Your Trusted Oakland Orthodontist
At Loeb Orthodontics, we believe everyone should experience the feeling of confidence that comes from a beautiful smile. That’s why we proudly serve patients in and around Oakland, Wayne, Wyckoff, and Franklin Lakes with exceptional orthodontic care, including braces and Invisalign treatments.
Drs. Allison and Robert Loeb are a father-daughter team who absolutely love providing patients with healthy, beautiful smiles they can show off for years to come. We’re proud to be a leading orthodontist for adults specializing in creating brand new, gorgeous smiles!
A beautifully-aligned smile can make a dramatic difference in a person’s daily life, for his or her overall health and confidence. However, many adults believe it is too late for orthodontic treatment.
Thankfully, there is great news: no one is too old to transform a smile, and with adult braces from Loeb Orthodontics, adults of any age can achieve straighter teeth and a great smile!
Transform Your Smile at Any Age!
As your Oakland orthodontists, we're seeing more and more adult orthodontic patients these days, and it's not hard to figure out why. Appliances that are barely noticeable have been developed to give adults more discreet choices when it comes to orthodontic treatment. And many adults realize that investing in a smile makeover can have significant benefits, both socially and professionally. Straight teeth can be an incredible confidence booster!
What Makes Adult Treatment Different?
Orthodontic treatment for adults is different than youth treatment in two important respects: Firstly, jaw growth and development is complete in adults, so changes in actual jaw structure can't be accomplished in the way they can with a growing child.
Secondly, periodontal (gum) disease is more prevalent in adults than in children, making healthy gums all the more necessary for treatment. Adult braces apply gentle pressure to your teeth so they can move through their surrounding bone. Gum health plays a key role in all of this—if the gum tissues are not healthy, bone loss can result and weaken the long-term prognosis of your teeth. This simply means that gum disease must be brought under control before orthodontic treatment begins.
Additionally, to maintain your periodontal health, you will need to make sure to have regular professional cleanings during treatment while maintaining good oral hygiene at home.
Types of Braces for Adults
All orthodontic treatments work essentially the same way: by employing light, constant force to move teeth into proper alignment. Today, advances in technology have made new innovations available. Some of the newer orthodontic appliances have been designed to blend more easily into an adult's personal and professional lifestyle. Types of orthodontic appliances include:
Traditional Metal Braces — The most common form of orthodontic treatment, metal braces are durable, reliable, and effective. Small metal brackets are bonded to the front of the teeth, and a thin wire runs through the brackets and is attached on either end to metal bands that go around a back molar.
Clear Braces — Unlike traditional metal braces, clear braces are made of a ceramic or plastic material designed to blend in with the natural tooth color. Clear braces are hardly visible, except for the thin wire running through, but function just as well as metal braces do. They make an excellent option for adults desiring a concealed appearance.
Clear Aligners — As an alternative to the fixed type of orthodontic appliances mentioned above, clear aligners are removable. They are clear plastic “trays” customized to fit your teeth exactly. Each tray is part of a series of trays that move your teeth a little bit at a time until they are perfectly aligned.
Lingual Braces — These metal braces are bonded to the back of your teeth (tongue side) so that no one can see them. They can sometimes be more difficult to get used to wearing and are more expensive than traditional braces.
Post-Treatment Retention
Wearing a retainer after orthodontic treatment is crucial, no matter how old you are or which treatment you choose. Teeth that are not held in place by a retainer long enough for the new supporting bone to develop around them can drift back to their original positions, and that's certainly not something we — or you — want to see happen. Your Oakland orthodontist will instruct you on how to wear your retainer so that your new smile continues to look and feel great for years to come.
Book An Appointment With Loeb Orthodontics Today!
At Loeb Orthodontics, we’ve helped thousands of patients achieve their dream smiles for over 45 years, so if you want to revitalize your smile, you’ve come to the right place. If you’re interested in adult braces or Invisalign,
book an appointment or contact us today. We can’t wait to see you in our office soon, and help you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile!