Invisalign for adults

About one in four orthodontic patients is now an adult, and at myORTHODONTIST Maple Ridge the majority of adult patients choose aligners. Adult treatment is not simply teen treatment for older people: gums, bone, existing dental work and life logistics all change the plan. Here is what matters.

Why adults get treatment

Three reasons come up again and again. Teeth that were straightened as a teenager have shifted because retainers were lost or abandoned. Crowding has worsened with age, which happens to most people whether or not they had braces. Or a dentist has recommended orthodontics before crowns, implants or gum treatment, because it is far easier to restore teeth that are in the right place.

Is there an age limit?

No. Teeth move at any age as long as the surrounding bone and gums are healthy. We treat patients in their 60s and 70s. Movement can be somewhat slower in adults because bone remodels more slowly, and the plan is often more conservative to protect gums, but the biology works.

What is different about adult cases

• Gum health comes first. Moving teeth in the presence of active gum disease can accelerate bone loss. Adults with any history of gum problems are assessed and, where needed, treated by their dentist or a periodontist before aligners start. Once stable, orthodontics often improves gum health by making teeth easier to clean.
• Existing dental work. Crowns, bridges and implants do not move the way natural teeth do; implants do not move at all. The plan works around them. Attachments bond well to porcelain with the right preparation.
• No growth to work with. In a child, a jaw discrepancy can be guided as the child grows. In an adult, a significant skeletal mismatch is either camouflaged by moving teeth, accepted, or corrected surgically. Aligners can handle camouflage in many cases; the orthodontist will be candid about which category you are in.
• Bite and jaw joint symptoms. Adults are more likely to arrive with clicking, clenching or jaw pain. These are assessed before treatment. See TMJ and jaw pain.

What adult treatment looks like

Records and a 3D plan at the first visit; aligners about three to four weeks later. Attachments on most teeth for the duration. Visits every 8 to 10 weeks, with remote monitoring between, which suits people who cannot leave work often. Early morning appointments are available. Most adult cases finish in 6 to 18 months depending on scope, with a refinement round at the end.

Speech adapts within days. Coffee and wine require taking aligners out, which is the adjustment adults mention most. Lipstick and aligners are fine.

Limited treatment: fixing only the front teeth

Some adults want only the visible crowding fixed. This can be appropriate and costs less, provided the bite is stable and the orthodontist explains what is being left alone. It is not appropriate when the crowding is a symptom of a bite problem that will keep pushing teeth out of line. We will tell you which is the case.

Cost and insurance for adults

Adult aligner treatment at Lower Mainland specialist offices runs in the same broad range as braces, roughly $5,000 to $9,000 for comprehensive cases and less for limited treatment. Some extended health plans cover adults; many cover dependents only. Health spending accounts usually apply, and orthodontic fees are an eligible medical expense for tax purposes. See cost and insurance.

Related reading

Invisalign as an adult: is it ever too late? and Adult orthodontics, which covers braces, aligners and surgical cases for adults in one place.