The Tin Grin Is In

If you've ever heard the expressions "tin grin" or "metal mouth" used to describe someone with braces, you'll be surprised to learn that braces are not what they used to be. And for that matter, the tin grin is definitely in. The Early Show reports.

Everywhere you look, braces are one of the hottest fashion accessories. Ask any kid. Braces come in red and orange and just about every other color in the rainbow. And the best part is that the colors can be changed every month - no matter what the occasion.

"I want to do shades of blue....Our gym colors are blue," says one kid.

New technology is making all this possible, according to orthodontists Melvin and Harold Kogod, a father and son team.

Stainless steel is out. A new lightweight tooth-moving metal developed by NASA is in. It changes your smile in half the time.

"When I first started, the average treatment time might be 30 to 36 months, and for more severe cases it might even run a little longer. But today, a patient can be done in a year and half and sometimes even a little less," notes Dr. Melvin Kogod.

Although braces still aren't cheap, prices are down and payment plans are common.

Depending on where you live, braces can cost anywhere from $1,800 to $4,500, according to the American Association of Orthodontists.

"It's the biggest bargain in health care," says Dr. Marvin Graham, president of the association. "There was a time in the '30s probably when the cost of braces was comparable to the cost of a new car," he recalls.

Certainly braces are cheaper than a new car these days. And, if you're 30, 40 or fiftysomething, braces are cheaper than a facelift.

Cindy Richards reflects on her thinking process: "Getting older, getting gray, thinking hmm, 'That's one thing that I can do to look better.' I can't change, you know, the aging process, but I can straighten my teeth."
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