Getting braces as an adult isn’t just common. It’s one of the smartest investments you can make in your smile and your health. At Boller Orthodontic Arts in Crown Point, IN, we see adults every day who are ready to finally address the crowding, gaps, or bite issues they’ve lived with for years. Adult braces in Crown Point deliver predictable, lasting results, whether you’re tackling a long-standing concern from your teen years or correcting relapse from earlier orthodontic work.
What Are Adult Braces?
Adult braces are fixed orthodontic appliances that use brackets, archwires, and gentle pressure to move teeth into proper alignment in patients past their teen years. They correct crowding, spacing, overbite, underbite, crossbite, and rotation at any age, restoring both function and appearance over a typical 18 to 30 month treatment span.
The biology of tooth movement works the same whether you’re 25 or 55. Your teeth respond to carefully calibrated forces, guided by Dr. Boller’s clinical precision and an artist’s eye.
Modern adult braces come in several styles. Traditional metal braces remain the standard for complex cases. Ceramic braces use tooth-colored brackets that blend with your smile. Lingual braces attach behind your teeth, staying completely hidden. Each option has its place, and your free consultation helps determine which fits your goals, lifestyle, and case complexity.
Benefits of Braces for Adults
Straighter teeth aren’t just about appearance. When your teeth align properly, you can brush and floss more effectively. Food and bacteria have fewer places to hide, which lowers your risk of cavities and gum disease over time.
Bite correction matters even more. Misaligned bites cause real problems:
- Jaw pain and TMJ discomfort
- Uneven tooth wear that leads to chips and cracks
- Headaches and muscle tension
- Difficulty chewing certain foods
What does that mean day to day? By repositioning teeth so your upper and lower arches meet evenly, braces spread chewing pressure across more surfaces, slow enamel wear, and ease strain on the jaw joints. Patients managing TMJ symptoms can learn more about coordinated care through our TMJ treatment options.
Then there’s confidence. Adults tell us all the time that they’ve hidden their smile in photos for decades, covered their mouth when they laugh, or skipped group photos altogether. Straightening your teeth changes how you present yourself in meetings, on video calls, and at family gatherings. It’s a quiet shift with a loud impact.
For complex cases involving significant bite issues, rotations, or vertical problems, braces often outperform Invisalign. The fixed nature of brackets and wires gives Dr. Boller precise control over tooth movement in all three dimensions. Worried about how braces will look during treatment? Ceramic brackets match your enamel and stay subtle from conversational distance, while lingual braces sit behind the teeth and remain completely invisible.
This is a long-term investment in both dental function and facial aesthetics. Every smile is designed with intention at Boller Orthodontic Arts, and that means thinking beyond just straight teeth to how your bite, jaw, and facial profile work together.
The Adult Braces Treatment Process
Adult braces treatment follows five steps: free consult, personalized planning, bonding, adjustments every six to eight weeks, and removal with retention. Total treatment averages 18 to 30 months. Here’s how the process unfolds at our Crown Point practice.
Step 1: Your Free Consultation
Your first evaluation includes digital scans and imaging so Dr. Boller can see exactly what’s happening with your teeth, roots, and jaw. No goopy impressions. Our 3D scanners capture everything quickly and comfortably. You’ll discuss your concerns, goals, and any past orthodontic history.
Step 2: Your Personalized Plan
Dr. Boller reviews your case and presents treatment options. You’ll learn which braces type suits your needs, how long treatment should take, and what it will cost. We walk through financing options so you can make an informed decision without pressure.
Step 3: Bonding Day
This is when your braces go on. The bonding appointment typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. We clean your teeth, apply a conditioning gel, then carefully place each bracket and thread the archwire. You’ll feel light pressure and a fuller sensation in your mouth as the wire engages, but no drilling or numbing is required.
Step 4: Adjustment Visits
Every six to eight weeks, you’ll come in for adjustments. These appointments are quick, usually 15 to 30 minutes. Dr. Boller checks your progress, changes wires, and makes any necessary modifications. Some mild soreness after adjustments is normal and typically fades within a day or two.
Step 5: Removal and Retention
When your teeth reach their final positions, we remove the brackets and polish your enamel. Then comes the critical retention phase. You’ll receive custom retainers to wear as directed. This locks in your results and prevents relapse. Skipping retainer wear is the number one reason adults need retreatment later.
Average adult treatment ranges from 18 to 30 months depending on case complexity. Simpler cases may finish sooner. Complex bite corrections or surgical cases may take longer. Dr. Boller gives you a realistic timeline during your consultation.
Are You a Candidate for Adult Braces?
