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Straight Talk on Braces
"Heavy metal bands" may conjure up images of rock music today, but many baby boomers remember them as the clunky and conspicuous devices they wore in their mouths as children to straighten their teeth.
Today's braces are a lot different from the metal-mouth look of a generation ago. "They're more aesthetic and more efficient," says Donald Joondeph, D.D.S., an associate professor of orthodontics at the University of Washington in Seattle. And they're more comfortable to wear and better at repositioning teeth, he adds.
Braces used to be put on only after all the permanent teeth came in. Today, a multitude of dental devices, or orthodontic appliances, are being used at an early age to simplify later treatment, provide a better outcome, and, in some cases, avoid braces altogether. Adults, who make up one-fifth of orthodontic patients, also are opting for straighter teeth as more choices in orthodontic appliances become available.
About 4.5 million people in the United States are wearing braces or other appliances to achieve a beautiful smile and healthy teeth, according to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). These appliances are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration to assure their safety and effectiveness.
Locate the rest of this article at www.fda.gov.
Contact a local dentist to learn more about how to maintain your oral heath!
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