One of the most common things we hear from adult patients is:

“I don’t want traditional braces again.”

For many adults, previous orthodontic experiences felt uncomfortable, overly cosmetic, or ultimately unstable over time. Some patients completed braces years ago only to experience shifting, relapse, jaw discomfort, clenching, or bite changes later in life. Others simply assumed that adult orthodontic treatment would involve the same limited options they remember from adolescence.

The reality is that adult orthodontics today looks very different than it did even a decade ago.

Modern treatment is significantly more individualized, more biologically informed, and more focused on long-term structural health—not simply cosmetic alignment.

Every adult patient presents with a unique combination of factors:

• airway structure
• jaw position
• muscle compensation patterns
• breathing habits
• bite stability
• previous dental history
• stress and clenching patterns
• bone density and skeletal maturity

Because adult systems are more complex, treatment planning must extend beyond simply straightening teeth.

At TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of NH, Dr. Kimberly Ann Meyer approaches orthodontic care through a functional and airway-conscious lens. Treatment begins with a comprehensive understanding of how the teeth, airway, temporomandibular joints, muscles, and craniofacial structures work together as a system.

The goal is not simply to create a straighter smile.

The goal is to create a healthier, more sustainable foundation for long-term comfort, stability, breathing, and overall wellness.

Adult orthodontic treatment is no longer limited to traditional braces alone.

Depending on the needs of the patient, treatment options may include:

• traditional braces
• Invisalign® clear aligners
• Nuvola® Aligners
• orthopedic expansion approaches
• airway-focused treatment planning
• multidisciplinary care coordination

For many adults seeking a more discreet treatment option, clear aligner systems have become increasingly popular. In addition to Invisalign®, our Centre also offers Nuvola® clear aligners, an innovative system developed in Italy that integrates myofunctional movement into treatment planning.

Unlike traditional aligner approaches that focus primarily on tooth movement alone, Nuvola® incorporates principles of muscular balance and functional movement patterns as part of the overall orthodontic process. This allows treatment to better support the relationship between the teeth, muscles, tongue posture, and surrounding structures.

Historically, many adults with narrow arches or skeletal constriction were told that expansion was not possible after adolescence.

Today, advanced orthopedic techniques have dramatically changed what may be achievable for properly selected adult patients.

Dr. Meyer is trained in both MARPE (Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) and SARPE (Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion), two advanced expansion approaches used to address structural constriction in adult patients when appropriate.

These techniques may help create additional space within the arches while also supporting improved airway volume and overall craniofacial balance in certain cases.

Not every patient is a candidate for expansion, and treatment decisions must always be made carefully through comprehensive evaluation and imaging. However, these modern approaches have significantly expanded the possibilities available in adult orthodontic care.

The tools themselves are not what make orthodontic treatment successful.

The true difference lies in how treatment is evaluated, planned, and stabilized.

Dr. Meyer’s advanced training in sleep medicine, airway health, craniofacial pain, and functional orthodontics allows our team to identify structural patterns that traditional orthodontic planning may sometimes overlook.

This may include:

• compromised nasal breathing
• narrow airway structures
• tongue space limitations
• temporomandibular joint instability
• muscle compensation patterns
• early indicators of sleep-disordered breathing
• bite instability contributing to chronic tension or discomfort

Using advanced diagnostics such as 3D imaging and comprehensive functional evaluation, treatment planning is built around the long-term stability of the system—not simply the visual alignment of the teeth.

Because straight teeth alone do not always guarantee comfort, stability, or healthy function.

For adults especially, orthodontic treatment should support more than appearance alone.

A healthy, stable bite can influence:

• airway support
• muscle balance
• jaw comfort
• long-term tooth wear
• sleep quality
• facial tension
• overall oral function

When orthodontics is approached through a functional and airway-conscious perspective, treatment becomes part of supporting whole-body wellness.

At our Centre, every treatment plan is carefully designed around the unique biology, goals, and long-term health of the individual patient.

Because the goal is not simply straight teeth.

The goal is a healthier, sustainable smile that supports your airway, stabilizes your joints, and functions comfortably for years to come.