Braces or Invisalign aligners are not just for children and teens. In fact, 1 in every 4 patients at our office is an adult. Dr. Tom and Dr. Thomas Ferlito have treated individuals in their 50’s, 60’s and even 70’s and above – it is never too late to gain the smile you have always wanted!
Adults seek orthodontics for many of the same reasons as children, such as crowding, spacing, or improper bites. Some adults had orthodontic problems as children but were unable to correct them until now. Others, who had treatment as children, may need further treatment as adults due to relapse after stopping with their retainers or limitations in the initial treatment. Some adults are referred by their general dentist as well so that we can help move the teeth to their proper positions as part of a complete restorative and oral health plan.
Benefits of Treatment
Adults can benefit from orthodontic treatment in many ways. These include:
- Alignment of the teeth to create a more esthetic and beautiful smile
- Correction of relapse due to lack of retainer wear after previous orthodontic treatment
- Improvement of the ability to brush and floss, especially for crowded or overlapping lower front teeth
- Creation of a more comfortable bite and improvements to chewing ability
- Addressing missing teeth
- Closing spaces between the teeth
- Preventing further wear on the teeth due to grinding or poor bite
- Preparation of the teeth for jaw surgery to correct discrepancies between the upper and lower jaws
Braces or Invisalign
As many patients are concerned with the appearance of braces, we also offer Invisalign aligners instead. These clear trays are custom made for your mouth using a 3D scanner and work by guiding the teeth to their proper position. While Invisalign can be used to treat most orthodontic cases nowadays, there are some more complicated situations which do require braces. Because of this, we also offer clear ceramic braces as an alternative to traditional metal for a more esthetic braces option if necessary.
Soreness/Discomfort
Orthodontic treatment is no more uncomfortable for adults than children. Typically, the worst of the mild soreness will occur for 12-24 hours after an orthodontic adjustment and will disappear entirely within 3 to 5 days.
Modern braces are smaller and more comfortable to wear than ever before as well. Combined with new wire technology that puts less pressure on the teeth but moves them more efficiently, there have been some major advancements in the history of orthodontics. While mild soreness is part of the normal process for moving teeth and always will be, the techniques we use have been streamlined over the years with goals to keep discomfort at a minimum.
Cost of Treatment
The fee for adult orthodontic treatment is determined the same way as child or adolescent treatment and is based on the severity of the problem, the complexity of correction, the length of time for treatment, and the type of appliances used.
Dr. Tom has treated individuals in their 50’s, 60’s and even their 70’s. It is never too late to gain the smile you have always wanted.