The Case for Adult Orthodontics
People are becoming more aware of the connection between oral health and overall wellness. Today, 9 in 10 adults view oral care as equally important as their annual physical. This is leading more adult patients to seek out orthodontics.
As a general dentist, adding these treatment options to your practice can help you unlock the potential of this growing market.
Adults want more than just cleanings.
In the past, you may have noticed a trend of families focusing on keeping up with their children’s care, while adult patients may fall behind. However, this trend is now reversing. Adult patients are more likely than ever to seek out care beyond basic checkups and cleanings, and the right orthodontic courses online can prepare your practice to meet those demands.
Straight wire treatment can provide patients with beautiful, straight smiles. However, these orthodontic adjustments are just as vital to facilitating easier home care and helping prevent other oral health issues in the long run.
A straighter smile is a healthier smile, and many adult patients are coming to understand that better. Developing your skills to provide orthodontic treatment, along with the knowledge to communicate effectively with patients, can position your practice to meet the growing demand for comprehensive dental care.
Orthodontics isn’t just for teens.
There is a strong cultural stigma that braces are for teenagers. While it’s true that orthodontic treatment is common for patients at that age, as it represents a key point in oral development, many adult patients are also in serious need, even if they don’t realize it at first.
In some cases, adult patients require treatment because they didn’t receive the necessary care in their youth. The orthodontic issues that arise during development don’t simply disappear later in life. Instead, adult patients may need straight wire treatment to resolve misalignments and other issues that were never properly addressed.
There are also plenty of patients who have had orthodontic care but didn’t use their retainers. Relapse can lead to crowding, shifting, and bite issues. So while adult patients may have simply lived with these issues in the past, more are accepting the reality of adult orthodontic treatment.
With the right training, general dentists can provide in-house treatment for most cases. Orthodontic continuing education courses can equip you with the knowledge and skills to handle the majority of straight wire treatment cases. This lets your patients enjoy treatment in a familiar environment.
Offering orthodontics builds trust and continuity.
Offering orthodontic services through your practice can build a stronger sense of trust and continuity for your patients. Having to go to a specialist for treatment is something many adult patients would rather avoid. It could even be the deciding factor between whether they proceed with recommended treatment or not.
As a result, patients may be more likely to accept treatment plans when they can stay with a provider they know. They’ll be more comfortable working with the dentist they’ve come to trust, and staying at the same office is also easier in terms of scheduling and convenience.
Orthodontic treatment also lets you build a stronger provider-patient relationship. Ortho treatment plans typically span longer time frames than most general dentistry services. This provides a solid foundation for a lasting relationship with your patients.
Straight wire for the long-term win.
When considering orthodontic services to add to your practice, the two most common choices are straight wire treatment and clear aligners. While clear aligners may seem to be an easier option, you could be limiting your options if you opt for this route only.
Straight wire treatment is incredibly versatile, providing options for a much wider range of cases. Adult orthodontic cases often require precise control that can’t be achieved with clear aligners. Straight wire courses, on the other hand, can better equip you to treat as many patients as possible.
Adults may also be more likely to go with the time-tested reliability of straight wire treatment over the perceived convenience of clear aligners. They need to know that their treatment will deliver effective, lasting results, and that’s just what straight wire treatment offers.
Providing the Orthodontic Services Your Patients Need
As more adult patients seek out full-scope care, including orthodontic treatment, general dentists have an excellent opportunity to grow their practices. You can integrate orthodontic services into your practice with accredited training through Williams GP Orthodontic Seminars. Browse our upcoming courses to find your next opportunity today.