Toying with the idea of straightening your teeth? There have never been more options to get the grin you’ve always wanted. Here’s what you should know. by LISA BENDALL
MORE ADULTS ARE GETTING WISE TO THE fact that orthodontic treatment isn’t just for kids. “We’re seeing a definite increase in adult orthodontics these days,” says Dr. Paul Major, chair of the University of Alberta’s School of Dentistry and pastpresident of the Canadian Association of Orthodontists. According to this association, adults now account for more than one-quarter of all Canadians with braces. Adults may be interested in braces for cosmetic or health reasons. Orthodontic work can give you a youthful-looking smile, but Dr. Major explains that it may also improve tooth function, gum health and even sleep apnea. And with today’s breakthroughs, there are more treatment options than ever before. That’s encouraging because adults typically wear braces for two years – sometimes longer. Here are some of the more popular choices.
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MARCH | APRIL 2016 best health
LINGUAL BRACES (SURESMILE QT, INCOGNITO) Forget clunky-looking train tracks; lingual braces, which have been widely used in Canada for the past five years, hide behind your teeth. Like conventional braces, they are made of metal but are attached to the back of your teeth instead of the front. Because the insides of our teeth have a lot of individual variability, they’re custom made for each person’s mouth. PROS They don’t show, but they work just as well as conventional braces. The custom design means a perfect fit. CONS They can irritate the tongue and interfere with speech. COST They start at $8,000. FYI “Anybody in the public eye seems to gravitate toward these,” says Dr. James Posluns, director of clinics at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Den-
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