braces. You’ll wear them 20 to 22 hours per day throughout treatment as directed by Dr. Kovacs for the aligners to be effective. Each aligner will also need to be replaced for the next system every few weeks.

Invisalign gives you extra flexibility since there are no food restrictions, and you can remove them to eat, drink, brush, and floss. This removability makes it easier to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy! You don’t have to work around wires and brackets, so you can brush and floss as you usually would. 

All of these options can be a great fit for busy adults! You can trust Kovacs Orthodontics to recommend only the treatment method they feel will work best with your smile, lifestyle, and goals. 

4 Reasons to Get Adult Braces

Get the beautiful smile you deserve with Kovacs Orthodontics

Kovacs Orthodontics is proud to offer patients the total package in Billings and Miles City. Our expert team is committed to providing clear communication, compassionate care, and exceptional results. 

If you’re looking for more information on how an aligned bite can improve your life, get in touch today to schedule a FREE consultation with Dr. Kovacs and take the first step towards a healthier smile!