An orthodontic treatment with braces can improve not only the appearance of your smile, but also have a positive effect on your oral and general health. But how long does an orthodontist take, and what factors affect the treatment time for braces? In this article, we list the main factors that can determine the duration of your orthodontic treatment.

What Factors Affect Braces Treatment Time?

In general, an orthodontic treatment with braces takes around 18 months. However, some people might require a shorter time to fix their misalignment issues, while others might need to wear braces for up to 24 months or longer. Let us look at what factors can affect your braces treatment time in detail.

The Complexity of Misalignment

The complexity of your misalignment case can have the biggest effect on the total treatment time. For example, people who have only minor misalignment or a few slightly rotated teeth may wear braces for only a year. On the other hand, people with severely crowded teeth and bite alignment issues may require up to 24 months of treatment, or even longer, in some cases. Your dentist will be able to examine your case in detail during your first consultation and provide a professional estimate of the likely treatment timeline.

The Age of the Patient

The patient’s age can affect treatment time in some cases. Children and teenagers may need to wear braces for shorter periods because their jaws are still developing, making it easier to prompt their teeth to move. On the other hand, adults, whose jaws are fully developed, may require more time for their treatments.

Patient Compliance

Another important factor that affects the length of your braces treatment is how well you follow your dentist’s recommendations. For example, sometimes, you might be required to wear rubber bands (also called elastics) that help move your teeth and jaw into the correct position. If you forget to attach the bands regularly, your total treatment time will inevitably increase. Also, you must visit your dentist for adjustments as scheduled; otherwise, the treatment will not advance, and the total time will increase.

Also, if your braces become damaged, you should address them immediately, as broken appliances do not work as they should, increasing the total treatment time.

Biological Response

Even if you do not skip your appointments and follow all recommendations, genetically determined factors can still affect your orthodontic treatment time. For example, some people might have denser jawbones and have their teeth move more slowly, while others might find that their teeth respond to treatment faster than predicted.

Types of Braces

Even though, in the majority of cases, treatment time does not depend on the type of braces you use, for some people, a treatment with lingual or ceramic braces might take slightly longer than with traditional braces.

Some people include clear aligners in the definition of braces. If you choose this option for your orthodontic treatment, remember that its duration will heavily depend on your compliance with the rules. Generally, an orthodontic treatment with clear aligners takes the same amount of time as that with traditional braces, but only if you wear them at least 22 hours a day.

Get an Orthodontic Treatment at Santa Ana Magic Smile

If you are considering an orthodontic treatment, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced dentist at Santa Ana Magic Smile. Our specialists will carefully examine your case to determine what type of orthodontic treatment will be most suitable for you and produce the best results. We are looking forward to your visit.