You’re a candidate for adult braces in Crown Point if you have healthy teeth and gums and want to correct crowding, gaps, overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, or relapse from prior treatment. Most of our adult patients fit one or more of these categories.
| Condition | How Braces Help |
|---|---|
| Crowding | Creates space and aligns overlapping teeth |
| Gaps and spacing | Closes spaces for a more uniform smile |
| Overbite | Repositions upper teeth and improves jaw relationship |
| Underbite | Moves lower teeth back and upper teeth forward |
| Crossbite | Corrects teeth that sit inside or outside their proper position |
| Open bite | Closes vertical gaps between upper and lower teeth |
| Relapse from prior treatment | Re-straightens teeth that have shifted over time |
Good candidates have healthy teeth and gums. If you have active periodontal disease, that needs to be controlled first. Your dentist and Dr. Boller can coordinate care. Cavities should be treated before bonding brackets.
Complex cases often require braces over aligners. Severe bite issues, significant rotations, teeth that need vertical movement, and cases requiring temporary anchorage devices (TADs) typically respond better to fixed appliances. Dr. Boller has specialized experience with these challenging situations.
Age is not a barrier. We treat patients in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. As long as your teeth and supporting bone are healthy, orthodontic treatment can work for you. Adult patients now make up a significant portion of orthodontic cases nationwide, a shift that reflects how common retreatment and late-life alignment have become.
A consultation determines the best path forward. Sometimes braces are the clear choice. Sometimes Invisalign works better. Often, Dr. Boller presents both options and helps you weigh the tradeoffs based on your specific case.
Why Choose Boller Orthodontic Arts for Adult Braces in Crown Point
At Boller Orthodontic Arts, you’re treated like family from your first visit through your final appointment. As a true private practice, we don’t rush patients through. Dr. Boller, a specialist-trained orthodontist, personally oversees every case from diagnosis to debond.
What sets us apart for adult patients:
- Metal, ceramic, and lingual choices: Traditional brackets, tooth-colored ceramic, and behind-the-teeth lingual options under one roof
- Complex case expertise: Experience with TMJ-related orthodontics, surgical cases, and airway considerations
- Advanced technology: In-house 3D digital scanning, digital X-rays, and precise treatment planning
- Dr. Boller knows your name, your goals, and the small details that matter to you
- Flexible financing: Payment plans and in-network insurance support make treatment accessible
- Working adults have busy lives, so we build scheduling around that reality
Our roots run deep in Northwest Indiana. Dr. Boller grew up here and built her practice to serve the families she’s known her whole life. That community connection shapes how we run things: longer appointment times, transparent conversations about cost, and treatment recommendations based on what’s right for your mouth, not what’s quickest for the schedule. We’re rooted in community, and it shows in how we work.
We’ve served Crown Point and Northwest Indiana families for years, building a name on careful diagnosis, hand-finished detail work, and follow-through that lasts well past debond. When you choose Boller Orthodontic Arts, you’re choosing care focused on enhancing faces, not just braces.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adult Braces
How long do adult braces take?
Most adult braces cases take 18 to 30 months. Simpler alignment issues may finish closer to 12 to 18 months, while complex bite corrections can extend beyond two years. Dr. Boller provides a personalized timeline during your free consult.
How much do adult braces cost in Crown Point?
Cost varies based on case complexity, braces type, and treatment duration. During your consultation, we provide transparent pricing and discuss payment plans. We work with many insurance plans to maximize your benefits, and financing options help spread the investment over time.
Do braces hurt as an adult?
You’ll experience mild soreness for a few days after getting braces and after adjustment appointments. Most patients describe it as pressure rather than pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers and soft foods help during these brief adjustment periods.
Can I get braces if I had them as a teenager?
Yes. Retreatment is common, especially for adults who didn’t wear their retainers consistently. Your teeth naturally want to shift over time, and braces can correct that relapse. Many of our adult patients are on their second round of orthodontic treatment.
Will braces affect my work or speech?
Most adults adapt quickly. Traditional and ceramic braces rarely affect speech. Lingual braces may cause a brief adjustment period since your tongue needs to adapt to the brackets behind your teeth. Most patients speak normally within a week or two. Braces won’t limit your professional life.
Are braces or Invisalign better for adults?
Braces are better for complex bite issues and significant rotations. Invisalign works better for mild to moderate crowding and spacing. Some patients benefit from a combination approach. Dr. Boller, a specialist-trained orthodontist with advanced training beyond dental school, evaluates your specific situation and recommends the most effective option during your free consult.
Schedule Your Adult Braces Consultation in Crown Point
Ready to finally get the smile you’ve always wanted? Book your free consult at Boller Orthodontic Arts. Your visit includes a thorough exam, digital scans, and a personalized plan, with no obligation and no pressure.
We offer flexible scheduling that works around your job and family commitments. Evening and early appointments are available.
Dr. Boller and our team serve Crown Point, Dyer, and communities throughout Northwest Indiana from two convenient locations. Call (219) 322-7645 or request your appointment online today.