Dr. Heather Desh, Your Long Beach CA Orthodontist
If you’ve noticed that your smile has seemed to shift as you’ve gotten older, it’s never too late to get the smile you deserve.
While most people associate orthodontic treatment with adolescents, nearly one in five orthodontic patients today in the United States is an adult. At HD Orthodontics, 50% of our patients are over the age of 18, so you are not alone! Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, so even if you’ve never had orthodontic treatment, or you’re looking to fine-tune your bite or alignment, you still have an opportunity to correct your smile.
For many adult patients, smiles can be perfected as easily as they can be for younger patients. As long as you have healthy teeth and gums, we can work to create a treatment plan that will provide you with the smile you’ve always wanted. Because adults’ jaws have stopped growing and the bone tends to be denser, treatment may take a bit longer than it would for younger patients, and there are some limitations when it comes to correction of skeletal malocclusions.
But don’t worry – that doesn’t mean we can’t help! At HD Orthodontics, Dr. Desh treats patients of all ages using a variety of treatment modalities. There are some things to keep in mind when seeking out treatment as an adult, however.
- Your jaw has stopped growing, so we no longer have the benefit of being able to guide jaw growth. For some patients, this can mean jaw surgery may be part of their orthodontic treatment journey.
- Adult patients often have dental issues that children do not, such as gum disease or dental restorations. Dr. Desh will work in conjunction with other dental specialists to ensure your smile is restored properly so that orthodontic treatment can be successful.