Innovative Orthodontics

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Adult Treatment

Dr. Crouch, Dr. Shin, and Dr. Gollaher will work together with your dentist to develop your personaliszed treatment plan and discuss your options. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay, abnormal wear of the tooth enamel and surfaces, headaches, and jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) pain.

Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can improve your appearance, self-esteem, and the health of your teeth. Advancements in adult treatment allow us to move teeth in a more gentle and efficient way.

How is adult orthodontic treatment similar to treatment for children/teens?

The biologic process of orthodontic treatment is the same, regardless of age. Teeth move in response to forces being placed on them over time. Many orthodontic problems can be corrected as easily for adults as for children/teens.

How is adult orthodontic treatment different from treatment for children/teens?

The biggest difference in orthodontics for adults vs. children/teens is that adults are no longer growing. Adult treatment may take slightly longer than treatment for children/teens with a similar problem due to the maturity and density of the bone adults have.

Some medications, and habits like smoking, clenching or grinding teeth, or tongue thrust, can affect the outcome of treatment. It’s common for orthodontists to work with a patient’s family dentist to coordinate care. For some adults to reach optimal dental health, the dentist and orthodontist may need to call in other dental specialists such as oral surgeons, periodontists and endodontists.