“Aren’t braces just for teenagers?” It’s one of the most common things adults say to me — usually just before they decide to go ahead anyway. The belief that there’s an age cut-off for straightening your teeth is one of the biggest myths in my field, and I’m delighted to bust it. The short answer is: no, you are almost certainly not too old. Let me explain why.
The myth that teeth “set” with age
The idea behind “I’m too old” is that, once you’re an adult, your bones are fixed and your teeth can no longer move. It’s a perfectly understandable assumption — but it isn’t true. Teeth move throughout your whole life. We know this for certain, because it’s exactly why people who stop wearing their retainers find their teeth drift over the years.
If teeth can move on their own, they can be moved deliberately and safely by an orthodontist. We move teeth in adults every single day. I’ve treated patients in their sixties and seventies, and their teeth respond beautifully.
Why adult orthodontics has surged
Adult treatment has grown enormously over the past decade, and a few things are driving it.
The world has simply become more image-aware. Video calls play a real part — people spend far more time looking at their own face on screen than they ever used to, and they notice things they’d never noticed before. At the same time, having orthodontic treatment as an adult has become completely acceptable; the slight self-consciousness people once felt about it has largely melted away, especially now that the appliances are so much more discreet.
There’s a deeper reason, too. People are living longer and want to look and feel good for that time. Many adults coming to see me missed out on orthodontics when they were younger simply because it wasn’t widely available — a whole generation, really — and they’ve decided that something which has bothered them for years is finally worth sorting out.
It’s often about function, not vanity
Here’s something that surprises people: a great many of my adult patients aren’t primarily chasing a prettier smile. They’re thinking about function and longevity — keeping their teeth healthy and working well for as long as possible.
When you’re expecting to live into your eighties or nineties, a comfortable, well-aligned bite that protects your teeth for decades is a very sensible investment. I regularly see patients in their seventies who know they have many years ahead and want to enjoy them with a healthy, confident smile.
The patients we actually see
The range is wider than most people imagine. We see twenty-something professionals who want their smile sorted, and a growing number of middle-aged patients — including plenty of men — who’d once have assumed orthodontics “wasn’t for them”. Often the tipping point is a friend having treatment: they see how straightforward it is now, and think, why not me?
If I’m honest, a large share of our adult patients are still people in their forties and fifties who’ve simply decided they’ve put up with their teeth for long enough — and want to do something about it at last.
What’s different about treating adults
Treating adults is wonderfully rewarding, and in some ways easier than treating teenagers. Adult teeth can occasionally be a little slower to start moving, and treatment can take a bit longer where teeth need to be brought together — but the results are excellent.
Where adults really shine is commitment. They understand the value of what they’re doing, so they look after their braces or aligners, keep their appointments, maintain great oral hygiene, and — crucially — wear their retainers afterwards. That combination often makes for a smoother journey and a result that lasts.
A word on retainers
Because teeth move throughout life, retainers aren’t a teenage formality — they’re for everyone, for the long term. Wearing your retainers as advised is what protects the investment you’ve made and keeps your smile where we’ve put it. It’s the single most important thing you can do to make the result permanent.
Frequently asked questions
Does adult treatment take longer than treatment for a child? Sometimes slightly, particularly where teeth need to be brought together after extractions. But adult teeth move very effectively, and adults’ excellent compliance often keeps things on track.
Will braces damage older teeth? No — provided your teeth and gums are healthy to begin with. We always check this first, and if there’s any gum disease we’ll have it treated before starting. Healthy teeth move safely at any age.
I’m in my sixties — is it really worth it? Absolutely. If you have healthy teeth and years ahead to enjoy them, a comfortable bite and a confident smile is a very worthwhile thing.
Book a consultation
Whatever your age, the only way to know what’s possible is to have your teeth and bite assessed properly. Book a consultation with our consultant-led team at No 1 Orthodontics in Derby — you may be surprised how straightforward adult treatment has become.
