There was a time that teenagers and adults alike trembled at the thought of having to get braces. The minute a dentist recommended seeing an orthodontist, the words "metal mouth", "tin teeth" and other unattractive adjectives ran through people‘s heads. Boy, have times changed. Today, with the new technologies available, people of all ages are choosing orthodontic treatment to achieve a beautiful, healthy smile. An Overview of Modern-Day Braces Orthodontic treatment used to be considered "cosmetic", but today, dentists and patients alike realize that orthodontic treatment may be a necessity. Correcting misaligned teeth can often prevent a lifetime of periodontal problems and severe tooth wear, and even premature tooth loss! Generally, orthodontic evaluations are done on all children around the ages of 6-10 years old. By the time most children are 12-years-old, they have all of their permanent teeth and are able to receive orthodontic treatment. Many older patients now are seeking orthodontic treatment to correct their misaligned teeth, but don‘t want to go through traditional wires and brackets; hence the introduction of clear aligners. Braces leverage the basic principles of engineering. Constant, mild pressure in the direction of desired movement will allow for an overall change in tooth position. As pressure is applied to the periodontal ligament, which holds the teeth in place, the body will automatically create room in the desired new location while also filling in the space where the teeth used to be located. If too much force is applied at once or in a short period of time, tooth loss is possible. This is the reason for the need for small changes to be made every 30 or so days for the duration of treatment. To be sure, teeth movement by way of orthodontic treatment must be constantly monitored and adjusted. While every patient is different, movement of 1 mm per month is usually possible with orthodontic care. Traditional braces are generally worn for two to two-and-a-half years, depending on the extent of orthodontic treatment needed. When a lot of movement is needed, a longer duration of care may be necessary. Conversely, small amount of movement of the dentition will require a shorter period of time. Since braces require regular adjustment (in addition to the initial application), the cost of orthodontic treatment is somewhat higher than many simple dental procedures. Traditional braces will cost anywhere between three and six thousand dollars in the United States. While insurance coverage of orthodontic coverage was a rarity years ago and is still not included in many policies, some insurance companies do pay a portion of orthodontic care. - See more at: http://www.davidevansdds.com/history_of_braces.php#sthash.hHanQ3Fs.dpuf