Are You Ever too Old for Braces?

Braces are a common feature of many people's teen years, and the ages between 10 and 16 are considered optimal for orthodontic treatment because that's when it's easiest to move teeth around. But if you missed that window, it's not too late. You're never too old for braces!

There's really no age limit for braces except in a very broad sense. Children shouldn't get braces placed on their baby teeth, for example; they should wait until they have their adult teeth. But once the adult teeth are in, the only contraindications for braces are health-related, not age-related. If you have bone loss in your jaw, braces may not do much good. But if your teeth and jaw are fine, and you're simply in your later years, braces are still an option.

Teeth can move very slowly over time. What may have been an aesthetically pleasing smile in your teens and 20s could become uneven enough by, say, your 40s or 50s to warrant orthodontic intervention. And it's not unusual to see older adults seek orthodontic treatment. It may seem so only because many adults use clear tray systems like Invisalign instead of getting traditional cemented-bracket braces. In other words, you literally don't see their braces, even though they have them.

Younger teens that need orthodontic treatment generally end up with traditional braces. The older you get, though, the more options you have. Invisalign and similar systems are available, and if the alignment problems are slight - maybe you have only one or two teeth that need to be straightened a little - you may be able to get by with a set of in-house aligners that you have adjusted every couple of weeks.

At Fruge Orthodontics we offer several orthodontic options for adults who need braces. Contact us at 225-396-2546 to schedule a complimentary consultation today.