Adult's Braces: Process, Timeline, and More

If you’re considering braces as an adult, you may have a few questions. But rest assured, you’re not alone. Over 4 million people in the US wear braces, and 25% of those are adults. 

 

If you are unhappy with your smile, you do not have to live with it. Speaking with an orthodontist is the first step on the journey towards a smile you love. Today, we’ll run through the common questions we hear from adults looking to get braces.

What Does The Process Look Like?

The process for adult braces doesn’t particularly differ from that of braces for children or teenagers – aside from being able to drive yourself to your appointments. You’ll come in for your first appointment, where you’ll meet your Treatment Specialist – we opt for this instead of our orthodontist because it enables us to offer a broader variety of times and days for an initial consultation.

In this meeting, they will assess your bite, looking at your mouth, teeth and jaw. At this time, x-rays may also be taken in order to get a better picture of the potential problems at hand. 

The next step is a treatment plan that will be developed. This will be custom for you, and the pricing will be discussed from here. Most orthodontic offices will offer some form of payment plan – at Advanced Orthodontic Specialists, we work with our patients to ensure that braces can fit into your financial plan.

What’s The Timeline For Adults Braces?

This ultimately depends on a range of factors, from the severity of the bite, the end goal that the patient is looking to achieve and their willingness to take care of their braces or aligners. As a general rule of thumb though, the average adult AOS patient could be in braces from a year to a year and a half.

What Braces Are Best For Adults?

This depends on your goals. Do you want the fastest possible treatment? If so, metal braces like the DamonTM  System may be best. If you don’t mind the length of treatment, so long as they’re invisible, then a treatment like Invisalign or other clear aligners may be the choice for you. This is a conversation you should have with your orthodontist, with honesty as the best policy. The more transparent you can be about your goals, the more likely you are to be comfortable and happy during treatment – and that’s what we’re aiming for. 

If you’re considering braces, schedule a free no-strings-attached consultation with our team today. 

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