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Can you be too old for the orthodontist?

For most people, braces were something you wore in your childhood or during your awkward teenage years. However, now there are more and more people in their adult years seeking help from the orthodontist for misaligned teeth – either from birth or from previous problems such as gum disease. So is there an upper age limit to treatment – and what is orthodontic treatment like as an adult? We interviewed specialist London-based orthodontist Dr Chaw-Su Kyi to find out.

What is interceptive orthodontics?

Around one-third of UK children have teeth which would benefit from orthodontic treatment. The majority who need orthodontics will start treatment around the age of 11 or 12. Interceptive orthodontics will benefit some children from an earlier age to avoid dental complications in the future. Orthodontist Dr Asif Chatoo tells us more about interceptive orthodontics and what children it can help.

Will lingual braces affect my speech?

The tongue is an amazing organ. It is essential in providing the sense of taste, allowing us to eat, drink, and swallow, and enabling us to speak. Highly flexible, sensitive, and adaptable, the tongue performs the most complex and specialised motor activity that the human body can do. Because lingual braces take up space on the back of the teeth, there is potential for them to have an impact on the normal movement of the tongue. Leading orthodontist Dr Asif Chatoo explains:

Top 5 reasons why adults need braces

Braces were once thought of as a treatment for older children and teenagers – best to have while their jaws are still developing before the teeth settle in adulthood, right? Well, not necessarily. Modern orthodontics recognises that, in fact, the teeth can continue to move at any age, and adults with misaligned teeth may very well benefit from braces too. Esteemed dentist Moira Wong explains:

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