Braces at 30 – is there any point in getting them?

Orthodontic treatment gives the best results in childhood. It is easier to correct malocclusion in children, since their jaw and teeth are just developing. However, this does not mean that braces are contraindicated for adults. They can be installed even after 30 years, but the treatment process will be longer. Let's consider its features.

The formation of the dental system ends around 17-18 years, but a child’s permanent bite is formed by 12-13 years. It is best, according to dentists, to install braces at the age of 10-12, when the last molars grow.

However, it all depends on individual characteristics. Sometimes doctors suggest waiting a bit for the jaw to form without braces. And in some cases, on the contrary, their immediate installation is required. The need for such treatment is determined primarily by medical indications, and only then by the patient’s wishes.

Should I get braces after 30?

Many people believe that installing braces after 30 years is pointless, dangerous or painful, so they refuse orthodontic treatment. However, it is worth understanding that malocclusion, which can develop in various forms, can cause many complications. Among them:

Caries, gingivitis and other oral diseases that occur due to poor hygiene and uneven distribution of chewing load.
Pain in the jaw, which can radiate to the temples and eyebrows, which is a consequence of compression of the nerves and joints.
Rapid wear of some teeth, abrasion of enamel, loss of teeth.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract due to poor chewing of food.
Psychological problems associated with self-esteem and complexes that an ugly smile gives rise to.

Let's consider the indications for which braces are placed even after 30 years.

In what cases should you get braces after 30 years?

The reason for installing braces at any age is an incorrect bite, which can manifest itself in different ways. Typical signs of this dental problem:

crowding of teeth and their creeping onto each other;
large interdental spaces;
tooth growth to the sides;
excessive protrusion of one jaw forward;
large distance between the upper and lower rows of teeth;
shifting the jaws sideways in opposite directions.

These anomalies are not always noticeable to the naked eye. In some people they are hidden, but at the same time they cause severe discomfort, for example, while eating. In this regard, many refuse to wear braces, getting used to this discomfort. However, it is recommended to undergo orthodontic treatment even in cases where there are malocclusions, but there is no visible aesthetic defect.

When should you not get braces at 30?

There are several more restrictions for installing braces at the age of 30 and later than contraindications for orthodontic treatment in childhood. This is due to the fact that the dental system has already been formed and some defects are difficult or even impossible to correct.

In addition, adults may have crowns or fillings in their mouths that interfere with the placement of orthodontic braces. There are other restrictions. In most cases they are relative:

serious anatomical changes in the jaws;
severe wear of crowns;
the presence of carious cavities and old fillings;
some diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

There are few absolute restrictions: HIV, tuberculosis, very weak immunity, etc. Before installing braces in adulthood, longer preparation is required. In general, the process of treating malocclusion in children and adults is practically no different. There are only a few nuances.

Optimal age for correction

There is no age limit in the list of contraindications related to the installation of braces. This means that a person can straighten teeth and correct improper jaw closure, regardless of how old he is.

However, correction of dental anomalies in adult patients has a number of fundamental differences from the treatment of children or adolescents.

So:

Longer preparation will be required with the possibility of some teeth being removed.
The main correction period lasts much longer (up to 3-3.5 years).
The movement of dental units follows the dentoalveolar type.
Additional orthodontic devices may be used simultaneously with braces for certain indications.
The retention period also increases, and for some patients wearing retainers will be recommended on a permanent basis.

According to experts, the most “valuable” period for orthodontic intervention is considered to be the age of 12-20 years , when the best results can be achieved even with complex maxillofacial anomalies.

This age criterion is associated with the period of active formation of the dentition and the peak of skeletal growth. The effect on the musculoskeletal structure has a maximum effect, and solving problems with occlusion is easier, faster and of better quality. The tendency for re-curvature is minimal.

In a person whose age is approaching his fourth decade, the growth processes in the body stop, and the condition of not only the gum tissue and teeth themselves, but also the body deteriorates.

All this negatively affects the quality, volume and very possibility of treatment. But it is impossible to refuse orthodontic correction in case of pronounced disorders.

