We are bombarded by advertising that promises a gorgeous smile, making it difficult for conscientious healthcare consumers to know where to turn.  Here are a few pointers to help guide adults in a quest for a healthy, beautiful smile who are asking: Do I need braces? Maybe a retainer?  Can I use clear aligners?

A healthy, beautiful smile begins with properly aligned teeth and jaws, so a visit to the orthodontist may be in order. Orthodontists are specialists.  "Specialist" has a dual meaning, referring to an individual's education and their scope of practice. Orthodontists first graduate from dental school, and then go on for an additional two-to-three years of education in the orthodontic specialty at an accredited orthodontic residency program.  After graduation, orthodontists focus their practices exclusively on orthodontic care.  Their additional education and clinical experience sets orthodontists apart from general dental practitioners, who diagnose, treat and manage overall oral health care needs.

Much like you trust your skin to a dermatologist, your heart to a cardiologist and your knees to an orthopedist, your healthy, beautiful smile is best treated by an orthodontist. The choice of where to seek orthodontic treatment can have an impact on the outcome.  

Orthodontic care is for patients of all ages these days; about 20 percent of patients are adults.  According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), from 2010 to 2012 the number of adult patients treated by AAO members in the U.S. and Canada increased 14 percent to a record high of 1,225,850 patients ages 18 and older. Advances in techniques and technologies have delivered more options than ever for achieving a healthy, attractive smile and, for many patients, treatment times have become shorter.

Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, and no one is "too old" for treatment. Today people in their fifties, sixties and beyond are orthodontic patients.  After all, a healthy beautiful smile should last a lifetime, and there truly is not a 'one size fits all' treatment. 

There are an abundance of treatment options available and most orthodontists offer affordable payment plans.  Only orthodontists are eligible for admission into the American Association of Orthodontists, and it's easy to find one through the AAO's "Find an Orthodontist" service at www.mylifemysmile.org.