Why are so many adults needing braces and orthodontic work? It's a genuine question - is orthodontic work not offered to children anymore? I had a lot of orthodontic work as a child, starting at age 10 when I had 4 teeth removed (2 from top jaw and corresponding ones from bottom jaw) to create more room for the others. I then had metal rings with slots attached to them cemented onto my back teeth on the upper jaw into which a metal attachment like a horse's bit was inserted, this attached to a strap that went around the back of my neck. I had to wear it for 14 hours each day and it was tightened once a month in order to pull everything back to create even more room for my teeth. After that was over (about a year) I had a plate brace for a couple of years. All in all my treatment took about 4 years, but I have lovely straight and even teeth as a result, so happy it was done for me. This was all done in the late 1970s to early 1980s and all free from my NHS dentist.