Orthodontists insist on its mandatory implementation, regardless of age, since dental anomalies lead to the following consequences:

early tooth loss;
exposure of the dental neck;
premature wear of enamel;
rapid wear of the mandibular temporal joint;
periodontitis;
multiple caries;
dysfunction of the facial muscles;
cracking and chipping of the enamel coating;
the occurrence of pain in the head, back, neck;
damage to bone and soft tissues in the oral cavity;
difficulties in restoration and prosthetics of teeth;
breathing problems;
changes in diction;
disruption of the digestive system;
distortion of facial aesthetics.

Also, refusal of correction may subsequently result in the need to replace your own teeth with prosthetic structures, implants, or long-term expensive treatment. In some cases, neglect of treatment results in complex surgery.

Important! The question of the advisability of orthodontic intervention in older age should be resolved only positively, in the absence of absolute medical contraindications.

Evaluate the results of teeth straightening with braces using photos before and after treatment.

Come here if you are interested in how long you need to wear braces.

At this address https://orto-info.ru/sistemyi-vyiravnivaniya-zubov/breketyi/kak-chistit-osnovnyie-pravila.html we will tell you how to brush your teeth with braces.

Braces at 30: features of installation and wearing

Getting braces at age 30 is not dangerous or painful, but orthodontic treatment in adulthood is not without difficulties. Often people encounter the following problems:

Long preparation and treatment. Before installing orthodontic structures, all dental diseases must be cured. In adults there may be more of them than in children, so the preparatory stage of treatment can last for several weeks. Many people are interested in how long they need to wear braces if they are installed after 30 years. As practice shows, even minor defects require at least a year to eliminate; sometimes you have to wear braces for 2-3 years.
It may be necessary to remove some teeth, often figure eights, to create space for the remaining teeth once they are straightened.
In some cases, it is necessary, on the contrary, to install or replace additional structures, for example, crowns on which the braces will rest.
It will take a long time to consolidate the result with the help of special means and instruments, otherwise the teeth may return to their original position. This often happens with significant defects.

In other words, an adult who wants to correct an overbite will have to be patient. The treatment will be long, but, according to people who have undergone it, it will be effective and justified.

At what age is it easiest and fastest to get the desired result?

As a rule, an orthodontist will recommend putting braces on a child at the age of 10–12 years, when the formation of the maxillofacial apparatus is completed and the body is in the stage of active growth. But quite often doctors have to carry out corrections for preschoolers using removable orthodontic structures or postpone treatment with braces until they reach 16–18 years of age.

Faster results of correction in adolescence are explained by greater compliance of the jaw bone.
In children with baby teeth, the desired result can often be achieved by wearing a removable mouthguard or trainer. In adults, the same devices cope with only the most minor anomalies.
Moreover, children whose jaw is just developing benefit from massage and specialized gymnastics that train the muscles of the face and tongue.

There are other features that significantly increase the cost and prolongation of orthodontic treatment for adults and even make it impossible.

Which braces are best for people over 30?

There are many varieties of brace systems, which differ from each other in a number of indicators: material of manufacture, strength, aesthetic properties, reliability of fixation, etc. As a rule, the orthodontist offers the patient several types of structures to choose from. When choosing braces, consider the following factors:

Profession. A person who has to speak in public or often communicate with people can choose plastic, ceramic or sapphire braces: they are almost invisible to others. Lingual systems that are installed on the inner surface of the dentition are also well suited.
The degree of bite pathology. Severe forms are better corrected with metal staples. In addition, they provide faster correction compared to plastic and ceramic structures.
Price. The most expensive braces are made from sapphire, and ceramic products are also expensive. If you want to save money, but not at the expense of treatment, choose metal or plastic staples.
Physical limitations. Lingual braces are more difficult to maintain. For people with disabilities, if they cannot fully care for their oral cavity, it is better to opt for vestibular structures.

But the main factor that determines the choice of braces is medical indications.

Types of bracket systems

In modern dentistry, a wide variety of orthodontic systems are used to correct various, including quite serious, malocclusions. Thanks to this, braces can be installed on people of almost any age. The choice of certain braces is made based on the indications, individual characteristics and preferences of the patient.

