The number of adult patients seeking orthodontic treatment has been showing a tendency to increase in Japan as well, because of a change in age distribution of population. At the orthodontic clinic of Niigata university Medical and Dental Hospital, the ratio of adult patients over twenty years of age at the first visit to total patients has recently become more than 30%, and further, those over 30 years old has reached around 10% after 1996.

Most of adult patients tend to be much more concerned about facial proportion as well as malalignment than adolescents or younger patients. Further, a previous clinical research indicates that any patient over the age 35 has some periodontal problems that could affect orthodontic tooth movement. I'm going to address the basic concept and special considerations in adult orthodontic treatment.