Sometimes treatment is relatively simple. Other times, a multi-step process is required to restore the mouth. The orthodontic clinic is the clinical training site for the school's three-year graduate program in orthodontics. Residents treat approximately 1,000 patients each year at the clinic, under the supervision of attending faculty. Upon graduation, they receive a Master of Science degree.
Patients pay about half of the customary fees for private orthodontic treatment.
While many conditions can be corrected with braces during adulthood, others may require surgery as well. With adults, the jaw and facial bones are no longer growing, so treatment may be more involved and take longer. New composites and other lightweight materials make braces less obtrusive and more comfortable. In the past, metal bands were wrapped around each tooth and cemented in place. Now, tiny brackets are bonded directly to the teeth.