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Apr 17, 2009 6:15 pm US/Eastern
More Seniors Opting To Get Braces
(KDKA)
It's not who you would expect at the orthodontist's...
"A lot of them probably figure I'm here with my grandchildren," says 62-year-old Carol Bartos of Robinson Township.
About three million teenagers in the United States and Canada wear braces. For lots of people, braces are a rite of passage, but it's not just for teenagers anymore.
"A lot of my friends were having dental problems, they were losing teeth to periodontal disease, decay, poor alignment," explains Bartos. "A lot of them are opting to have dentures, and that really wasn't something I was interested in doing. So, I thought I was going to make the best due with what I had.
Her tooth crowding caused problems with cleaning, so she decided to get braces. She says no pain so far, though she will need to have a tooth pulled.
"Frequently, the patients have missed the opportunity as a child and they're finding their peers are accepting the treatment, and that braces are kind of a cool thing to do," says orthodontist Dr. Morton Wintner.
He says seniors will get braces not just for cosmetic reasons, but to improve the gums and bones around the teeth.
"Appearance is part of it too," Bartos adds. "I think no matter what your age, you want to look as good as you can, so I think it's the thing to do."
"Treatment of adults very much is a trend," says Dr. Joseph Petrone, of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry, especially with traditional, invisible and removable options available now.
No matter which you pick, the teeth get moved, and the bones get reshaped. In a person who is done growing, the process is a little slower.
"Average time in braces is a year and a half to two years, even with adults, but as a general statement, we might anticipate another six month treatment with adults," Dr. Wintner says.
You need to be careful about getting this done if you take certain drugs for thinning bones, or if you have diabetes, which can lead to gum disease, or periodontal disease.
"And then you start moving teeth in the presence of periodontal disease, and then complications can occur," explains Dr Petrone. Complications like tooth loss.
In many cases insurance doesn't cover braces for seniors.
"I'm probably his only patient whose paying for this with her social security check," Bartos chuckles.
Costs can run from $1,000 to $8,000, depending on what you have done.
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