Adult Orthodontic Patients Equate A Beautiful Smile to Social and Professional Success

Local Orthodontists See Uptick in Adult Patients

 (Issued Winter 2014)  — As Dr. Robert Chavez marks his 40^th year as an Orthodontist and welcomes his ARCH Orthodontics practice’s 20,000^th patient, he reports on a growing trend over the past decade: Today some 30% of his practice’s patients are adults.

Since 2004, members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), of which Dr. Chavez and his son, Dr. Andrew Chase are members, report treating over one million adults each year. (Among these have been many celebrities including Katherine Heigl and Tom Cruise, pictured proudly wearing their nearly-invisible braces.)

Dr. Chavez and Dr. Chase attribute the rise in adult Orthodontic patients to several factors that came to light in a national AAO survey and that they have experienced locally:

• A beautiful smile equates to social and professional success
• Less visible or obtrusive braces or other devices – helps patients to be less self-conscious
• Once in the working world, people can afford treatment they may not have had as kids.
• Sleek and modern treatments perfect for the busy adult lifestyle.
• Shorter duration for treatment –  usually 6 months to 2 years
• Portion of cost may be covered by insurance
• Convenient appointment hours

In the AAO survey, more than a third of people interviewed said they believed an attractive smile would improve their social, romantic and professional lives. Research shows that having straight teeth can help with one’s social life and career.

While many adult patients are referred by dentists, friends or family members, some come in on their own for a complimentary consultation. But, Dr. Chase notes, “It is common when we’re finishing up a child’s case and reviewing their successes, that a parent says, ‘OK, I’m next,’ or ‘It’s my turn after my next son/daughter.’  A feeling takes me over as a practitioner to hear those words. It tells me that we have really done our job as specialists to make a difference in people’s lives.” He says ARCH has had several multi-generational family patients, and many families in which several children and one or both parents have been patients.

“We emphasize to the adult market how good they’re going to look and how much self-confidence that’s going to create – and that the appliances can be almost invisible during treatment,” says Dr. Chase.

ARCH Orthodontics offers free consultation for all ages – a $500 value – and no-interest financing. For more info: http://www.sesameblogs.com/archorthodontics /   1-800-28-SMILE.  ARCH Orthodontics, with 9 offices south of Boston and on Cape Cod, is the Official Orthodontist of Miss Massachusetts.

Tags: ARCH Orthodontics, Bridgewater MA orthodontist, Brockton MA orthodontist, Canton MA orthodontist, Dr. Andrew Chase, Dr. Brad Woland, Dr. Brad Woland orthodontist, Dr. Robert Chavez, Middleborough MA orthodontist, orthodontist Brockton MA, orthodontist Canton MA, orthodontist hyde park MA, orthodontist Randolph MA, orthodontist Stoughton, orthodontist Stoughton MA, orthodontist Westwood MA, Randolph MA orthodontist, Westwood MA orthodontist