Why more and more adults are getting braces: Two people explain Braces aren’t just for teenagers – more adults are opting to improve their teeth

Serina Sandhu and Andrew Johnson describe the pleasures and pitfalls of adult braces

There are many grown-ups who still shudder at memories of having braces on their teeth. So it is perhaps surprising that this youthful rite of passage is making a comeback in adulthood.

An increasing number of adults are getting braces fitted to fix dental problems ranging from minor misalignment to more serious issues involving their bite.



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According to a 2018 survey from the British Orthodontic Society (BOS), 80 per cent of orthodontists had observed an increase in adult treatment – compared with 75 per cent in 2016.

Celebrities are leading the way. Former Great British Bake Off presenter Mel Giedroyc, who got braces at the age of 50 last year, told i the decision was down to a “mid-life crisis”.

That reason aside, there are other factors behind the trend, such as improved accessibility to treatment and more reasonable costs. And design innovations such as plastic retainers and tooth-coloured brackets mean metal train tracks can firmly be left in teenage years.

The aesthetic benefits of nice-looking teeth might be the main motivation. But straight teeth are also important for dental hygiene – crooked teeth allow bacteria to build up more easily.

‘Dental health has improved’

People are beginning to take their dental health more seriously, says orthodontics specialist Peter McCallum. “General dental health has improved – there’s no question that’s been a great success story,” says McCallum, who is also the director of external relations at the BOS.

Adults, particularly those in their forties, fifties and sixties, may not have had access to orthodontics treatment as children, he says. Or those who did may have stopped wearing their retainers to keep their teeth in place. Some may even be influenced by their own children, he adds. “We all endeavour for our children’s health to be as good as possible. We look and see our kids getting braces and think, that’s a good idea for me too.”

Dr Saniel Gandesha, a general dentist who works at College Road Dental Practice in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, says he has been treating more and more adults.

“I’ve noticed that adults don’t think about it as much,” says Dr Gandesha, who has been fitting braces for the past five years (and fitted i’s Serina Sandhu with hers). “I think we have become more image conscious as society and we generally aspire to have perfection where we can achieve it.”

More cost-effective options

Previously, veneers were the most popular option for transforming smiles – layers of tooth-coloured material which are bonded to the surface of the natural tooth. But with a full set costing £8,000 and needing to be replaced every 10 years, braces are “a more conservative, cost-effective and less destructive” option, says Dr Gandesha.



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People with major dental problems may need to seek an orthodontic specialist. But those with minor problems can get treatment from a general dentist, which is far cheaper – generally, around £2,000 compared to £4,000 for specialist treatment.

Dr Gandesha, who offers braces to patients with minor problems, says he can usually correct misalignment within six to eight months. He offers tooth-coloured brackets and wiring – a more discreet version of the classic metal braces – which are fixed to the teeth and target issues involving the front six teeth on the top and bottom row. He also fits plastic aligners such as Invisalign, which patients wear every day but remove when eating.

The fact that patients can get braces from their regular dentist can be a big motivator, according to Dr Gandesha. “Patients who have seen you for a number of years are comfortable with you and they don’t want to see someone else like an orthodontist.”

‘At 26, I have my third set of braces’

By Serina Sandhu As a teenager, I had the classic metal train tracks, like many of my peers. But in the ignorance of youth I stopped wearing my retainer and my teeth began to move out of place. As I got older the crookedness started to bother me. So at 22 I got tooth-coloured, fixed braces on my bottom teeth, feeling too self-conscious to have them on the top row. I again stopped wearing my retainer, but I wasn’t completely satisfied with the result anyway. Health and vanity Now, four years later, I’ve gone the whole hog with a full set of train tracks and a commitment to wear a retainer for the rest of my life. There are a number of reasons behind my decision. As someone who is health conscious I perceive good teeth as a sign of good health. And as much as I hate to admit it, I am vain. I was worried about how people would react. But when my mum got braces at the age of 49 last year, and my dentist told me he was increasingly offering treatment to adults, I didn’t really have any more excuses. I’m nearly four months into a six-month treatment (hopefully) and I believe that’s a small price to pay for lifelong benefits. But no matter what age you are, braces are less than ideal. There are a number of unpleasant side-effects. Drooling uncontrollably I drool uncontrollably a lot of the time, and I no longer look forward to eating. I have to quickly assess the hardness of food as anything too crunchy risks dislodging the brackets. I’m particularly aware of this after a piece of hard bread caught me off guard and resulted in a loose bracket sliding up and down my wire for two weeks until I saw my dentist. And having food stuck in your braces is rather unpleasant. That really takes me back to being a teen. While I have been trying to master a closed-mouth smile, with varying degrees of success, I’m far less embarrassed this time round. Having braces for the second time in adulthood has made me realise I’m less self-conscious as I get older. I’m genuinely happy to talk about the treatment to people who are curious. In fact, many say they have been thinking about braces themselves. Having braces now has made me more confident. That’s a side effect of adult braces that I hope will last as long as the straight teeth.

‘18 months of pain – but it will be worth it’