Peninsula Dentistry & Orthodontics

Yes. The process is the same at any age. As an adult, you’ll need healthy bones, teeth, and gums. Older patients have rigid bones, unlike younger patients whose bones are still malleable. Knowing this, adult patient’s treatment may take a little longer but any age can benefit from straight teeth.

In most cases, you will need a retainer. Teeth naturally move back to their natural position. Retainers are generally worn for the first 6 months after braces are taken off. Many will have to wear a retainer at night for a lifetime.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends screening all children by the age of seven by a trained orthodontist. The child may not need treatment until later but an evaluation at the age of seven will allow the orthodontist to ascertain future needs. If treatment is applicable at this age then the orthodontist will suggest early treatment. This will prevent other issues like surgery or more serious corrections later in life. This is called Phase I treatment. Early treatment is suggested if a child has spent previous years thumb-sucking, or if the child has an early or late loss of baby teeth. Also, mouth breathing and abnormal swallowing can be addressed with early treatment.

It is important when undergoing orthodontic treatment to be mindful of what foods you eat. Hard and sticky foods are difficult to remove from braces, and hard foods can damage the archwires and brackets. Chewing on fingernails and pencils is also damaging to the brackets. There are special cleaning devices and methods to make sure your teeth are clean during orthodontic treatment.

Braces work by applying gentle pressure to the teeth. This pressure gradually moves the teeth into position. Brackets are attached to the teeth with archwires running through them. The archwires are reshaped periodically to move the teeth into a new position