Is It Too Late for Orthodontic Treatment Now? Please Read This if You’re Wondering

Is it okay to get braces at my age?

I heard orthodontic treatment works best when you’re young,

so is it already too late now?

This seems to be one of the questions adult patients ask me often.

Many people worry for a long time because they think they missed their chance to get braces when they were younger,

and then come in later when crowding gets worse or protrusion becomes more noticeable.

But there’s no need to worry.

Orthodontic treatment is not determined by age, but by whether it’s possible based on the current condition of your teeth and gums.

Treatment during the teenage years and treatment as an adult may differ a little in approach,

but in the end, adults can still get effective orthodontic treatment.

Hello.

I am Director Oh Su-hwan of Smile D Dental Clinic, where I have been providing orthodontic care for 18 years at Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam.

So far, I have carried out more than 4,000 orthodontic treatments,

and have built trust with patients without a single medical accident.

Today, for those who are worried that they may have missed the right time for orthodontic treatment,

I’ll compare the features of teenage orthodontics and adult orthodontics,

and also address some of the concerns people often have about adult treatment.

<Before-and-after photos of orthodontic treatment>

Treatment period: 23.05.15 - 24.10.21 (about 1 year and 6 months)

Treatment period: 23.01.18 - 24.6.04 (about 1 year and 6 months)

Patient Kim Byeong*’s treatment period: 23.1.17 - 24.12.07 (about 2 years)

Patient Jo Gyeong*’s treatment period: 24.09.02 - 25.03.04 (about 1 year and 6 months)

*The before-and-after photos were posted with the patient’s consent and were taken in the same environment and under the same conditions.

[Smile D Dental Clinic Information]

☎️ Smile D Dental Clinic Phone Number
0507-1449-2087

ℹ️ Smile D Dental Clinic Website
Official website

🎥 Smile D Dental Clinic YouTube
YouTube

Orthodontic treatment timing? It’s not too late for adults either In general, the optimal time for orthodontic treatment is said to be the teenage years, when growth is actively underway.

Because this is before the jawbone and facial skeleton have fully settled,

there is more room not only to move the teeth but also to adjust jaw position and width.

For example, in cases where the lower jaw is severely protruded or the upper jaw is too recessed,

malocclusion accompanied by skeletal issues can be improved relatively easily in adolescence through appliances and growth control.

However, that does not mean orthodontic treatment as an adult is impossible or that the results are worse.

There are also several advantages to adult orthodontics.

First, the treatment goals are clear, and cooperation tends to be high.

Because many people start treatment to look better or to improve chewing function,

many also take much more careful care of appliance management and oral hygiene.

Another advantage is that more natural improvement is possible.

Since an adult’s facial shape and bone structure are already fixed,

the facial changes caused by tooth movement are not excessively large,

and moderate lip adjustment or a softer jawline improvement is possible.

In other words, just because growth has ended does not mean it is too late for orthodontic treatment.

What matters is not age, but making a plan that fits the current condition.

Won’t adult orthodontics weaken the gums? Orthodontic treatment timing On the other hand, one of the biggest concerns many people have when considering braces as adults is gum health.

“I heard that when teeth move, the roots become weaker.”

“I’m worried my gums will recede and make me look older.”

These are comments I hear often.

To start with the conclusion,

if an accurate diagnosis is made and orthodontics is carried out with the proper level of force, the gums can remain healthy.

That said, there are a few things that must be checked.

The first is to check the gum condition.

Some adults already have gum inflammation,

or some bone that supports the teeth (alveolar bone) has already been lost.

In such cases, we do not start orthodontic treatment right away,

and the inflammation should be controlled first through scaling or gum treatment.

The strength and speed of orthodontic treatment also need to be adjusted to the situation.

If you try to finish too quickly and pull on the teeth too strongly,

side effects such as shorter tooth roots (root resorption) or gum recession can occur.

That is why, for adult orthodontics, accurate diagnosis and a stable plan are far more important than speed.

Another thing is that lifestyle habits have a big effect on treatment for adults.

Frequently eating hard or chewy foods, or being lax about brushing,

can directly affect the treatment outcome,

so regular visits, hygiene management, and scaling should also be done properly.

We also carefully check the condition of the teeth and gums at every visit,

and if necessary, we adjust the treatment speed,

so please do not worry too much, and feel free to ask if you have any questions. Many adults start orthodontic treatment.

For wedding preparation, job hunting, or regaining confidence...

or simply because, “I wanted to do it for a long time, and now I’ve finally decided.”

The timing of orthodontic treatment is not the important thing.

What matters is an accurate diagnosis and plan suited to the current condition.

If you want to check at once what kind of orthodontic treatment is possible from your current condition,

including whether extraction is needed, the treatment period, and gum care,

please feel free to come in for a consultation anytime.

Without any pushy recommendations,

we will suggest the most suitable and realistic plan by considering the patient’s goals and current condition.

This has been Smile D Dental Clinic. Thank you.