Is it worth straightening teeth at 50?

[Fatbadger50]

Turned 50 this year and wondering about getting my teeth sorted. I have some teeth that have moved since I had my fixed brace as a teenager and no retainer in the old days. I don’t mind Invisalign or fixed braces. I went to a couple of orthodontists a few years ago to ask about it and they only seemed to recommend Invisalign. Is it too late to bother sorting my teeth?

I also have a non symmetrical bite / jaw line so I think this would help improve things. Other issue is some recession.

Yes go for it! Its nice to be able to smile with confidence

Of course! Your teeth clearly bother you, why wouldn't you want to improve them? I don't think age comes into it.

I’ve used Invisalign and it worked really well. Took twice as long as initially anticipated but really happy with the results. As well as being more confident smiling I’m also now able to better clean in between my teeth.

I did it at about 55 and am so very pleased I did!!! Such a difference in how my teeth look and also how they function. Go do it!!!

Of course it is. You only live once so why not enjoy the rest of your life with lovely straight teeth if it’ll make you happy!

Go for it! Nothing makes more difference than straight, white teeth. It would make you happy every time you looked in the mirror.

I was told by a denist that your bones will be very hard by this age and they won't move as well or stay in place as well as if you did it younger, all in all they said they could do it but it doesn't mean they should.

Yes absolutely! I'm 51 and just finishing Invisalign and being able to actually bite and have straight teeth is amazing!

I have recently had two veneers put on teeth that have moved since braces (porcelain) and teeth whitening. I feel so much more confident! I’m early 50’s.

If you do this you need to do the teeth whitening first, and also keep it up.

Go for it!

Why would you be too old!??

You’re not too old at all. My partner has Invisalign at 47, and I was speaking to a customer the other day who was in her 60s and has Invisalign.

I had fixed braces as an adult. I have a fixed retainer and a top night retainer. I have skipped wearing it less than ten times in the last twenty years.
Unfortunately my teeth have still moved quite a bit in the last twenty years. I asked my dentist about getting braces again and he said adults need to be aware that results will last up to fifteen years due to bone memory.
Go for it but it isn’t the long solution we’re led to believe.

You’re not too old at all.
I’m just coming to the end of my Sure Smile ( like Invisalign) aligners and I’m 62.
I feel much more confident about my smile.

Do it! Did it aged 50+ and it was money well spent 👍

My Mum had braces at 70.. She also had to have 2 extractions- overcrowded teeth.

Your teeth move as you get older so I'd guess it's common to correct around that age

I was told at 53 that I couldn’t have them, due to a tooth playing up that would be difficult to do the root canal on. I was told to let it settle and then leave it alone, and it has settled.

A friend had braces in her early 50s and was very pleased.
I'm nearly 60 and am currently having 2 implants put in and have bleached my teeth for the first time.
I would have found having dentures very depressing and would have felt very old all of a sudden.
I think it's always worth having your teeth improved.

I’ve got them at 55 after years of indecision ( thought about it initially in Covid years when it was very cheap).

What I will say is that menopause has changed my muscles, collagen and hair to a frightening extent. I’m pretty sure my bones have gone to shit. It’s working but how long it will last and whether it will do my teeth any good I’m beginning to doubt.

My DH is about to start treatment and he is 58. It’s an Invisalign style treatment. He has hated his teeth for years now and has finally gone for it. I’m really pleased for him. If they bother you then absolutely go for it.

I went for it with Invisalign at the age of 63. It took a year in total. My dentist warned me at the start that I couldn't expect to have a Hollywood Tom Cruise result but the teeth I have would be straight and he was right.

I had the old fashioned train track braces in my teens, hated it the whole time and refused to wear the mouth guard that would have kept my teeth in place afterwards. My teeth moved out of alignment and I spent most of my adult life being very self conscious of my appearance. There are very few photos of me smiling properly over the decades, even on my wedding day.

I talked myself into and out of doing Invisalign several times but I can say having done it I now smile properly without my inner critic saying "stop! Think of the teeth!" It feels very freeing and I would definitely recommend doing it.

I'm still wearing my retainers overnight a year later as the teeth continue to want to move. My bottom ones have settled down, my top teeth still seem to want to shift but the overnight aligners are keeping them in check.

In my opinion it's been well worth it.

Yes do it! I had Invisalign in my 40s and it’s made such a difference even to the way I speak (my tongue would catch on the misaligned teeth at the bottom of my
mouth). Like others have said it took twice as long as the estimate, and going into it I had no idea that they applied little resin type “buttons” to each tooth - that’s what the aligners grip onto. The worst bit for me
was getting them removed at the end, a lot of grinding and polishing. It wouldn’t put me off, but it was surprise to me and good to know going into it! Good luck!

Edited to say I have permanent wire retainers on my front teeth and wear my plastic retainers every other night. But it’s no hassle.

Yes! It will mean you can floss and clean your teeth more effectively which is better for your overall health, improve the shape of your face so that you don’t get the pinched face of someone with a narrowing jaw due to crooked teeth as well as feel more confident.

It's been well worth it for me but I need to wear a retainer every other night at least still - my teeth are quite keen to go back to how they were. My dentist told me it'll be a lifelong thing.

Thank you everyone! How do you go about finding an excellent orthodontist?