Adults make up a growing share of orthodontic patients, and the reason is simple: teeth move at any age. Bone remodels the same way at forty-five as at fifteen, just more slowly. Dorfman Orthodontic Group treats adults from Huntingdon Valley and the surrounding Montgomery and Bucks County communities with clear braces, metal braces, and Invisalign, all planned by board certified orthodontist Dr. Jake Dorfman.
Adult Braces: What Is Different
The mechanics are identical. What changes is the context around treatment.
Adults have finished growing, so bite corrections that rely on growth are handled differently, sometimes with elastics, sometimes with temporary anchorage devices, and in rare cases in coordination with an oral surgeon. Adults are also more likely to have existing dental work: crowns, bridges, implants, or previous extractions. Implants do not move, so a plan has to be designed around them, which is exactly the kind of thing a specialist exam identifies before treatment begins, not halfway through.
Gum health matters more as well. Teeth can only be moved safely through healthy supporting bone, so we evaluate that first and coordinate with your general dentist or periodontist when needed.
Why Adults Choose Braces Over Aligners
They handle the cases aligners struggle with
Significant rotations, closed bites, and teeth that need bodily movement rather than tipping are more predictable with fixed appliances.
Ceramic brackets are genuinely discreet
Tooth-shaded brackets against tooth-colored enamel are far less noticeable than most adults expect, including on the video calls that fill a Philadelphia commuter’s workday.
No discipline required
Between work, family, and travel, remembering to reinsert aligners after every meal and coffee is a real burden. Braces remove that entirely.
Often the more economical route
For complex adult cases, braces frequently cost less than a long aligner series with multiple refinements.
Fixing a relapse for good
Many adults we treat had braces as teenagers and stopped wearing retainers. A second, usually shorter, round of treatment plus lifetime retention through Retainers for Life solves it permanently.
The Adult Braces Process
Complimentary consultation. Digital records, a full exam, and a candid conversation about what treatment would accomplish, how long it would take, and what it costs. No referral is needed.
Health check first. Active decay or gum disease is addressed with your dentist before brackets are placed. This is not a delay tactic; moving teeth through inflamed tissue causes real damage.
Placement and adjustments. About an hour to bond, then visits every six to ten weeks. We book adults early in the morning so treatment does not eat into the workday.
Debond and lifetime retention. Brackets are removed, enamel polished, and retainers delivered immediately. Adult teeth drift as reliably as teenage teeth, so retention is not optional.
What Adult Treatment Costs You in Time
Adults want the schedule impact quantified before they commit, which is fair.
Placement takes about an hour. After that, appointments run every six to ten weeks and most are fifteen to thirty minutes. Booked at 7:30 a.m., a year of treatment costs you a handful of early starts rather than any full days.
The daily impact is smaller than most people expect. Brushing takes an extra minute or two, flossing requires a threader or a water flosser, and the first week involves soft food. Beyond that, life continues normally, including business travel; we simply extend the interval between visits when you are away.
The one thing that does cost time is neglecting repairs. A loose bracket left for three weeks stalls the teeth in that section while everything else keeps moving, and that is how a twenty-month case becomes a twenty-six-month case.
Are You a Candidate for Adult Braces?
If your teeth are crowded, spaced, rotated, or your bite does not fit together comfortably, and your gums and bone are healthy, you are almost certainly a candidate. There is no upper age limit. We routinely treat patients in their forties, fifties, and beyond.
The cases that need extra planning are those with heavy restorative work, prior extractions, jaw joint symptoms, or a history of periodontal bone loss. None of these are automatic disqualifiers; they simply need to be identified up front.
Why Adults Near Huntingdon Valley Come to DOG Ortho
- Board certified orthodontist. Certification from the American Board of Orthodontics, earned in Dr. Dorfman’s first year of practice.
- Diamond Plus Invisalign Provider. If aligners turn out to be the better tool for your case, you are already in the right office.
- Appointments that fit a work schedule. Weekday starts at 7:30 a.m., plus Friday and Saturday mornings.
- Adult-friendly finances. FSA and HSA accepted, autopay, 0% interest plans, pay-in-full courtesy. Details on financial information and insurance.
- Two offices minutes away. Southampton on Knowles Avenue and Bensalem on Bristol Road.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adult Braces
Am I too old for braces?
No. Healthy gums and bone matter, age does not. Treatment simply progresses somewhat more slowly in adults than in growing teens.
How long does adult treatment take?
Typically eighteen to thirty months for comprehensive cases. Limited treatment, such as closing a single space or correcting relapse, can finish in well under a year.
Will people notice?
Ceramic brackets are subtle enough that most colleagues do not comment. If invisibility is the priority, Invisalign is worth discussing at your consultation.
Does dental insurance cover adult orthodontics?
Some plans include a lifetime orthodontic benefit that applies to adults; others limit coverage to dependents. Our insurance coordinator will verify your specific benefit before you commit.
Can I get braces with crowns or implants?
Yes, with planning. Crowned teeth can be moved. Implants cannot, so the plan is designed around them.
I had braces as a teenager and my teeth shifted. What now?
This is one of the most common reasons adults call us. Retreatment is often shorter and simpler than the original course, and a bonded retainer prevents a third round.
Book Your Free Adult Consultation
Bring your questions and your schedule; we will tell you what is realistic. Call or text our Southampton team at (215) 910-4376, or reach our Bensalem office at (215) 935-4639. Or contact us online to request a complimentary consultation.