Braces & Clear Aligners

No. There is no upper age limit for orthodontic treatment, and healthy teeth can be moved into better positions at virtually any stage of life. More adults than ever are choosing to straighten their smiles, whether to improve their appearance, make their teeth easier to clean, or correct a bite problem that has bothered them for years.

The key requirement is healthy teeth and gums rather than a certain age. Because adults are more likely to have issues like gum disease, old restorations, or missing teeth, we start with a thorough evaluation to make sure the foundation is sound before beginning. Many adults also appreciate that discreet options such as clear aligners make orthodontic treatment easy to fit into professional and social life. As long as your mouth is healthy, treatment can be just as effective at 50 as it is at 15.

The length of orthodontic treatment depends mostly on how much your teeth and bite need to change. Straightforward cases, such as minor crowding or spacing corrected with clear aligners, can take as little as 6 to 12 months. More involved cases that require moving teeth significantly or correcting a bite problem with traditional braces more commonly run 18 months to 3 years.

Several factors influence your personal timeline, including the type of appliance, the complexity of your case, your age, and how closely you follow instructions. With clear aligners, wearing the trays the recommended 20 to 22 hours a day keeps treatment on track, and with braces, avoiding hard or sticky foods prevents setbacks from broken brackets. Dr. Llanes will examine your teeth and give you a realistic timeline at your consultation, so you know what to expect before orthodontic treatment begins.

Braces should not be painful, though it is normal to feel some mild soreness for a few days right after they are first placed and again after each adjustment appointment. This tenderness is simply a sign that your teeth are responding and beginning to move, and it usually fades on its own within a few days as your mouth adjusts.

Any discomfort during orthodontic treatment is generally easy to manage with over-the-counter pain relievers, soft foods for a day or two, and orthodontic wax to smooth any bracket or wire that rubs. Today's braces are smaller, smoother, and more comfortable than older systems, and clear aligners apply their pressure even more gradually, so most patients find the whole experience far easier than they expected.

The right choice between traditional braces and clear aligners comes down to the complexity of your case and your personal lifestyle. Clear aligners are an excellent fit for mild to moderate crowding, spacing, and bite issues, and their big advantages are that they are nearly invisible and fully removable, so you can take them out to eat, brush, and floss normally. Traditional braces, fixed to the teeth, can handle the widest range of problems, including complex rotations and significant bite corrections that aligners may not fully achieve.

Lifestyle matters too. Aligners require the discipline to wear them 20 to 22 hours a day, which suits self-directed teens and adults, while braces do the work automatically without relying on you to keep them in. Dr. Llanes will evaluate your teeth and talk through the trade-offs with you, so your orthodontic treatment fits both your smile goals and your daily routine. Learn more about invisible braces to see if they might be right for you.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. That may sound early, but by this age a mix of baby and permanent teeth is present, which lets us spot developing problems with alignment, spacing, or the bite while the jaw is still growing and easy to guide.

An early visit rarely means braces right away. In many cases we simply monitor your child's growth over time and begin treatment when the moment is right. When early intervention is helpful, this first phase of orthodontic treatment can guide jaw development, create room for incoming teeth, and reduce or even prevent the need for more complex treatment later. Catching issues early keeps your child's options open and their smile on the right track.

Many dental insurance plans include some orthodontic coverage, and it is especially common for children and teens. Plans that do cover orthodontics often apply a lifetime maximum benefit toward treatment rather than an annual limit, and coverage for adults varies more widely from one plan to the next. The best way to know your specific benefit is to have us check it for you.

At our Roselle, IL office we will verify your orthodontic benefits and give you a clear cost estimate before treatment begins, so there are no surprises. If you have a balance beyond what insurance covers, or if your plan does not include orthodontics, our financing page outlines flexible payment options that make orthodontic treatment more affordable to fit into your budget.

Yes. Wearing a retainer is an essential part of orthodontic treatment, not an optional add-on. When your braces or aligners come off, the teeth are in their new positions but the surrounding bone and fibers need time to stabilize around them. A retainer holds everything in place while that settling happens.

Without a retainer, teeth have a natural tendency to drift back toward where they started, a process called relapse, which can undo months or years of work. Most patients wear a retainer full-time for a few months after treatment and then transition to wearing it just at night for the long term. Think of nighttime retainer wear as the simple insurance that protects your investment and keeps your smile straight for life.