Until quite recently, cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics procedures have been more openly associated with women. Although some men have always sought to look their very best through different procedures, it wasn’t uncommon to hear of men hiding their cosmetic appointments from their wives and families, or secretly saving cash for treatments. Why are men […]
Until quite recently, cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics procedures have been more openly associated with women. Although some men have always sought to look their very best through different procedures, it wasn’t uncommon to hear of men hiding their cosmetic appointments from their wives and families, or secretly saving cash for treatments.
Why are men now getting clear braces?
Thankfully the tide is turning, and more and more men are openly seeking cosmetic dentistry treatments for much the same reasons as their female counterparts – to feel confident about having an attractive and healthy-looking smile.
According to a recent article about cosmetic trends on Realself.com, 72% of doctors surveyed reported a sizeable increase in the number of male patients they were seeing between 2013 and 2014. This figures looks set to continue to rise.
At this stage, more than 50% of these men are in the 24 to 44 age group, which seems to be the trend for clear braces amongst men too. At this point in time, the different age groups seem to have slightly different motivations for seeking orthodontic treatment.
What is the most popular age group?
Men in their 20s are the most likely to seek orthodontic treatment because they want an attractive smile. This age group has grown up with the concept of cosmetic treatments and is generally fashion and image-conscious. When we see a male patient in their 20s, they’re usually very clear about wanting a smile that looks good.
For men in their 30s and 40s, there is a growing pressure to look good to climb the corporate ladder. Whereas it was once the case that older employees were valued for their knowledge and experience, men in their 30s and 40s often don’t want to look as though they have a wife, children and a mortgage – instead they want to look younger and have a healthy, attractive smile as part of their competitive edge.
With men in their late 40s and beyond, we often find that the reasons for having orthodontic treatment with clear aligners are more to do with function than aesthetics. As patients’ teeth begin to wear down with age, they can move and affect the underlying structure supporting the face and lips – this can lead to a number of problems. Patients in the 50-plus age group sometimes find that having straighter teeth lifts their lower face somewhat, giving them a rejuvenated appearance before they even smile.
Older patients may also find that, because of alignment problems, their teeth suffer preventable damage. Teeth straightening can often be a more affordable and long-lasting option than other forms of cosmetic dental work.
How invisible are clear braces?
For both men and women, as Askmen.com once described it, “the product image-conscious yet dentally challenged individuals have been waiting for since the beginning of time”. In other words, you can be in a public-facing role or a visible personality in the boardroom and many people won’t even notice that you’re having orthodontic treatment thanks to clear aligners.
Here at Heaton Mersey Orthodontic Centre, high profile men such as tennis player, Liam Brody, and Olympic Gold medallist cyclist, Jason Kenny, are proving that clear braces are the orthodontic treatment of choice for many men.
If you would like to know more about clear braces in Manchester at Heaton Mersey Orthodontic Centre, call us on 0161 947 9900 or visit our contact page to book a consultation.
