Am I Too Old To Get My Teeth Straightened?

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I finally have some money and went to my dentist about getting my teeth straightened. He flat out told me I am too old for braces. What the heck?! I’m only 42. Is there some age limit I don’t know about? I really want straight teeth. Is it because he is not an orthodontist? I know they are specialists, so maybe I should go to one? Will I need my dentist to recommend one?

Darcy

Dear Darcy,

I don’t know what dentist you are going to, but you can do much better. Being generous in trying to think of reasons he would say that, the only thing that comes to mind is that maybe he feels at your age, you’ll “feel” silly in braces. I’m not sure. Either way, he isn’t going to be the right dentist for you. The best dentists look for solutions to your situation.

You do have options. While you could go to an orthodontist and get traditional braces, I don’t think that will be necessary unless you have a seriously complicated case. Instead, I would look for a dentist who offers Invisalign.  These are an advancement in orthodontics. Instead of those metal wires and brackets, they use clear aligners. Not only are they more comfortable, but they can straighten your teeth faster.  As I mentioned, they don’t require an orthodontist. Just find an Invisalign Dentist.

There is also a hidden benefit. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This means you can straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time for a fraction of the cost. You simply have to ask your dentist to provide you with the whitening gel and wear it for a minimum of 20 minutes a day inside your aligners.

I would take this as a good opportunity to find a better dentist. One who is more proactive at finding solutions for you.

This blog is brought to you by Mt. Dora Dentist Dr. Stillman.