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Certainly:
orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age. About
a quarter of the patients treated by Dr
Selwyn-Barnett and Dr
Pourghadiri are adults. The biological processes involved
in tooth movement are the same in both adults and children.
The health of the teeth, gums, and supporting bone is very
important to the success of orthodontic treatment in adults
as well as children. Modern techniques have made orthodontic
treatment more comfortable and shorter in duration; and less
visible or invisible braces have made the wearing of braces much more acceptable for
adults.
Why do adults seek orthodontic treatment?
Most adults who seek orthodontic treatment do so because
they feel their smile is the most important feature of their
facial appearance, and they wish to improve their smile to
feel happier about their looks and enhance their self-esteem.
Others do so to improve their bite, chewing, or to make
it easier to maintain good oral hygiene. Some adults have
orthodontic treatment as part of an overall comprehensive
dental treatment plan in conjunction with other specialist
treatment to improve dental function and aesthetics.
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These
patients may be having gum therapy, crowns, veneers, bridges
or implants; and in their case, braces could often help achieve
a much superior outcome.
Many people never had braces when they were very young.
This is because either their parents or dentists were oblivious
to their orthodontic problems, or they were not aware of
the power of orthodontics to correct bite problems, or the
provision of orthodontic treatment was limited where they
lived, or their teeth could not be straightened with the
techniques of many years ago. Now they have problems with
their teeth and gums, or they are just unhappy with their
smile and the irregularity of their teeth.
Some of our adult patients did have braces elsewhere
when they were young, but their teeth became irregular
again because of circumstances surrounding their treatment,
or more usually through lack of retainer wear. For many
of these patients, the irregularity of their teeth is relatively
mild, and a comparatively short course of treatment can
often return their teeth to perfect alignment, giving them
a much more confident smile.
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What are the limitations of adult orthodontics?
Because an adult person's bones are no longer growing, certain
extreme corrections involving the facial bones cannot be
accomplished with braces alone. Occasionally, adult orthodontic
treatment may have to be combined with the efforts of an
oral & maxillofacial surgeon to achieve the optimal result.
Other than lack of jaw growth, there are other factors that
sometimes complicate adult orthodontic treatment. These may
be clinical aspects such as existing gum problems, loss of
or damage to teeth, numerous fillings, crowns and bridges.
There are also social aspects to consider like a busy career
or family matters.
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