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Adults come to orthodontics for teeth that shifted after braces years ago, crowding that got worse with time, a gap that has always bothered them, a bite that is wearing the teeth down, or to put the teeth in the right place before veneers, crowns or an implant. There is no age limit on moving teeth. What changes with age is the planning: gum health first, existing dental work taken into account, and alignment sequenced with any restorative or cosmetic work. At Vizcaya Dental Arts Dr. Hong plans the movement and Dr. Kottar the restorative side, in the same office.
Why adults come
Appearance. Crowded or spaced front teeth, a tooth that sticks out, a midline that is off. Often the patient has lived with it for years and decided it is time.
Relapse. Teeth that were straightened in adolescence and have drifted since, usually because the retainer stopped being worn. This is one of the most common adult cases and often one of the simplest.
Function and wear. A bite that chips or wears the front teeth, teeth that are hard to clean because they overlap, a deep bite that traps the lower teeth behind the upper ones.
Before other dentistry. Making room for an implant where neighbors have tipped into the gap, uprighting a tilted molar so it can carry a crown, or aligning the teeth before veneers so that porcelain is added to teeth that are already in the right place.
What is different about adult teeth
- Adults are not growing, so treatment moves teeth rather than guiding jaws, and the bone remodels more slowly, which is why adult cases can take a little longer than the same movements in a teenager.
- Gum health has to be checked and, if needed, treated before anything moves, because moving teeth through inflamed gum costs bone.
- Existing dental work shapes the plan: crowned teeth move with their crowns, but an implant is fused to the bone and cannot be moved, so it becomes a fixed point to plan around.
- Missing teeth, worn teeth and old fillings all go into the plan.
Dr. Kottar examines the teeth and gums, Dr. Hong plans the movement, and the two agree the sequence before anything starts.
Invisalign or braces
Most adults ask for aligners, and most adult cases suit them: crowding, spacing, relapse and many bite problems. Clear braces are the right tool when movements are needed that aligners handle less predictably, and some adults choose them because they cannot be forgotten. Dr. Hong recommends whichever gives the better result for your case, and when either would do, the choice is yours. Our Invisalign and braces pages explain each in detail.
Comprehensive or limited
Not every adult wants, or needs, full treatment. A limited course that straightens the front teeth, or closes a single gap, is reasonable when the bite is otherwise sound and the goal is clear. It is not reasonable when it would leave an important bite problem unresolved or make a later restoration harder. The decision is yours, made with the trade-offs in view.
Planned with the rest of your dentistry
When alignment is part of a larger plan, the order protects your teeth: gums first, then alignment, then whitening, then any bonding, veneers or crowns, matched to the final position and shade. Space for an implant is opened or closed before the implant is placed. A tipped molar is uprighted before its crown is made. Small dark triangles that can appear between the teeth at the gum line after adult alignment are closed with bonding afterward. Because Dr. Hong and Dr. Kottar see the same patient in the same chair, the steps happen in order and nothing is done twice. Our cosmetic dentistry page sets out the full sequence.
Fitting treatment into a busy life
- Check visits are short and spaced several weeks apart.
- Aligners mean no food restrictions and ordinary brushing; braces mean a few foods to avoid and more careful cleaning.
- Discomfort is mild and brief with either.
- If you travel often, say so at the planning stage, so the aligner schedule and visits can be arranged around it.
Keeping the result
Adult teeth drift as readily as anyone’s. Retainers worn at night for the long term are part of every adult case, and they also protect any veneers or bonding done afterward. Our retainers page explains the choices.
Frequently asked questions
Am I too old for orthodontics?
No. Healthy teeth and gums can be moved at any age. Adult bone remodels more slowly than a teenager's, so treatment can take somewhat longer, but the result is the same. We treat adults in their twenties and in their seventies.
I had braces as a teenager and my teeth have shifted. Do I need the whole thing again?
Usually not. Relapse after earlier treatment is one of the most common reasons adults come to us, and it is often a short course of aligners followed by retainers that are actually worn this time.
Can teeth with crowns or implants be moved?
Crowned teeth can be moved; the crown goes with the tooth. An implant cannot be moved at all, because it is fused to the bone, so it becomes a fixed point the plan works around. Tell us about any dental work at the consultation.
Do I need orthodontics before veneers?
If the position of the teeth is the problem, yes, in our view. Moving the teeth is minimally invasive; covering crooked teeth with porcelain is not. Both doctors plan those cases together so the alignment sets up the cosmetic work.
Will people notice?
With aligners, rarely. With clear braces, less than you expect. Most adults choose aligners when the case allows it, and Dr. Hong tells you honestly when it does not.
How long does adult treatment take?
Anywhere from a few months for a limited correction to two years for a comprehensive one. The range depends on how much has to move and on wear and attendance, and you get a realistic estimate at the consultation.
Sources
Professional guidelines and peer-reviewed reviews this page draws on.
- Martin C, Littlewood SJ, Millett DT, et al. Retention procedures for stabilising tooth position after treatment with orthodontic braces. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2023;5:CD002283. Cochrane
