About Adult Orthodontics
It's Never Too Late for a Healthier Smile
Being older does not prevent you from getting orthodontic treatment. Our teeth naturally shift throughout our lives — what may have been a well-aligned smile in your twenties can gradually drift, crowd, or develop bite irregularities over time. Left unaddressed, these changes don't just affect appearance: they affect how you chew, speak, clean your teeth, and carry yourself.
Today's orthodontic technology has evolved specifically to accommodate adult patients — both in treatment effectiveness and in the discreet, lifestyle-conscious options available. From barely-visible aligners to tooth-colored ceramic brackets, adults have never had more ways to pursue the smile they deserve.
Adult orthodontic treatment delivers both aesthetic and functional improvements — and the confidence that comes with a healthy, well-aligned smile lasts a lifetime.
Clinical Indications
Why You May Need Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic conditions are not cosmetic inconveniences — they are clinical issues that affect bite mechanics, oral hygiene, speech, and long-term dental health. Even as an adult, treatment may be indicated if you experience any of the following.
Overcrowding
When the jaw lacks sufficient space for all adult teeth, teeth become crooked or begin to overlap. Beyond aesthetics, crowding creates pockets where plaque accumulates — directly increasing risk of decay and periodontal disease.
Overbite
A deep bite occurs when the upper teeth excessively overlap the lower front teeth. If untreated in adulthood, an overbite leads to accelerated enamel wear on lower teeth, gum trauma, and may eventually require restorative intervention.
Underbite
An underbite affects chewing efficiency, can impair speech clarity, and places asymmetrical stress on the jaw joint (TMJ). While less common than overbites, underbites carry higher complication risk if left untreated into adulthood.
Open Bite
An open bite is a vertical gap between upper and lower teeth when the mouth is fully closed. It severely limits chewing function. Speech difficulties and altered tongue posture are common accompanying issues.
Jaw Pain & TMD
Chronic jaw pain, clicking, or locking of the jaw is frequently linked to bite misalignment. Malocclusion places uneven forces on the jaw joint, causing inflammation, muscle fatigue, and in some cases, headaches or earaches.
Tooth Wear & Decay
Misaligned teeth create points of excessive force concentration, accelerating enamel erosion. This uneven wear pattern leads to sensitivity, fracture risk, and surface decay. Properly aligning the bite distributes occlusal forces evenly.
Gum Disease
Crooked or crowded teeth create areas that are impossible to clean adequately. Chronic plaque accumulation drives gingival inflammation, which can progress to periodontitis — irreversible bone loss around tooth roots.
What Adults Should Know
Key Considerations for Adult Patients
Adult orthodontics differs from adolescent treatment in important clinical and lifestyle ways. Understanding these nuances helps set accurate expectations and leads to better outcomes.
Bone Maturity & Treatment Length
Adult jawbones have fully matured, meaning tooth movement may be slightly slower than in growing patients. Treatment often takes 18–30 months, but this varies significantly by case complexity and patient compliance.
Interdisciplinary Care
Adults frequently require coordination with their general dentist or periodontist before or during orthodontic treatment — particularly to address existing gum disease, decay, or the need for restorations before tooth movement begins.
Pre-existing Dental Work
Crowns, bridges, implants, and veneers require special planning in orthodontics. Implants cannot be moved — they must be accounted for in the overall treatment design. Your orthodontist will review all existing restorations thoroughly.
Medications & Systemic Health
Certain medications can affect bone metabolism and healing. A thorough medical history review ensures orthodontic treatment is safe and appropriately paced for each individual patient.
Compliance is Critical
Removable appliances like clear aligners require 20–22 hours of daily wear. Adults who commit consistently to wear schedules see results that match — or exceed — those of adolescent patients.
Retention After Treatment
Teeth that have been orthodontically moved have a biological tendency to relapse. Long-term or permanent retainer use is especially important for adults, whose teeth have often been misaligned for decades before correction.
Treatment Options
Adult Orthodontic Treatment Options
Modern orthodontics offers a broad spectrum of clinically proven solutions. Your orthodontist will recommend the option best suited to your condition, lifestyle, and aesthetic goals.
