No matter at what age orthodontic patients experience improper alignment of the teeth and jaws, the desired outcome is generally the same—a straight, healthy smile with the proper occlusion, or bite. And, when safely performed and monitored by a certified orthodontist, orthodontic treatment can be just as effective in adults as in children, with the same range of dental and medical benefits. Adult orthodontic treatment will be approached much the same way as a child or teen, with the same evaluations, the same overarching plan of an appropriate appliance with routine checkups and adjustments, and a follow-up retention period. Adult treatment will differ slightly in the time and strategy the orthodontist deems necessary to make the corrections; fully developed adult facial structures are denser and less malleable, making them more difficult to move and requiring slightly longer treatment times.