If you are an adult interested in getting braces, we have good news for you, there is no age limit for tooth movement and it’s never too late to have a great smile!

Each year more adults become interested in improving their smiles. As a matter of fact, the fastest-growing demand for orthodontic treatment in the United States is in the adult age range. In the last few years, we have observed a 14% increase in the number of adults seeking Invisalign, braces, or hidden braces in the nation.

Woman in braces

Adult Orthodontic Treatment

Some of the reasons why more adults are seeking orthodontic treatment include:

Esthetics is becoming more important in our day-to-day life. Job interviews, social life, and, most importantly, self-impression.
Advanced technology has made adult treatment cosmetics, shorter, more efficient, and more comfortable.
Higher motivation and compliance in adult patients lead to a better outcome.
Improved bonding materials minimize braces failure.

If you are considering treatment but are having social and cosmetic concerns, please keep in mind that there are many cosmetically enhanced options that we offer at AvA Orthodontics.

Different Types of Braces

Hidden braces Completely hidden and invisible braces that attach behind your teeth. No one will ever know that you're wearing braces unless you tell them.

Invisalign Clear trays that move your teeth gradually to their ideal position.

Clear braces Made of premium translucent ceramic that gets the shade of your teeth and makes it very hard for others to notice them.

If you have a loved one in treatment, it might be the best time to initiate your treatment as well. It makes more sense to have the treatment done at the same time for several reasons.

You bring your child to their appointment anyways, why not sit in the chair and have your treatment done at the same time instead of waiting in the reception area?  

You will share your experience with your child and it usually works as parent-child bonding. Many moms and dads are excited about matching their colors with their children.

To accommodate adults, AvA Orthodontics offers unique services including private operatory rooms with Netflix on demand to keep you entertained during your visits and evening appointments to make it more convenient on your work schedule.

Treatment Complexity

Occasionally, treatment for adults may become more complex due to the following reasons:

  • Lack of jaw growth which makes growth modification impossible
  • Missing teeth due to previous extraction, trauma, or cavities
  • Exisiting restorations, crowns and veneers
  • Enamel wear
  • Presence of TMJ-TMD
  • Slower tooth movement due to bone density
  • Unrealistic expectations

Although most of the orthodontic treatments for adults are as straightforward as adolescent treatments, below is a list of more complicated treatments that might be performed for this age range.

Jaw Discrepancy

The discrepancy between the upper and lower jaw in terms of size, position, or a combination of both. Depending on the severity of the condition available options are:

Camouflage: Because growth modification is not possible in adults an orthodontist may camouflage mild to moderate skeletal discrepancies with the extraction of some of the permanent teeth.

Surgery: In severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to improve the alignment profile and achieve the perfect bite. Read more about surgical orthodontics.

Overjet AKA Overbite

Adjunctive Treatment

Although adult orthodontics is usually done to improve the smile, bite, and overall oral health, sometimes a family dentist may request a short and limited orthodontic treatment on a few teeth to prepare the mouth for future restorative needs. This type of treatment may include only a few teeth or segments of your mouth. A common example is the loss of a mandibular first molar and shifting of the second molar into that space. Your dentist may plan for a dental implant for the missing tooth. However, due to the unfavorable angulation of adjacent teeth; implant placement might be difficult.

Molar Uprighting Spring

By limited orthodontic treatment, Dr. Amin Movahhedian and Dr. Hamed Vaziri move your teeth back to their original position and prepare an ideal space for a future implant. Your family dentist will be able to place the implant for you right after.