Your Southern Ontario Invisalign® Provider
Age-Related Considerations
Adult patients may suffer from tooth problems that might interfere with their orthodontic treatment. Gum disease, the inadequate bone between the roots to allow for adequate blood flow, and marginal bone loss are examples of these conditions.
Adult bones are also denser and more durable than those of youngsters since they have completed their growth. Therefore, adults' jawbones are less responsive to treatment than children's jawbones, and it might take longer for the teeth to adjust to their new locations as a result of the therapy.
Because of these biomechanical restrictions, orthodontic treatment in adults can often be a more complicated procedure than it is in pediatric patients.
Bite Issues
A significant number of patients require treatment to correct a malocclusion (an improper bite). When it comes to adults, this can be especially difficult to overcome. An adult patient with a significant overbite, for example, may not have enough space in his or her mouth for the teeth to shift into the proper position without the need for one or more teeth to be removed.
In addition, many adult patients have some wear on their teeth, which can exacerbate the overbite problem even further. In these situations, the dental team might focus on making the adult patient's bite functional rather than on getting the patient's bite perfectly straight.
Issues With Previous Tooth Extractions
When an adult patient has previously had one or more teeth extracted, the dentist may face challenges during the treatment process. It's possible that old extraction sites aren't suitable for tooth movement and will need to be rebuilt with artificial bone grafts. Furthermore, because adult bone does not respond to pressure in the same way that developing children's bone does, closing the gaps left by pulled teeth may be difficult.
Risk of Root Resorption
Root resorption is more common in adult patients having orthodontic treatment than it is in pediatric patients undergoing orthodontic therapy. When your body reabsorbs the root of a tooth, this is referred to as root resorption.
The friction caused by orthodontic treatment may alter the root structure of the teeth, causing them to become loose and eventually fall out. Your orthodontist should closely examine your teeth during treatment to detect signs of resorption.
Risk of TMD
Additionally, when undergoing orthodontic treatment, adult patients are more likely to develop temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Your dentist will most likely conduct a risk assessment to determine whether you are at risk for TMD.