BRACES
Composed of brackets bonded to teeth and archwires that guide tooth movement. The gold standard for comprehensive correction — effective across the full range of malocclusion severity.
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CLEAR ALIGNERS
Removable, virtually invisible trays custom-fabricated from precise digital scans. Patients manage insertion and removal independently — ideal for professionals and adults seeking discretion.
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RETAINERS
Thin, removable appliances that maintain tooth position following active orthodontic treatment. Critical for long-term success — especially in adults, where relapse risk without retention is high.
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MOUTHGUARDS
Custom-fitted athletic mouthguards protect teeth and brackets during contact sports. Especially important for adult patients in active treatment — protecting both the investment and the dentition.
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ORTHODONTIC SURGERY
Orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery addresses skeletal discrepancies that braces alone cannot resolve — bite problems rooted in jaw position rather than tooth alignment. Performed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment.
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MARPE Miniscrew Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion
A non-surgical alternative for adults with a narrow upper arch. MARPE uses miniscrews to achieve skeletal palatal expansion — previously only possible in growing patients — with predictable, stable results.
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TAD Temporary Anchorage Device
Titanium alloy mini-screws temporarily inserted into the jawbone to serve as a fixed anchorage point. TADs allow orthodontists to move teeth in directions and magnitudes previously requiring surgical intervention.
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MARA Mandibular Anterior Reposition Device
A fixed functional appliance used primarily to correct Class II malocclusions (overbites) by repositioning the lower jaw forward. MARA works continuously — it does not rely on patient compliance for activation.
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Choosing the Right Option for You
Every adult patient has different clinical needs, aesthetic priorities, and lifestyle demands. Here's how the primary treatment modalities compare across the factors that matter most for adult patients.
| Factor | Braces (Metal / Ceramic) | Clear Aligners | Lingual Braces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Visible Noticeable | Virtually invisible Discreet | Completely hidden Invisible |
| Case Complexity | Full range — mild to severe Comprehensive | Mild to moderate alignment | Most cases; complex cases possible |
| Removability | Fixed — cannot be removed | Removable for eating & hygiene Flexible | Fixed — cannot be removed |
| Oral Hygiene | Requires careful technique around brackets | Easy — remove to brush normally Easiest | Challenging — brackets on tongue side |
| Compliance Dependency | Low — fixed in place | High — requires 20–22 hrs/day wear | Low — fixed in place |
| Treatment Speed | Generally faster Efficient | Comparable; may be slower | Comparable to fixed braces |
| Comfort | Initial soreness common; wires may irritate | Smooth trays; minimal soft tissue irritation | Initial tongue irritation; adapts over time |
Why Treat Now?
The Benefits of Adult Orthodontic Treatment
The decision to pursue orthodontic treatment as an adult is one with far-reaching positive effects — well beyond a straighter smile.
Improved Oral Hygiene
Straight, well-spaced teeth are significantly easier to clean. Correcting crowding and alignment removes plaque-retaining pockets — reducing lifetime risk of decay and periodontal disease.
Protection Against Tooth Wear
A corrected bite distributes chewing forces evenly across all teeth. This prevents the accelerated enamel erosion that misaligned bites cause over years and decades.
Relief from Jaw Pain & Discomfort
Correcting bite irregularities often reduces or eliminates TMJ-related symptoms — including chronic jaw pain, headaches, and clicking — that stem from unequal bite forces.
Enhanced Speech Clarity
Tooth and jaw position directly influences how certain sounds are produced. Correcting an open bite or underbite can meaningfully improve articulation and speech clarity.
Lasting Confidence
Adults who complete orthodontic treatment consistently report higher self-esteem, greater social confidence, and a willingness to smile more openly — benefits that compound over a lifetime.
Schedule Your Consultation
Begin Your Adult Orthodontic Journey at Brentwood Smiles
A comprehensive evaluation with our board-certified orthodontist is the first step. We'll assess your bite, discuss your goals, and design a treatment plan built precisely around your clinical needs and lifestyle. It's never too late — and there's no better time than now.