Comparative characteristics of types of orthodontic systems

Characteristic	Metal system	Ceramic system	Lingual system
Image
Mounting features	Attached to the outer surface of the tooth, very noticeable	They are attached to the outer surface of the tooth, can be of different shades, and are relatively invisible	Attached to the inner surface of the tooth
Features of adaptation	Quick adaptation within 5-7 days	Adaptation period from 1-2 weeks	Quite a long, difficult adaptation
Reliability	Very high	High enough	Relatively low
Therapy period	1-3 years	2-4 years	3-5 years

Attention! Many older patients prefer the lingual orthodontic system - these are brackets located on the inner surface of the teeth and are completely invisible to others.

How to install braces for adults

Regardless of which system will be installed for the patient, he first undergoes an examination, during which indications and contraindications are determined. The main research method is radiography, which allows you to take pictures of the jaws and make impressions based on them. Next, the oral cavity is sanitized: treatment of dental diseases and ultrasonic cleaning. If necessary, extra teeth – molars or “eights” – are removed.

After preparation, the bracket system is installed. This is done according to the following algorithm:

teeth are cleaned of plaque, saliva is removed, and the oral cavity is dried;
the enamel is treated with a special solution, which makes it more susceptible to glue;
An adhesive composition is applied to the surface of the tooth crown, and cement is applied to the bracket lock;
the clasps are fixed on the teeth, after which they are dried with an ultraviolet lamp;
excess glue is removed with a solvent;
An arch is threaded into the braces, which corrects the bite by applying pressure to the jaw.

Installation can be direct or indirect. In the first case, each clasp is glued to one tooth; in the second, the dentist creates a structure on a mock-up of the jaw, and then transfers it to the patient’s oral cavity.

The arc has a memory effect and gradually begins to return to the shape that was given to it during the modeling of the structure. Due to this, tooth displacement occurs. Periodically, the arch is tightened to increase pressure on the dentition. This continues for 1-3 years, it all depends on the success of the treatment.

Types of braces

Despite the fact that the arsenal of orthodontic devices has been expanded in recent years, installing braces remains the most effective way to correct malocclusion in adolescent and adult patients.

The braces remain, but their “appearance” has changed for the better. Of course, there are still classic metal devices, reliable and budget-friendly, but noticeable on the teeth. However, an alternative has appeared - these are ceramic and sapphire braces. The locks in these designs are made of medical ceramics or transparent crystals. Such devices are no less effective, but do not attract unnecessary attention.

Moreover, invisible orthodontic devices have been created - lingual braces. Arches and locks are not visible to anyone except the orthodontist, because they are fixed from the inside of the dentition. Lingual braces operate on the principle of vestibular devices. But their cost is 4–5 times higher than standard metal braces.

Braces are an effective, although not quick, option for correcting malocclusion: treatment lasts on average 1.5–2 years. Once every 2–4 weeks you need to visit the dentist to correct the position of the device. However, the result is worth all the effort: the jaws close correctly, the teeth are straight and beautiful.

Does it hurt to wear braces?

Before installing orthodontic structures, people often wonder if it hurts to put on and wear braces. Painful sensations during the procedure occur only with increased sensitivity of the gums and teeth. To relieve the patient of discomfort, the doctor may give an anesthetic injection.

Pain during wearing braces usually only bothers you during the adaptation period, that is, in the first 5-15 days. If you do not eat hard foods, the pain will be mild. Pain medications are rarely needed.

For treatment to proceed without complications, the patient needs to change his diet and carefully monitor hygiene. You will have to limit yourself in the use of certain products and purchase special products for cleaning the oral cavity: a toothbrush with V-shaped bristles (CURAPROX Ortho), a brush (Biorepair Scovolini Interdentali Cilindrici), dental floss (Mirafloss implant chx), rinses (Biorepair Mouthwash) and irrigator (Little Doctor International Ltd Aquajet LD-A7, Donfeel Donfeel OR-820D Compact). You will need to see your doctor every few months to have the archwire tightened.

In general, it is safe to get braces after 30 years of age. However, they often have no alternative, so they will have to choose: either not try to solve the problems caused by malocclusion, or be patient a little and get a healthy and beautiful smile.