Am I Too Old To Straighten My Teeth?

A common question I get asked by adult patients is whether they’re too old for braces or Invisalign. There is an idea out there that your bone changes as you get older and moving your teeth no longer becomes possible. Good news, this isn’t true!

I still remember when I was younger, my grandfather turned 65 and decided that after all those years he wanted to straighten his teeth. He ended up doing Invisalign with his dentist and got the straight teeth he wanted with no complications.

There are a couple of things that tend to be more common in older age that can complicate orthodontic treatment. First, if you’ve got significant bone loss around your teeth due to gum disease, orthodontic treatment may not be a good idea for you. If you had gum disease in the past that is now under control and you’ve still got decent bone support around your teeth, orthodontic treatment can still a good option for you. When in doubt, ask your dentist or orthodontist if you’re a candidate.

Secondly, a lot of my older patients have many bridges, implants, or missing teeth. These things can complicate orthodontic treatment. Bridges and implants can’t move with braces while missing teeth can make it harder to move certain teeth. Again, have your dentist or orthodontist take a look to see if any these things will cause a problem for you.

If you are older, don’t let it keep you away from straightening your teeth if it is something you really want to do!