Adult Braces: Cost and Types Explained
It's never too late to do it right! This maxim applies to many situations and orthodontic problems are among them.
For a long time, braces were only used by children and teenagers, but they are now very common among adults.
In addition to the annual check-up, which is the main reason for making an appointment with the dentist, 25% of adults go to the dentist for adult braces.
Nutrident.fr gets into the heart of the matter of the braces price, history, etc..
Our teams particularly appreciate the invisible treatment of Dr Smile that we mention a little further down in the text
Contenus
Hollywood, the forerunner of adult braces!
Adult orthodontics is not new and Hollywood has been experimenting with it for a long time. When Greta Garbo arrived from her native Sweden in the early 1920s, the studio that hired her “invested” a lot in her, which included a makeover: drastic weight loss, hair removal and orthodontics.
Indeed, the one who will become one of the biggest stars of Hollywood has teeth in battle! So she went through braces (the price of which wasn't really an obstacle, thanks Hollywood!) for adults to get her teeth realigned.
Marlene Dietrich that another studio went to Germany to compete with Garbo suffered the same fate and had to wear braces in turn.
Orthodontics gave both women a complete makeover and they both had perfect smiles.
What was possible for the stars in the 1920s is now available to everyone, with technical advances that make treatment more effective, more discreet and less expensive. Dental braces are now affordable for everyone.
Why wear braces?
For aesthetic reasons
The first reason we think of for wearing braces is aesthetics.
If you didn't have braces when your teeth were growing a little anarchically, you may have teeth that overlap, teeth that seem to be stuck too high in the gums, or the famous buck teeth, often caused by thumb sucking. Hence the interest to wear a dental appliance.
In contrast to overlapping teeth, your teeth may be too far apart, which is called a diastema. When it comes to the two upper central incisors, we talk about “happiness teeth”.
The diastema can be inborn or result from a natural reorganization of the teeth if you have lost one or had to have it pulled. A diastema that is too pronounced or out of place can be unsightly.
Badly implanted teeth can also cause you to have slurred speech or a tendency to spit. These behaviors are not always easy to assume in your social life.
For medical reasons
You also have to think about hygiene and the impact on the whole body. If you have overlapping teeth, they are more difficult, if not impossible, to clean properly and you risk developing cavities.
If you have poorly implanted teeth or bite problems, it can affect the way you chew. If you don't chew properly before swallowing, your digestive system will have to compensate and this sometimes causes problems.
Braces can also be used to correct if you are prognathic (your lower jaw is too far forward) or if, on the contrary, you suffer from retrognathia (your lower jaw is too far back), which gives you a receding chin.
This is both a cosmetic and medical problem, as it can lead to loose teeth and an inability to chew properly.
Correcting the position of your teeth with braces can also provide the solution to snoring, bruxism or sleep apnea.
So there are many reasons to get braces.
The designers of braces understood the usefulness of their products, but they also understood that they needed to make both technical and aesthetic advances so that adults would no longer dread wearing their braces.
How long do adult orthodontic treatments last?
It all starts with the dentist , who will suggest the braces that are best suited to your situation. The duration of adult orthodontic treatment is between six months and two years. It depends on three factors:
1 – The problem to be solved
If it's just a few overlapping teeth, the treatment takes only a few months, but other more serious deformities take several years.
2 – The choice of the device
There may be several types of braces to choose from. Some types of braces are much more discreet, but slower to work, while other types of braces are more visible and more effective.
3 – Your application to follow the treatment
If you wear removable braces, but you still find excuses not to wear them on certain days, you will of course put off the date when the problem can be considered resolved.
What are the different adult braces?
Invisalign, the revolutionary invisible braces
Let's start with the star of the last few years, Invisalign invisible braces. It has revolutionized adult orthodontics by offering invisible braces.
Invisalign is a very thin transparent tray. This shell, called Aligner, is custom made from a mold of your jaw. Every two weeks, you change the shell as the correction is made.
Invisilign is all the rage because it is not always easy to admit that you are wearing braces. But it has other advantages. It can solve a lot of configurations and is very practical. Removable, you remove it to eat.
It's easy to clean and you don't have the problem of food pieces getting stuck, like with the rings. An effective type of braces in itself!
The disadvantage is that it is a bit slow to correct problems. Of all the types of braces, this is probably the most popular.
Dr Smile: the invisible home revolution
Dr Smile is a German brand that develops transparent aligners for adults. Unlike Invisalign, orthodontic treatment is performed at home.
After an initial appointment with the certified practitioner, you will receive your invisible dental aligners at home, along with all the indications concerning the treatment to be performed.
If there is a major problem or defect with the appliance, the orthodontist can be called in again.
Lingual orthodontics
Still discreet, but less comfortable, is the lingual orthodontic treatment. These are braces, but placed on the inside of the teeth. This makes the device impossible to detect.
