A crooked, gapped, or misaligned smile can impact your confidence and make you feel insecure about flashing a smile. Luckily, various orthodontic treatments, like traditional metal braces, can shape your smile into something you can’t wait to show off. While some may believe braces are only for kids and teenagers, they benefit people of all ages. Read on to discover five essential things to know before getting braces as an adults.

It’s morning, and you wake up only to feel sharp pain radiating throughout your face. The discomfort keeps you from going to work and instead, you opt to take some over-the-counter pain relievers and lay back down hoping it will go away. After a few hours, you awaken only to realize that while the pain minimally subsided, it’s still causing major discomfort. Could this be a dental emergency that you’re unaware of? Find out more about the various cases that can lead to facial pain and when it might be time to seek professional help.