It’s Never Too Late to Get the Dashing Smile You Deserve

Absolutely not! Teeth position can be adjusted at any age—even adults in their 60s and 70s have successful orthodontic treatment. We often meet patients who think they’ve missed their chance to have a great smile, and we’re here to tell you that’s not the case. You matter. Give this gift to yourself.

The main difference is that adults’ jaws are fully grown. Adult treatment may take slightly longer than treatment for kids or teens with a similar problem because adults’ bones are mature and have a different density. It’s very common for orthodontists to coordinate with an adult’s dentist to reach their best outcome.

Adults often choose Invisalign clear aligners to enhance their smiles since they feel less self-conscious with this nearly invisible treatment. We treat hundreds of adult patients every year with Invisalign, so we have the expertise to make your dream smile come true.

• Overcrowding: Teeth overlap because the size and number of teeth exceed the capacity of the underlying bone structure.
• Overbite: The upper front teeth significantly overlap the bottom front teeth when the jaw is closed.
• Underbite: The lower jaw sits farther out than the upper jaw.
• Protruding teeth: Teeth stick out farther than looks natural and seamless.
• Open bite: The jaws are misaligned such that the upper and lower teeth don’t touch.
• Jaw pain: Pain caused by a bad bite, teeth grinding, stress, or mouth trauma. 
• Abnormal tooth decay or wear and tear: All teeth wear naturally as we age, but poorly aligned teeth wear unevenly and more quickly than teeth that are straight.
• Gum disease: A chronic infection of the gums because of plaque buildup. 

The best toothbrush is the one you happily use every day. When you have orthodontic appliances, it’s important you brush after every meal and snack so no food gets caught in your appliance. Be sure to change the toothbrush or brush head at the first sign of wear or at least every three months.

Orthodontic treatment is designed to ensure that all the teeth in your mouth work together well so they wear better over your lifetime. Teeth, like gears on a bicycle, must  dovetail seamlessly to avoid excessive wear. That means an optimal orthodontic outcome most often requires treatment of both the top and bottom teeth, however we evaluate each case individually and sometimes just lower treatment can be performed.

First of all, congratulations! Pregnancy brings on many changes in the body, of which some can affect the mouth. Soft tissues like gums can be more susceptible to infection. We will discuss how these risk factors can affect your orthodontic treatment and when the appropriate time to begin treatment is at your initial consultation.