We encounter many adult patients who wanted to have braces when they were kids, but it didn’t happen for various reasons. The good news is that you’re technically never too old to benefit from orthodontic treatment. Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, can still help deliver that perfect smile when you’re an adult. We’ve even seen patients in their 60s who have successfully been treated with Invisalign. Here’s a closer look at the benefits you can enjoy from clear aligners as an adult.

1. Discretion and Aesthetic Appeal

If you wear traditional braces, everyone knows. Most people will never know if you’re receiving orthodontic treatment with clear aligners unless you tell them.

The discreet nature of clear aligners is why they’re so popular with adults. An estimated 30 percent of orthodontic patients are adults using clear aligners, which shows their growing popularity.

If you want to correct your smile, you can do it without telegraphing the fact to the rest of the world. The aligners will be custom-made to fit snugly on your teeth. The explicit plastic materials are nearly invisible. This can be especially advantageous if you work in a front-facing career, talking to customers or clients.

2. Comfortable and Convenient

Clear braces function in much the same way as regular braces. They work by gradually shifting the teeth into new positions over time. A significant difference, however, is that the brackets in your braces are bonded to your teeth for the duration of treatment. Invisalign and other clear aligners can be removed.

If it’s time to eat a meal or brush and floss your teeth, you can remove the clear aligners and put them back on. Aligners should be worn for at least 22 hours daily, leaving plenty of time for meals and oral hygiene. With braces, you have to learn to eat with the appliances attached to your teeth. Brushing and flossing are more time-consuming. Braces can also scratch the inside of your mouth, which never happens with clear aligners.

With braces, you will have to make adjustments to your diet. You need to avoid certain foods for the duration of treatment so that you don’t damage the brackets or accidentally bend the arch wire. With aligners, you don’t have to adjust your diet. You simply take the aligners out when it’s time to eat. 

3. Effective and Predictable Results

As of 2025, more than two dozen brands of clear aligners were on the market, but we offer Invisalign for patients here at Reddick Orthodontics. It’s the most popular clear aligner available and offers predictable results.

Clinical studies have shown that when prescribed by an orthodontist, most clear aligners have a successful predictability rate on outcomes of around 80 percent. Invisalign has a successful predictability rate of as high as 96 percent. The clear leader in helping patients achieve their smile goals is Invisalign. 

4. Improved Oral Health

Oral hygiene is essential during orthodontic treatment, but more so with braces. The brackets and arch wires provide more spaces for food particles to become trapped and stick to the teeth, putting braces patients at a higher risk of developing cavities. Brushing and flossing with braces takes more time, and it also takes special brushes to reach every spot effectively.

With clear aligners, you can take them out to brush and floss as you usually would. Maintaining your regular oral hygiene regimen is less challenging, so you’re much less likely to develop cavities during treatment.

5. Shorter Treatment Time

Treatment with traditional braces can take up to three years, depending on the correction needed. Clear braces can usually achieve the desired results in six to 18 months. You’ll also require fewer visits with your orthodontist with clear aligners. Patients with braces require adjustments from their orthodontist every four to six weeks; clear aligners require visits every eight to 12 weeks. 

If you’re an adult and you’ve always wanted to achieve the perfect smile, clear aligners are a discreet option. Contact us at Reddick Orthodontics in Melbourne to schedule an appointment.