Orthodontics After 40

“Am I too old for this?”

I hear this every week. The answer is simple: Bone is bone. As long as your gums and bone levels are healthy, teeth can be moved at age 70 just as effectively as at age 7.

But the motivation is different.

The “Collapsing Bite” Phenomenon

In our 40s and 50s, we start to see the cumulative effects of a bad bite.

• Wear: Front teeth look shorter or chipped because the lower teeth are grinding against them.
• Drift: Lower teeth start to crowd and overlap, creating plaque traps that lead to gum disease.
• Recession: Misaligned teeth can push through the gum tissue, causing recession.

Adult orthodontics isn’t just about vanity; it’s about Anti-Aging for your mouth. By aligning the teeth, we distribute the bite force evenly, stopping the accelerated wear and making the teeth easier to clean.

The Aesthetic Reality

Let’s be honest: aesthetics matter too. But adult aesthetics are different. We aren’t looking for a “Hollywood White” veneer look. We are looking for Rejuvenation.

Widening the smile fills out the “buccal corridors” (the dark spaces in the corners of your mouth), which can actually provide support to the lips and cheeks, subtly reducing the appearance of aging lines around the mouth.

The “Invisible” Workflow

You have a career. You have meetings. You cannot look like a teenager. 95% of our adult patients choose Invisalign. It allows you to speak clearly in presentations, eat what you want at client dinners, and improve your health without broadcasting your medical treatment to the world.