It's Never Too Late to Finally Fix Your Smile

Author : My Amazing Smile | Published On : 30 Sep 2026

A common misconception is preventing many individuals from considering the options provided by orthodontic practices. This misconception is the belief that braces can only be used by teens. However, in fact, approximately one-quarter of all patients receiving orthodontic treatment today are adults. Additionally, treatment is equally effective when applied to adult teeth as compared to those of young people, making adult orthodontics at West Bloomfield practices an option worth considering.

For adult patients, the main difference between adult treatment and pediatric treatment is not if the treatment works; rather, it is how to plan the treatment. Adults' jaws are fully developed, and therefore, their treatment consists solely of moving the teeth within the jawbone and not guiding the development of the jaw itself. This means that having a correct diagnosis at the beginning of treatment and establishing a reasonable time frame for completion are both very important.

Another consideration is that many adults will present with conditions that are uncommon in teenagers (e.g., fillings, crowns, early signs of gum recession). These conditions will not necessarily prevent you from receiving orthodontic care; however, they require the orthodontist to review all of your previous dental records, as well as examine your current tooth alignment, prior to developing a plan of action.

Gum health should be given special consideration. Teeth being moved through infected/damaged gum tissue could lead to additional problems with the infection/damage if not properly controlled. Most orthodontists will work closely with your primary care dentist, or a periodontist as necessary, to ensure that your gums are in good shape to withstand the stress of tooth movement.

For many adults, seeking treatment for their teeth is about fixing issues that have been there since childhood, as well as dealing with the gradual movement of teeth that occurs throughout a person's lifetime. Teeth tend to move inward towards each other as we age, even if there has been no previous dental work done. Many adults find themselves experiencing more crowding of their teeth by the time they are in their early-mid thirties and even up until they reach their mid-forties.

Appearance can also influence treatment decisions for working adults who want to get braces. Clear aligners have grown in popularity among adults as they look at them being less visible than metal braces during business meetings, video conferences, and daily conversations, making them an option for those considering braces in West Bloomfield.

However, there are times when clear aligners may not be the best option for adults. Some of those times include when a patient has a more severe bite problem or when a tooth is rotated to such an extent that it requires treatment using fixed orthodontic appliances (braces), perhaps combined with clear or thin brackets to help minimize the appearance of the braces compared to traditional metal braces.

Treatment timeline is an issue that most professional researchers would like to know about before they have their first appointment. Simple cases can often be completed within 12 months. More difficult cases, such as those that require major movement of the teeth or those that require a lot of time to correct a malocclusion, can take anywhere from 18-24 months. How long it takes will depend on where your teeth were located when you began treatment, as well as how often you follow the instructions provided by your dentist.

Cost is another concern with adult orthodontic treatments. The price of an adult orthodontic treatment program will be similar to what a teenager would pay for the same type of appliance. Most orthodontic practices provide monthly financing options. In addition, many dental insurance companies now have some level of orthodontic coverage included in their plans, and this coverage may extend to adult patients.

Comfort issues with braces are typically much smaller than people anticipate. Today's modern brackets and wires are significantly less bulky than previous generations, and today's clear aligners produce only minor, temporary pressure when each new aligner tray is introduced. For the majority of adult patients, they will become accustomed to their treatment regimen in approximately one to two weeks.

Daily routines do not need to change dramatically for Adult orthodontics patients in the West Bloomfield area who are undergoing treatment. For those who choose clear aligners, they will simply take out the aligner each mealtime and then put in a new aligner every week or two. For patients choosing fixed braces, they may need to modify their diet slightly so that they avoid eating hard or sticky food items, which can cause problems with the brackets.

Previous dental work does not necessarily prevent adults from seeking orthodontic treatment. While some adults are reluctant to seek treatment due to having previously had dental work (i.e., crowns or missing teeth) and believe these issues make treatment impossible, in most instances they do not eliminate the possibility of undergoing treatment; however, they can influence the selection of the best type of orthodontic appliance to provide the most stable and predictable results.

Retention is another important part of adult orthodontic treatment. Adult retention of orthodontic work is equally as important as teen retention of orthodontic work; in fact, there may be even greater importance to retaining adult orthodontic work because adult bone remodels at a slower rate and therefore requires a stricter retention protocol to prevent post-treatment drift of the teeth.

Work schedules should also be considered when choosing an appliance type. Adults with busy work schedules often choose removable aligners over other options as they do not require rescheduling work time for a fixed appointment to adjust the wires.

Experience with adult patients can also be valuable when choosing an orthodontist. Choosing an orthodontist who primarily works with adults also seems to provide a significant advantage. Adult orthodontics require a different level of understanding than pediatric orthodontics; therefore, having an adult orthodontic specialist means they will have experience dealing with existing dental work, as well as being able to anticipate problems and provide solutions based on their knowledge of adult orthodontics. This type of experience usually results in a smoother and more predictable outcome for the patient.

Ultimately, the choice of when to begin orthodontic treatment as an adult will depend primarily on the patient's level of confidence and comfort in starting the process, and not on some type of medical limitation, as the biological process of moving teeth is identical regardless of the age at which it begins, as long as there is adequate bone and gum health.

Conclusion

In reality, age is not the obstacle many people think it is for having their teeth straightened. It is the assessment of your current bite, the condition of your gums, and your desired results, in combination with a professional who can provide you with possible alternatives to treatment rather than a "one size fits all" approach. A beautiful, straight smile can be achieved at 45 years old as much as at 15 years old.