Am I Too Old for Orthodontics?
No! Orthodontics can improve smiles at any age. In fact, about 20 percent of our patients are adults! We offer a full range of treatments specifically designed for adults – leaving you with a dramatically different smile and healthier bite.
Orthodontic treatment is not only designed to improve the appearance of your smile, but improve the health of your teeth and gums as well. By seeking orthodontic treatment as an adult you can possibly avoid severe tooth decay, gum and bone loss, irregular wear of the tooth enamel, and TMJ/TMD pain.
Adults that choose to have braces realize that improving the health of their mouth and the attractiveness of their smile and facial appearance often results in changes for the better in their personal, social, and professional lives.
We offer a wide selection of braces to meet the individual needs and desires of each of our adult patients. From traditional metal braces and ceramic braces to clear aligners that can be worn to improve mild cases of misaligned teeth, we are confident we can help you achieve and maintain the beautiful, healthy smile you've always dreamed about.
How does adult treatment differ from that of children?
Adults are obviously not growing (at least not in the way we would like to!) So the old axiom: “what you see is what you get” has a lot to do with treatment plans. Some adult cases are very similar to adolescents in length, type and predicted success of therapy. Other cases can be more involved depending on:
- Breakdown or loss of teeth and bone that support the teeth
- Final alignment of skeleton
- Temporo Mandibular Joint (TMJ) health
Orthodontic treatment may then be only a part of the patient’s overall treatment plan. Close coordination may be required between the oral surgeon, periodontist, endodontist, family dentist and myself to ensure that a complicated adult orthodontic problem is managed well and complements all other areas of the patient’s treatment needs.
Our former adult patients agree that orthodontic treatment was a wonderful investment in themselves. And the sooner it is accomplished, the longer you can enjoy the benefits.