Dr. King Answers: I’m an Adult. Do I Need Orthodontic Treatment...AGAIN?

Q: I had braces as a teen. Now, as an adult, I’ve had some relapse, giving me crooked teeth again. How common is this, and can you help?

When left untreated, overly crowded teeth
can get worse over time, and result in
severely crowded teeth. This crowding can
lead to plaque accumulation, tooth decay
and an increased chance of gum disease. 

A: This situation is not entirely uncommon. Many teen patients from the 1980s did not receive bonded retainers, as the technology was not widely accepted or developed. As a consequence, without lifetime removable retainer wear, shifting and relapse were inevitable for many patients.

The solution is often a simple course of braces or Invisalign® to correct the re-crowded areas. Sometimes, treatment can be as brief as 6 months. And, yes, at the end, I almost always insist on a bonded retainer :-)

Keep smiling, and see you soon.

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SOURCE: Invisalign®