Clear Aligners

In 2013, country musician Faith Hill made headlines when she arrived at the Grammy Awards wearing something that few other celebrities have in public: braces. The then-45-year-old admitted to reporters that she needed the braces — she chose the clear-bracket variety, by the way — because she had forgotten to wear her retainer as a kid. “Wear your retainers, kids!” she told a radio station at the time.

More adults than ever before are seeking orthodontic treatment, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. In fact, one in four orthodontic patients in the United States is over the age of 18.Why is this? The reasons vary, of course, and can be deeply personal.

There are a lot of reasons braces can be necessary past the teenage years, but only one reason to avoid them: unfounded fear. If you are a candidate for braces — whether for the first time ever or because your teeth have shifted over time — and you’re still on the fence about them, allow us to clear up a few of the misconceptions that might be holding you back.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontist visit at age 7, but your child’s regular dentist might advise you to bring your child in to see us even sooner than that. This might seem excessively young to you, but that’s the point.

We do not kid ourselves at Miler Orthodontics. We know our patients love us, but they certainly wouldn’t choose to see us as often as they do. Actually, maybe a few would … we have a pretty sweet video game room.