Welcome to Adult Braces Boom

Imagine securing an invitation to the Grammys—and an afterparty. For most in the fashion industry, the promise of a red carpet moment will precipitate a day of beauty prep. But Linda Olivera fit model with nearly two decades of experience, the immediate hours before her Grammy performance included a trip to Dr. Daniel Rubinsteindental practice based in Brooklyn. Purpose: To add Swarovski crystal to her adult braces. “I didn’t want to be a wire mouth, I wanted to be cool—and it looked a lot cooler than I expected. Everyone thought it was a grill, but it was actually a grill,” says Oliver, who attended the after party with Brandon Howard. “Dr. Daniel worked his magic and I made a statement.”

Oliver’s modern approach to straightening her smile doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Singer and actress Rina Slaywayama gave braces a nostalgic nod in 2021. Rapper Coi Leray made gold braces synonymous with her signature look for most of last year. It stands to reason that if adult braces are required, they could also double as accessories. The reverse is also true, as the field of orthodontics has evolved to include nearly invisible lingual braces that are placed behind the teeth or ceramic braces that blend more naturally with your enamel. Fashionable metal oral aesthetics or not, it’s impossible to deny that braces for adults are on the up and up.

According to a study completed by Marketplace, nearly 32 percent of orthodontic patients in 2023 are adultsin stark contrast to even two years ago, when the American Association of Orthodontists reported 25 percent of orthodontic patients in the US were adults. The braces boom is multi-faceted—equally inspired by the Zoom era, the millennial’s (relative) opposition to retainers, and the post-puberty destigmatization of a metal mouth.

The Rise of Brace Face

Oliver is a woman with very good oral hygiene—in fact, she doubles as a surgeon. But, like many, they didn’t have braces as a child. While she skipped the notoriously traumatic chapter of adolescent clumsiness, she took it upon herself to correct her bite as an adult. Her first thought: Invisalign. Objectively, it is the most subtle. Unfortunately, three separate treatments left her essentially where she started. “I was disappointed,” he says. “It just wasn’t working.” That’s where the metal teeth came in.

“Both traditional braces and an Invisalign-type treatment can be an effective tool for achieving straight teeth,” explains Dr. Rubinshtein, who treated Oliver. “But for the majority of doctors, traditional braces can handle more complex and serious cases. They are also great for patient compliance as they are on the teeth and working 24/7.”

(Image: Linda Oliver)

In addition to cosmetics, braces are increasingly being used as a medical solution for fairly extreme discomfort that occurs with age. “There is a sharp increase in adults who not only want, but need some type of orthotic treatment to improve their quality of life. Many patients who have a misaligned bite also have related issues such as headaches, TMJ pain, neck pain, sensitive teeth, swollen gums and more.”

Often times, this discomfort could have been avoided by wearing a retainer. But many find themselves back to clenching the square tooth and are ready to get braces a second time. Rest assured, braces for adults are a slightly different shape than the metal—and neon—rubber ones you wore decades ago. More specifically, adult braces work faster. “The braces that children get are meant to last much longer because the braces move the teeth as the child’s facial and jaw structure matures. “Many children’s braces are meant to help the jaw grow as they mature and grow, so braces stay on for much longer,” notes Dr. Rubinstein. “Adult braces are meant for a shorter period of time.”

RT for adult braces pic.twitter.com/xjR1evhLL0June 1, 2021

Aesthetically, you’re also looking at a wider range of options. “A major change in recent orthodontics is that we can offer a variety of appliances that are very esthetic and comfortable, which makes adults less hesitant to get braces,” he says. Dr. Marina Gonchar, DMD and founder of Skin to Smile. Not only will modern aftercare braces be thinner and more comfortable than their predecessors, but natural braces have evolved 10 times. “Adults can choose from metal braces, ceramic braces, which are clearly visible on the teeth, and lingual braces, which are placed behind the teeth and are invisible to those around you,” she explains. “Adults can also choose between different fitting techniques, such as direct bonding, where the doctor places the braces individually, or indirect bonding, where the doctor designs the final smile in a software system and adjusts the brackets and wires that will be used to the patient one.”

Whether you decide to go the inconspicuous route in the name of good teeth or embrace metal with a hint of “brace bling” (Oliver’s words, not mine), know that you’re not alone in your dental journey. It looks like braces for adults are well on their way to becoming as common as Botox. Let’s face it: We’re in a dental renaissance.

Meet the Experts

Dr. Daniel Rubinstein

Dr. Daniel Rubinshtein has graduated from the prestigious Yale University, where he did his general practice. Dr. Rubinshtein is also a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. At NYUCD, Dr. Rubinshtein was a member of the Aesthetic Honors program where he demonstrated his artistic and keen eye for beauty. He won first place at the Empire State Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry for his smile makeover and placed among the top at the national American Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry conference.

Dr. Rubinshtein’s desire to help others less fortunate was evident in his involvement in many charities, from oral cancer to feeding the homeless. He also went to several dental practices that served underprivileged communities across the country.

Dr. Marina Gonchar

Dr. Marina Gonchar is a board-certified orthodontist in Morristown, New Jersey, and prides herself on offering individualized, personalized care for children and adults to help you achieve your smile goals.

Growing up in Morristown and having attended Morristown High School, Dr. Marina is excited to return to her hometown and give back to the community. After attending Lafayette College in Pennsylvania for her undergraduate studies in neuroscience, Dr. Marina went on to receive her Doctor of Dentistry degree from Boston University and her master’s degree and certificate in Dentofacial Orthopedics and Orthodontics from West Virginia University. Dr. Marina continued her training at the NYU Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery completing a prestigious fellowship in Craniofacial Orthodontics with an emphasis on the treatment of complex craniofacial conditions.

Dr. Marina prides herself on offering the latest techniques and technology in orthodontics, including intraoral scanning, 3D low-dose X-rays, Invisalign®, PROPEL, Carriere® Motion appliance for bite correction, preoperative orthodontic planning and treatment, Botox® cosmetics for non-surgical gummy smile correction and TMJ pain and discomfort and non-invasive laser gingivitis procedures.

Subscribe to Updates

What's Hot