Why adults come to Andros Orthodontics
The most common reasons we see:
- Longstanding dissatisfaction with their smile. "I've always wanted to fix this and I finally have the time and resources to do it." Adults who never had orthodontic care as kids, or whose first round didn't deliver what they wanted.
- Teeth that shifted back after earlier treatment. Orthodontic relapse — the technical term — happens when retention isn't maintained after braces or aligners. Adult re-treatment is usually shorter than the original treatment because the teeth have a "memory" of their previously-corrected positions.
- TMJ symptoms. Jaw joint clicking, pain, headaches, or limited opening — sometimes with a clear bite-related component, sometimes more complex. More on TMJ →
- Airway concerns. Snoring, chronic congestion, witnessed apnea, daytime fatigue, persistent TMJ symptoms with no clear cause, or a known sleep apnea diagnosis. Many adults arrive at orthodontics through this door — usually after being told their options were CPAP or jaw surgery. More about Airway-Focused Orthodontics →
- Coordination with restorative dental work. Adults preparing for implants, crowns, or bridges sometimes need teeth moved into position first so the restorative work can be done correctly. We coordinate directly with general dentists and specialists.
- Bite issues that have caused tooth wear over decades. Some adults arrive because their dentist flagged accelerated wear or fracturing related to bite imbalance.
How adult treatment differs from teenage treatment
Three meaningful differences shape how we plan adult cases:
The growth window has closed
In children and adolescents, the bones of the face and jaw are connected by flexible joints called sutures that are still moldable — gentle orthodontic forces can guide skeletal development. In adults, those sutures have fused. Skeletal discrepancies that could be addressed with growth modification in kids often require MARPE in adults — or, in severe cases, surgical jaw repositioning. This is the most consequential adult-vs-teen difference.
Restorative work is often present
Adults frequently have crowns, bridges, implants, fillings, and other restorative work that the orthodontic plan needs to work around. Implants in particular don't move — wherever they were placed is where they stay. The treatment plan accounts for these realities. We coordinate with your general dentist and any other specialists involved in your care so the orthodontic and restorative work are aligned.
Periodontal status matters more
Adult gums and the bone surrounding the teeth need to be healthy enough to support tooth movement. We evaluate periodontal status before treatment starts and, when needed, coordinate with a periodontist to address any concerns before — or in parallel with — orthodontic care. Healthy periodontium is a prerequisite, not an afterthought.
Treatment options for adults
The full range of orthodontic tools is available to adult patients:
- Damon Ultima Braces — including clear ceramic for less-visible treatment. The premium bracket system, used as our standard for every braces case.
- Invisalign Clear Aligners — popular with adults for aesthetics and removability. Compliance is everything: adults who wear the trays consistently get excellent results.
- MARPE Skeletal Palatal Expansion — non-surgical adult palatal expansion. For adult patients with transverse skeletal deficiency who were previously told the only option was jaw surgery.
- Fully digital workflow — CBCT-based virtual planning and 3D-printed indirect bonding for every case, included at no upgrade tier
- Coordination with oral and maxillofacial surgery when jaw repositioning is the right answer for severe skeletal discrepancies
- Airway-focused care — coordinated with sleep medicine, ENT, and myofunctional therapy when the case involves an airway component
For adults considering treatment for the first time
The most common feeling adults express at their consultation is some version of "I should have done this twenty years ago." We hear it almost weekly. The honest response: most adults who come in for treatment are glad they did, regardless of how long they waited. The result that took two years to achieve is then yours for the rest of your life.
Things to know going in:
- Timelines are similar to teen treatment — most comprehensive cases run 18-24 months. Adult bone is somewhat less responsive than adolescent bone (slightly longer for similar movements), but adults typically have better compliance, which offsets the biology.
- Aesthetic options exist. Clear ceramic Damon Ultima or Invisalign for patients who don't want visible metal during treatment.
- Insurance varies. Many adult dental plans include orthodontic benefits with a lifetime maximum. Some don't. OrthoFi verifies your specific coverage before your consultation so the financial conversation is specific to your plan.
- Financing is available. In-house monthly payment plans for patients without orthodontic insurance benefits or with coverage that doesn't cover the full cost.
- Retention is essential. The belt-and-suspenders retention approach we recommend — bonded retainer plus removable Essix, plus enrollment in our Retain app for affordable replacement retainers — exists specifically because adult patients have often been through the relapse cycle once already and don't want to repeat it.
For adults coming back after earlier treatment
If you had braces or aligners as a teenager and your teeth shifted back over time, you're not alone — this is one of the most common reasons adults reach out. Most people don't realize how much retention matters until it's too late.
The takeaway: relapse is the rule, not the exception. A landmark long-term study by Dr. Robert Little and colleagues at the University of Washington followed patients more than ten years after their braces came off — and found that roughly 70% had clinically significant relapse of their lower front teeth (the spot most patients notice first in the mirror). The research has been replicated since. The pattern is consistent: without consistent retention, teeth drift back toward their pre-treatment position. Not slightly. Meaningfully. Read the study →
This is why we treat retention as part of treatment, not an afterthought. The belt-and-suspenders approach we recommend — a bonded retainer behind the front teeth (where hygiene and bite allow), an Essix retainer worn over it, and enrollment in our Retain app for affordable replacement retainers — exists because we've seen the relapse pattern many times. We don't want it to happen to you a second time.
The good news for re-treatment: it's usually shorter than the original treatment was. Your teeth have a memory of their previously-corrected positions, and the work to get them back there is generally less than the work to get them there the first time. We'll be honest at the consultation about what's achievable, what isn't, and what the retention plan looks like after.
For adults with airway concerns
Many adults find their way to orthodontics through the airway door. Chronic congestion, snoring, witnessed apnea, persistent TMJ symptoms, daytime fatigue with no clear cause, or a known sleep apnea diagnosis often have a structural airway component that orthodontic care can meaningfully address.
This is one of the most consequential reasons for an adult to consider orthodontic evaluation. Dr. Andros has spent eight consecutive years (2018-2026) in continuing education focused specifically on the airway-orthodontics connection, training under faculty at Stanford and The Breathe Institute. More about Airway-Focused Orthodontics →
For adult patients with transverse skeletal deficiency in particular, MARPE has been a game-changer — extending the orthodontic window into adulthood without surgery.