Proving braces are not just for the young, actors Tom Cruise and Faye Dunaway, and singer Faith Hill, have sported a mouthful of metal in recent years.
Tom Cruise gave his famous smile a tune-up at the age of 40, while Faith Hill had her braces fitted at 45. The country singer, who showed off her wired smile on the red carpet of the 2013 Grammies, said she had worn braces as a child but had forgotten to wear her retainer so need a bit of tweaking.
Faye Dunaway, the ever-glamorous Academy Award-winning actress, decided to improve her smile at the age of 61.
Dunaway said about her braces: “You just sort of let your teeth go for a while. But it’s time to have something done.”
And, it seems these three are trend setters as the demand for tooth straightening among adults is growing.
We asked our orthodontist, Rocio, why. This is what she told us:
“Orthodontic techniques have improved so much in recent years that age is no longer a barrier, and teeth straightening is now something we can offer our adult patients.
“Treatments have advanced way beyond the simple piece of wire and plastic plate many adults may remember from their childhood. New techniques work better and faster, giving excellent results that can improve the whole appearance of the face.”
And, Rocio explains that teeth straightening, at any age, has more benefits than purely cosmetic.
“If teeth are badly positioned it will be harder to chew food, which can mean that some teeth are put at risk because they are doing more work than they should, or joints or muscles may be put under pressure and be adversely affected.”
There are different types of braces to choose from, including some that are tooth coloured and almost invisible, as well as ones that fit behind the teeth. So, while stars such as Cruise, Faith and Dunaway may be happy to flaunt their orthodontic work, you don’t have to.
To find out more about orthodontics, whatever your age, book a free consultation with Rocio.