When should one start? – It is never too late!

Whilst braces have long been part of everyday life and are almost a matter of course for children and adolescents, the wearing of orthodontic appliances is still relatively rare in adults. On one hand, this was because in the past there was very little information about orthodontic possibilities in adults and, on the other, what information there was, was really very limited prior to the development of bracket technology. For most adults, one of the main reasons for going to see an orthodontist is ultimately a matter of aesthetics. It is only the increasingly small brackets and aesthetic materials, such ceramics or fibreglass, which enable us to meet these requirements even during prolonged orthodontic treatment.

Another reason for orthodontic treatment in adulthood is the management of TMJ disorders. These cover everything from tension in the masticatory muscles to extreme pain on chewing or opening the mouth, headaches and facial pains, pain in the entire spinal area, tinnitus and dizziness. A splint constructed to suit the individual may help where stress-related parafunctions - grinding or clenching of the teeth - and malaligned teeth (malocclusions), are the cause of the discomfort. Orthodontics can also do valuable preparatory work and correct what, from a prosthetic point of view, is initially an unfavourable situation (malaligned teeth) with regard to the provision of a denture at a later date. In the final analysis, however, the indication for orthodontic treatment in an adult is the same as in a child: the aim is to achieve and maintain a healthy masticatory organ with which chewing, swallowing, speaking and tooth care are possible without a problem. Since our teeth can be moved throughout our lives depending on the health of the periodontium - the periodontal tissues surrounding and supporting them - there is no reason why an optimum individual orthodontic result cannot be achieved well into old age. Orthodontic treatment is possible at any age if the teeth are free from caries and the periodontal tissues are free from inflammation.

top