---
title: "Orthodontic Treatment Statistics and Trends in the US"
url: "https://www.newmouth.com/oral-health/orthodontic-trend-statistics/"
description: "Explore orthodontic patient numbers, adult treatment trends, costs, treatment duration, and completion research, with dated sources and study limitations."
---

Orthodontic treatment is serving a growing number of adults, but no single statistic describes every patient or practice. Association surveys, national spending studies, and clinical research measure different parts of the picture.

This guide brings those findings together, with dates and populations attached. The figures below describe the years studied, not a new national census for 2026. Treatment decisions still depend on an individual assessment by a dentist or orthodontist.

## Key Orthodontic Statistics

These figures answer different questions. A patient count measures people receiving care, while a completion rate describes outcomes within a particular study.

| Finding | Population and period | What it tells us |
| --- | --- | --- |
| About 6.66 million patients in active treatment | AAO member practices in the US and Canada, 2024 data | An estimated patient count across two countries, not US prevalence.1 |
| About 1.91 million adult patients | US patients treated by AAO members, 2024 data | Adult treatment volume, up from about 1.64 million in 2022.1 |
| 70% of patients treated by orthodontists | AAO’s 2024 consumer landscape study | A provider share, not the share of patients using braces or aligners.2 |
| Average treatment duration of 19.9 months | A 2016 review of 22 fixed-appliance studies with 1,089 participants | A research average, not a promised treatment timeline.3 |
| 49.8% completed treatment | A retrospective study of 219 patients from one rural Appalachian dental office, using 2012 records | A local study result, not a national completion rate.4 |

## Adult Treatment Is Increasing

The AAO’s 2025 member survey, which collected 2024 practice data, estimated more adult patients in US member practices than in 2022.1

The survey received 635 usable full or partial responses, representing 6.6% participation. Its estimates describe AAO member practices. They should not be presented as a count of every American receiving orthodontic care.

Adults also appear in research on treatment duration. A 2020 systematic review found no statistically significant difference in comprehensive fixed-appliance treatment duration between adults and adolescents across seven studies.5

That finding challenges a blanket claim that adult treatment always takes longer. The evidence varied substantially, so it does not establish that every adult and teenager will have the same timeline. The diagnosis and treatment being compared still matter.

For information about treatment choices, see our guide to [orthodontics for adults](/orthodontics/life-stages/adult-braces/).

## Who Provides Orthodontic Care?

In the AAO’s 2024 consumer landscape study, orthodontists accounted for 70% of patients in treatment. General and pediatric dentists accounted for 20%, and mail-order providers for 10%.2

The study also reported differences by age. Orthodontists treated 64% of adult patients, compared with 78% of teens and 78% of children ages 7 to 12.

These are provider categories. They do not tell us the national percentage of patients wearing [clear aligners](/orthodontics/treatment/clear-aligners/) versus [braces](/orthodontics/treatment/braces/). An orthodontist can provide either, so provider share should not be relabeled as appliance market share.

## Costs and Access Are Uneven

Orthodontic spending differs across income groups and insurance arrangements. A 2021 study analyzed US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data from 1996 through 2016 and documented disparities across demographic groups and payers.6

This is useful evidence about access and spending over time. It is not a current price list, and spending per person should not be confused with the full quoted price of treatment.

When comparing a treatment quote, check what it includes: examinations, appliances, follow-up visits, refinements, and retainers. Ask the provider which costs could fall outside the quoted total.

Our [braces cost guide](/orthodontics/treatment/braces/cost/) explains common pricing considerations. For help understanding coverage, see [dental insurance](/dental-insurance/). A historical national average cannot determine what your plan will pay.

## How Long Does Treatment Take?

A 2016 systematic review estimated a mean duration of 19.9 months for comprehensive treatment with fixed appliances.3 The estimate came from 22 studies involving 1,089 participants, conducted in university settings.

That average is a reference point rather than a deadline. It does not describe every aligner plan, limited touch-up, or complex treatment. Comparing your proposed treatment with the right study population matters more than comparing it with a single headline number.

The adult-versus-adolescent review also found substantial variation among studies.5 Ask your orthodontist what the estimated timeline assumes and what could change it. A treatment estimate should be specific to your examination and plan.

## Completion Rates Need Local Context

One study from rural North Central Appalachia reported that 49.8% of its 219 patients completed orthodontic treatment.4 The researchers reviewed records from a single outpatient general dental office, rather than a nationally representative sample.

Completion varied by payment group: 74% among self-pay patients, 34% among Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program patients, and 36% among privately insured patients.

Those associations do not prove that payment type caused the difference. Nor do they mean that half of all US orthodontic patients stop treatment. The study helps identify questions about access and continuity of care within its setting.

Before starting treatment, discuss appointment scheduling, payment arrangements, and how the practice handles interruptions. A completion statistic cannot predict an individual patient’s outcome.

## How to Read Orthodontic Trend Claims

A useful statistic identifies the people studied, the observation year, and the outcome measured. Before relying on a number, check:

-   **Geography:** Is it US data, a US-and-Canada estimate, or research from another country?
-   **Population:** Does it cover all residents, patients already in treatment, association members’ practices, or one clinic?
-   **Time period:** Is the publication date different from the year the data was collected?
-   **Outcome:** Does the number describe active treatment, lifetime use, spending, completion, or clinical results?

Digital treatment tools and changing patient preferences are important topics, but a new technology does not by itself establish better outcomes. Keep claims about convenience, treatment speed, and effectiveness tied to the particular evidence being cited.

The strongest conclusion from these sources is that adult demand has grown in surveyed practices, while access and outcomes require more context. A national trend is a starting point for understanding care, not a substitute for a personal treatment plan.