The problem of its discomfort is not to be neglected. Food easily gets stuck in the rings and, because it is the least accessible side, it is difficult to dislodge.
This type of braces must be adjusted regularly by your dentist, which is more complicated than with traditional braces.
Ceramic rings
The best ambassador of ceramic rings for adults was Tom Cruise. Those who have seen his first films remember his slanted teeth, before the ceramic rings gave him the sparkling smile of a carnivore that we know today.
Ring technology dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. It has made a lot of progress since then and remains the most effective technique for many dental problems.
The advantage of ceramic braces is that they are much more discreet. The color of the ring matches the color of the teeth and the white wire is more discreet than the dark gray metal wire.
Ceramic bands are just as effective as metal bands, but more fragile and more expensive. They also require scrupulous maintenance, as they stain easily. Of all types of braces, they are particularly sensitive to tea, coffee or cigarettes.
Traditional metal rings
In terms of efficiency and speed of treatment, we have never done better than the good old metal braces. Unfortunately, they are still unsightly and require methodical tooth brushing to avoid retaining food debris and developing cavities. They remain the least expensive orthodontic treatment.
Some people complain that they can't get used to the permanent metal contact in the mouth and/or the rubber band that prevents the mouth from opening fully, but most people don't mind after a short period of acclimatization.
It's up to you to decide if you can handle wearing them for several months.
Installation of metal or ceramic braces, or orthodontic appliances
The principle of metal or ceramic braces, or lingual orthodontic appliances is the same, and the installation is done in the same way. Be aware that it is not painful, even if it is unpleasant.
It takes between one and two hours, during which time you are in the chair with the dentist working in your mouth. Few people appreciate it!
The dentist will proceed to a thorough cleaning of your teeth, then dry them. He then applies a specific glue, on which he will fix the rings. The aftertaste of glue is a bit unpleasant, but think of your future star smile!
Once the braces are installed, the dentist can connect the teeth to each other with the archwire. He secures the whole with ligatures.
Daily life with braces
A short acclimatization period
It is obvious that the first few days require a period of adaptation. It takes some time to get used to having this foreign body in your mouth, which makes it a little difficult to eat and sometimes causes pronunciation errors. But, you will soon get used to it.
The other disadvantage is that you may experience some pain as the teeth gradually shift. However, there is no question of you really hurting, too often and for too long. If necessary, make an emergency appointment with your dentist to have the braces adjusted.
Maintenance of the rings
With braces, even more than usual, you must have an impeccable oral hygiene. Rings and wire are food traps that get stuck easily. If you leave debris behind, you'll make it easy for bacteria to attack your enamel and create cavities.
Brush your teeth after every meal and use dental floss, interdental brushes and the pulse jet.
Feeding with rings
It is strongly recommended to avoid sugary foods. Sugar stimulates the acid production of the bacteria that populate dental plaque. This has the effect of decalcifying the teeth and also causes cavities.
Avoid candy, chewing gum or other caramels that are sweet and that lodge in parts inaccessible to the toothbrush.
You should also avoid biting into hard foods, such as apples, which can damage the rings. You should cut this type of food into pieces so that you only have to chew it and not cut it with your teeth.
The price of adult braces
Prices for braces are free and depend on the orthodontist. It is advisable to compare several quotes. Also try to find out more about the reputation of the orthodontist before deciding on the price of braces.
Also ask your health insurance company for information and a comparison with others, as health insurance does not cover the price and costs. You are only going to have this treatment once in your life and for permanent results, you might as well start with the best quality possible.
Ask your orthodontist for advice on how to choose a mutual insurance company, as he or she is familiar with their reimbursement rates. Some can reimburse you up to 1000 € per semester.
You can also negotiate the rates with the orthodontist, some of them agree to lower their prices or offer longer payment terms when it comes to dental appliances.
If you are over 16 years old, do not expect to be reimbursed by Social Security. So if you are over 16 years old, you should consider a good mutual insurance.
The cost of your treatment depends on :
- the type of treatment you will undergo;
- of its duration ;
- of the orthodontist;
- the coverage by your complementary health insurance.
If we take an average of the price of orthodontic treatment per semester, including intermediate visits for adjustments, here are the average rates you can expect for braces
- Price of the lingual rings : 1500 €.
- Price of an invisible Invisalign appliance: 1150 €.
- Price of the ceramic rings : 850 €.
- Metal rings: 750 €.
You must then calculate your cost price by comparing the duration of the treatment. If, for example, you opt for the discretion of Invisalign and the treatment lasts one year, it will cost you € 2,300.
For the same problem, if metal rings can solve it in 6 months, the price drops to 750 €. It's up to you to evaluate how much you value your comfort and the discretion of the device.
With a good health insurance plan, orthodontic treatment can be reimbursed almost entirely.
Conclusion
Take time to think about the treatment you choose. In any case, tell yourself that you will feel much better and more confident for the rest of your life once it is over. If you are over 16 years old, make sure you choose a good mutual insurance company.