Riverside, California (NAPSI) - More self-esteem, a better career and improved relationships may be on the tip of your tongue. Well, close to it. If your teeth are not as nice as you’d like, having them treated by an orthodontist could make a big difference in your life and if you didn’t have them straightened when you were young, you may be glad to know it’s not too late.

Adult orthodontic treatment contributes to significant improvements in both professional and personal lives, say respondents to a study conducted among adults who had the treatment.

Survey Findings

Seventy-five percent of adults surveyed reported improvements in career or personal relationships, which they attributed to their improved post-orthodontic treatment smile. Citing newfound self-confidence, 92 percent of survey respondents say they would recommend orthodontic treatment to other adults.

Seventy-one percent of respondents had such pretreatment concerns as “What will others think?” “How will I look?” “Am I too old?,” but an overwhelming majority said the concerns were gone once treatment actually began.

Respondents reported positive outcomes:

• “I was much more confident and self-assured once I could smile openly. Life is very stressful [on a subconscious level] when you’re always aware that you cannot open your mouth to smile without fear of judgment.”

• “With an attractive smile, you can face your career and personal relationships with confidence.”

• “A more brilliant smile and the straightest teeth gave me confidence to do anything.”

The Doctor’s Opinion

Says Gayle Glenn, D.D.S., M.S.D., president of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO): “Adults are seeking treatment in record numbers and we encourage anyone, at any age, to consult an orthodontist to learn if he or she could benefit from treatment. It’s never too late to move healthy teeth.”

After dental school, orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of specialized education at an accredited orthodontic residency program. Only those who have successfully completed this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists,” and only orthodontists are eligible for AAO membership.

Based on their education and experience, orthodontists can devise effective treatment plans that employ the full range of treatment types, from high-tech to tried-and-true, based on the needs of each individual patient.

Learn More

You can find AAO members at www.mylifemysmile.org.