Adult Orthodontics: Owning Your Smile

Posted on December 13, 2023 | First Time

Being an adult is a lot of work, and that work becomes a lot less exciting when you’re dealing with issues like dental pain, gum disease, chewing difficulty, and a smile you’re not too excited to show off. 

At Blossom Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, age isn’t a barrier to a beautifully aligned smile. Discover how our orthodontic experts can transform your teeth using a range of innovative treatments, including clear aligners and orthodontic braces customized to your unique needs. 

Adult Orthodontics Is Different 

As children, our teeth are constantly shifting, falling out, growing in, and shifting again. Once we’re “grown up” our bones become more dense and our jaws begin to stabilize. This means treatment will likely take longer than it does for pediatric patients.

Additionally, adults often have a few more behaviors working against them. Grinding teeth, smoking, tongue thrusting, and taking certain medications can all affect your smile over time. Treatment for these problems can require collaboration with other dental specialists, such as a periodontist, endodontist, or oral surgeon. 

Common Orthodontic Issues for Adults

Regardless of your concerns and/or goals, we will create a tailored plan for your treatment. Many adults believe their issue is too major to solve, or too minor to worry about—chances are, both are wrong. Either way, if it’s on your mind, it’s worth a consultation!

Although we’ve seen a wider variety of circumstances, these are some of the most common dental problems for adults:

• Overbites – A small overbite is natural, but if the upper-front teeth extend too far, the lower teeth may poke into the roof of the mouth. This can be extremely uncomfortable and alter the size of a person’s jaw. 

• Underbites – The lower-front teeth extend further than the upper-front teeth. This causes issues with chewing and may require surgery to resolve. 

• Open Bites – If the front teeth do not meet when biting down, it can lead to issues with chewing and jaw structure’, and jaw joint pain. 

• Crossbites – When the upper and lower jaw are misaligned, some of the upper teeth may bite inside of the lower teeth. 

• Overcrowding – There is only so much space on the jaw. If the jaw is too small, or teeth grow too big, more room will need to be made through expansion or extraction. 

• Excessive Spacing – When teeth fail to grow in or are lost, the gaps can lead to nearby teeth shifting out of position. Filling or closing that space is important for maintaining jaw alignment.

• Abnormal Eruption – Sometimes a tooth will grow in through the wrong area of the gum. This issue typically requires the help of an oral surgeon. 

• Protruding Teeth – Sometimes teeth stick out more than normal as a result of trauma or overcrowding. Repositioning those teeth can help align the rest of your smile. 

• Tooth Decay – Teeth that are not properly aligned will wear down faster than a regular bite, and other habits can accelerate tooth decay if not properly maintained. 

• Jaw Pain – While jaw pain can be caused by almost any of these other issues, it may also result from stress, neuralgia, jaw-clenching, or other habits.
• Gum Disease – Infection in the gums that occurs as a result of plaque buildup. Gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis are all forms of gum disease. 

Each of these issues can have a significant impact on your oral health, self-confidence, and overall well-being. 

Blossom’s Clear Aligners

Some adults don’t want to begin treatment because they’re concerned about how it looks. Rest assured, we offer clear aligners that provide discreet treatment as they slowly shift your teeth while remaining virtually invisible.  

Beyond that, we implore you to weigh the treatment time against the result. A few years can seem like forever, but when compared to the rest of your life, it seems like a small price to pay for comfortability—and a beautiful smile. 

Orthodontic Braces for Precise Correction

In some cases, braces remain the most reliable and effective treatment option. Many adults have already had braces, and understand how exciting it feels to get them removed. If you’re a first-timer, just know that it’s more fun to look back and say “remember when I had braces?” than it is to say “remember when I had crooked teeth?” 

Our orthodontic experts use state-of-the-art braces that are smaller, sleeker, and more comfortable than ever before. With vibrant colors and customization options, braces can be tailored to fit your personality.

Comfortable and Efficient Treatment at Blossom

We use advanced techniques and technologies to minimize discomfort while providing quality care. Our specially trained orthodontic team will guide you through treatment, ensuring you are well-informed and supported at every step. 

Once your orthodontic treatment is complete, you’ll want to maintain your beautiful new smile. This may require you to wear a retainer to prevent teeth from shifting back into their original positions. Regular maintenance and follow-up visits will help your results last.

Not to mention, you’ll get to see your favorite staff whenever you come in.