An overview of the characteristics between adult and adolescent orthodontics

Abstract

The upper age limit has been eliminated because the field of orthodontics has expanded to cover not only children and adolescents but also adults. Many young adults are seeking orthodontic treatment largely for aesthetic reasons due to the society's developing aesthetic consciousness. In order to get the most aesthetically beautiful face possible, they undertake extensive orthodontic treatment that involves significant occlusal alterations. In order to achieve a long-term prognosis, older persons with poor dental health who require perio-restorative treatment receive supplementary orthodontic treatment. Due to many concerns that are very different from conventional orthodontic treatment geared at children and adolescents, the orthodontist encounters difficulties when practising adult orthodontics. This article describes the challenges and constraints the orthodontist faces when practising adult orthodontics, along with solutions to overcome them.