Columbia, S.C. ? Suzanne Axland’s son won’t be able to whine about all the brushing, flossing, rinsing and cleaning he’ll have to do when he gets braces.

His mom has done it all and survived.

Dr. Kerry White Brown checks and replaces brackets on Rachel Kolb, 29, of Lexington, S.C. Kolb is among a growing number of adults who are getting braces to improve their appearances.

Axland sports a mouthful of braces at age 38, part of a trend that includes several of her co-workers as well as every orthodontist’s favorite movie star, Tom Cruise.

What’s it like getting braces when you’re closer to middle age than middle school?

Probably you won’t be called “metal mouth” quite as often. Still, adults who decided to get braces say it wasn’t easy.

“My teeth didn’t look that crooked … and I just didn’t want to be an adult with braces,” said Axland, who develops training materials at Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Co.

What persuaded her was continuing pain from TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disease, which affects the lower jaw. Her orthodontist said braces also could correct her bite and relieve the pain and they have, she said.

Jeanne Reynolds, director of corporate communications at Colonial, said she put off getting braces for two years.

	On the WebHere are some Web sites devoted to braces:www.angelfire.com/me4/adultbraces/ A site for adult braces wearer; includes message board.www.ada.org/ American Dental Assn. site; has lots of information. Do a search for “braces.”www.bracesinfo.com/ Includes orthodontic jokes, tips for all ages and a list of famous people with braces.www.braces.org/ American Association of Orthodontists; there’s concise consumer information under “news features.”

“So many people do it now, it doesn’t seem that unusual,” she said. But she was concerned about her ability to speak clearly while wearing braces, which were recommended to correct her bite.

“I feel like I sound like Bugs Bunny,” she said.

The discomfort of having braces installed and adjusted is another drawback.

Reynolds is no sissy, having run 10 marathons. But she has let out some pained, wordless groans while having her braces adjusted at the orthodontist’s.

“I’m quite sure I scare some of the kids in there,” she said.

A growing trend

Actor Tom Cruise bares his braces.

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, about 4.5 million Americans have braces; about 20 percent are older than 18, and 70 percent are female.

“I think it has a lot to do with the fact that everyone’s more into their appearance, especially women,” said orthodontist Kerry White Brown of Orthodontic Specialties.

Brown said almost 40 percent of her patients are adults. Most want a more attractive smile, but straighter teeth also are easier to clean, she said.

Another orthodontist, Kenneth Lagina, said a bad bite (when teeth don’t come together properly) can cause problems such as gum disease, extra sensitivity or worn-down teeth.

“And if you change the bite, you almost always improve the cosmetics,” he said.

Lagina said some adult patients wanted to have their teeth fixed when they were younger, and now they have insurance and can afford it.

That was a main factor for Kate Ballenger of Lexington, S.C. She had been kidded about her crooked teeth but hadn’t worried much about them until she was chaperoning a school field trip. A classmate told her daughter, “Your mom looks like a witch.”

Colonial added orthodontic benefits for adults and, at age 35, Ballenger decided to get braces.

“It’s definitely worth it, though it’s misery going through it,” she said.

The cost of braces varies with different people, orthodontists and appliances. Usually they range from $3,500 to $5,000, with insured patients paying about half.

Steel versus clear

If a dentist recommends you to an orthodontist, you will have an exam and X-rays to see whether you need braces. The orthodontist will discuss your goals and recommend a treatment plan, sometimes using computer imaging for before-and-after pictures.

Most orthodontia involves braces bonded to the teeth. Attached wires, and at times rubber bands, apply pressure that gradually moves teeth into the desired position.

Jenifer Hollaway, 44, another Colonial employee with braces, insisted on the newer clear braces that are less noticeable.

“I talk for a living,” said Hollaway, who interviews people continually for her job in human resources.

Hollaway had braces as an adolescent, and again during college after her teeth shifted. Now in braces to deal with jaw pain, she said the clear ones are a big improvement over those she had when she was younger.

Reynolds opted for conventional stainless steel braces. Orthodontists say these are not only less expensive but more sturdy than clear or tooth-colored braces, which can be plastic or ceramic.

Also more expensive are lingual braces, which attach to the backs of the teeth, and Invisalign braces. Invisaligns are clear and easily removable, but they work only in cases of slight crowding or spacing, orthodontists said.