Aligners for adults: what they can do and what they cost
The most common wish among adults – and the question of how far it carries.
Most adults who seek orthodontic advice come with one wish: straight teeth, without anyone seeing it. Aligners are the obvious answer to that – for some of the findings.
What they are well suited for
Mild to moderate crowding of the front teeth, small gaps, individual tilted teeth, a relapse after an earlier treatment. These are exactly the findings adults typically come with – and they respond well to aligners.
Where it gets difficult
Pronounced bite problems, severely rotated teeth, closing larger gaps and anything that calls for vertical movement. Here the fixed brace has the advantage – including the one bonded on the inside, which is likewise invisible.
What to look out for
Every treatment should be preceded by an examination, an X-ray and a look at the gums. Untreated periodontitis rules out tooth movement – ignoring it accelerates bone loss. The professional community advises against offers where the impression is taken at home and no practice is ever visited.
Costs
For adults, statutory health insurance does not pay. The amount depends on the number of aligners, and thus on the extent of the correction; treating only the front teeth costs considerably less than treating the whole arch. The number becomes binding with the written treatment and cost plan before the start.
The essentials at a glance
- Aligners are well suited to mild crowding, small gaps and relapses after an earlier treatment.
- With pronounced bite problems, severe rotations and vertical movements, the fixed brace has the advantage.
- Before every treatment come an examination, an X-ray and a look at the gums. Untreated periodontitis rules out the treatment.
- For adults, statutory health insurance does not pay. The price depends on the number of aligners.
Answered briefly
Frequently asked questions
For a correction of the front teeth often six to twelve months, for more extensive findings up to two years. The number of aligners is fixed at the start – and with it the planned duration.
The teeth cannot keep up with the plan, and at some point the next aligner no longer fits. Then a new scan and a new plan are needed – that costs time and, depending on the agreement, money as well.
The professional societies advise against them. Without an X-ray it is impossible to judge how much bone supports the teeth and whether a root is damaged. Moving teeth without this knowledge is a risk borne by the patient alone.
Yes, just as after a fixed brace. Relapse does not depend on the type of treatment but on the tissue. Without a retainer the teeth drift back.