Teeth move at 45 the same way they move at 15. Bone remodels around a tooth under steady pressure for your entire life, which is why adult orthodontics works and why it is now a large share of orthodontic treatment nationally. What differs in adults is not whether teeth will move, but the context: existing crowns and fillings, gum health that has to be stable before we start, worn enamel, and in some cases teeth that have already drifted into a space left by an extraction years ago.
At San Elijo Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics we treat adults alongside the families we already see. Often it is a parent who watched their child's results and decided to finally deal with the crowding they have disliked in photos for twenty years.
Clear aligners (Angel Aligners). Removable, nearly invisible, and the option most working adults ask about first. Best for mild to moderate crowding, spacing and relapse. They only work while worn, which is rarely a problem for motivated adults.
Ceramic braces. Tooth-colored brackets, full braces control, low visual impact. The right call when the case needs more than aligners can predictably deliver.
Self-ligating braces. No elastic ties, quicker adjustment visits, less plaque retention. A practical option when treatment will be longer.
Limited treatment. Sometimes the goal is four lower incisors, not a full arch. Limited cases can finish in six months at a fraction of comprehensive cost, and we will always tell you when that is realistic.
Straight teeth are easier to keep clean, and cleanable teeth are teeth you keep. Crowded, overlapping contacts are where recurrent decay and localized gum disease start, and both are harder to treat than to prevent. A bite that distributes force evenly also puts less stress on individual teeth, which slows the chipping and wear that lead to crowns later. If you have active gum disease, we stabilize that first with your dentist or periodontist, then begin.
Consultation and digital scan, a written plan with cost and timeline, then appointments every six to ten weeks that we schedule early morning or late afternoon where we can. Most adult cases run 12 to 18 months; relapse cases and limited treatment are often shorter. You will have a retainer at the end, and this time we will be direct about it: nighttime retainer wear is permanent, and skipping it is exactly what brought most of our adult patients back.
Am I too old for braces? No. We evaluate gum and bone health rather than age. If the foundation is healthy, treatment is possible.
Will people notice? With Angel Aligners, rarely. With ceramic braces, far less than you expect from a distance or in photos.
I had braces as a teenager. Why did my teeth move back? Retention stopped. Lower incisors in particular crowd over decades. Retreatment is usually straightforward.
Does insurance cover adult orthodontics? Some plans include an adult orthodontic benefit; many limit coverage to dependents. We verify your specific plan before you commit, and we offer monthly payment options either way.
Can I be treated if I have crowns, implants or missing teeth? Usually yes, with planning. Implants do not move, so they anchor rather than shift, and we build the plan around them in coordination with your dentist.
We are a family practice with a real orthodontic program, not a storefront running aligners off a mailed kit. You are examined in person, your records are read by a doctor, and you are seen in person at every progress visit — which is how problems get caught at week eight instead of month eight. Our office is at 1640 San Elijo Road, Suite 101, minutes from San Elijo Hills, Double Peak and central San Marcos, and we are open Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. If you are already bringing children here, your treatment runs out of the same chart and the same front desk.
