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Orthodontics

Orthodontics

Orthodontics moves teeth and corrects bites with braces or clear aligners — for teens and adults. The right tool depends on the case, not the marketing.

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A dentist showing a clear aligner tray to a patient during a consultation.

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that moves teeth and aligns bites — with braces, clear aligners, or occasionally both in sequence. The goal is not only straight front teeth: a corrected bite spreads chewing forces properly, makes cleaning easier, and reduces abnormal wear.

It treats crowding, spacing, rotated teeth, and bite problems (overbites, underbites, crossbites, open bites) in teens and adults alike. What changes: where your teeth sit and how they meet. Treatment time varies widely with complexity, from months for minor corrections to a few years for full bite work.

Adult orthodontics is routine, not exceptional. Healthy teeth move at any age; the real adult prerequisites are gum health and realistic pacing, since adult bone remodels more slowly than a teenager's, so comparable movements can take somewhat longer.

Braces vs. clear aligners

Both are tools for the same job, with different strengths:

  • Braces — fixed brackets and wires. Strongest for complex rotations, vertical movements, and larger bite corrections; always working because they cannot be left out; more demanding to clean around; visible.
  • Clear aligners — removable trays (see Invisalign). Nearly invisible, easier hygiene, no food restrictions; dependent on 20-plus hours of daily wear; well suited to mild-to-moderate movement in most cases.

The honest deciding questions: how complex is the movement, and will removable trays really stay in? Records at a consultation answer the first; only you can answer the second.

The process

How it works

  1. Consultation and records

    Exam, scans or impressions, photos, and bite analysis — ending in an honest recommendation of braces, aligners, or either.

    one visit

  2. Appliance placement

    Brackets bonded, or the first aligners fitted with any attachments the plan uses.

    one visit

  3. Active treatment

    Adjustments or tray changes on a set schedule, with periodic checks that movement is tracking to plan.

    varies widely — months for minor corrections, longer for full bite work

  4. Debond and retention

    Appliances come off, retainers go on — and stay in the routine, because teeth drift without them.

    ongoing

Benefits

What it can do for your smile

  • Treats the bite, not just the front six teeth

    Orthodontics corrects how all your teeth meet — spreading chewing forces, easing cleaning, and reducing abnormal wear.

  • Two tools, honestly compared

    Braces and aligners are both on the table, and the recommendation follows your case's complexity rather than a house preference.

  • Moves teeth instead of covering them

    Alignment preserves enamel — often the more conservative answer than veneering crooked teeth straight.

  • Works for adults

    Healthy teeth move at any age; adult treatment simply plans around gum health and adult bone pacing.

Candidacy

Is it right for you?

Candidates: anyone with crowding, spacing, or bite problems and a healthy foundation — no active gum disease or untreated decay. Teens are the classic case because growth assists movement; adults with lifelong crowding or relapse after childhood braces are equally treatable.

Considerations that shape the plan rather than rule you out: previous orthodontic work, missing teeth (a planned implant space changes the design, because implants cannot move once placed), grinding, and jaw-joint symptoms. Questions about a young child's timing belong with a pediatric evaluation.

Recovery & risks

What to expect afterward — honestly

Recovery & aftercare

Expect soreness for a few days after braces are placed or adjusted, and pressure with each new aligner set — chewing feels tender, then normal. Orthodontic wax handles early bracket irritation; aligner edges can be smoothed if they rub.

Afterward, retainers are what protect the result. Teeth drift for years after any treatment; retainers worn as directed (typically nightly, long-term) keep the alignment you paid for.

Risks & limitations

Orthodontic treatment is safe and well-studied, with specific honest risks:

  • Soreness after adjustments and with new trays — normal and temporary, but real.
  • Hygiene risk with braces: plaque held around brackets can leave white decalcification marks on enamel; cleaning discipline is not optional.
  • Root shortening (resorption) occurs in some patients during tooth movement — usually minor, occasionally significant; it is monitored on X-rays.
  • Time estimates change mid-treatment: teeth are biology, not machinery, and some move slower than planned.
  • Relapse without retainers is the norm across every appliance type.
  • Adults with a history of gum disease need periodontal stability first — moving teeth in inflamed bone causes harm. See gum disease treatment.

Where to go

Available at three offices

FAQ

Common questions

Am I too old for braces?

No — teeth move at any age when gums and bone are healthy. Adult treatment sometimes runs a bit slower than a teenager's and requires gum health first, but neither is a reason not to start; it is a reason to plan properly.

Should I get braces or Invisalign?

It depends on two things: how complex your case is, and how honest you can be about wearing removable trays 20-plus hours a day. Braces are stronger for complex movements and cannot be under-worn; aligners are nearly invisible and easier to clean around. Records at a consultation answer the first question — only you can answer the second.

How long does orthodontic treatment take?

It varies widely with complexity (months for minor corrections, up to a few years for full bite work), and estimates can shift mid-treatment, because teeth are biology, not machinery. Ask for the honest range for your case at the records visit, not a single number.

Do I really have to wear retainers forever?

In practical terms, yes — nightly wear long-term is the standard advice, because teeth drift back for years after any treatment. Think of retainers as protecting the result you already paid for; relapse without them is the norm, not bad luck.

Do braces hurt?

Placement itself does not, but the days after placement and each adjustment bring real soreness — chewing feels tender, then settles. Orthodontic wax handles early bracket irritation, and over-the-counter pain relief on adjustment days is common. Constant or sharp pain is not normal; call the office.

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