The idea of getting adult braces in Pembroke Pines is no longer taboo—that doesn’t mean that the process may be bothersome. No one likes the added discomfort of brackets and wires, and, as a working adult, these structures can significantly impact the lifestyle you’re accustomed to, making you wonder, how long will this last?
Depending on the complexity of your case and your commitment to following your dentist’s instructions, the duration of your orthodontic treatment may vary. To help you gain a clear idea of what to expect, we came up with this article.
The time it takes for braces to straighten your teeth can range from six months to more than three years. The average duration of braces treatment is roughly 25 months.
Truth be told, even the most experienced orthodontists can’t exactly estimate the total duration of a braces treatment. Your procedure depends on several factors, like the complexity of your case, your age, and even the location of the misaligned teeth.
This is why, in some cases, your orthodontist insists you need to keep the braces for a few months, even after hitting the two-year mark. Let’s see, in detail, how some of these factors affect your orthodontic treatment:
Braces can correct a variety of misaligned teeth, but the length of time it takes to correct your teeth will depend on how severe the problem is.
If your teeth are seriously misaligned, your braces will take longer to straighten them. Although you might see results in a few weeks, it might take two or three years to align your teeth fully.
With braces, minor crowding, a small gap, or a few misaligned teeth can be corrected more quickly—usually in less than a year.
There are several types of braces or orthodontic devices, from traditional stainless steel metal braces to ceramic braces and clear aligners, a recent popular alternative to braces for milder alignment issues.
Ceramic brackets are less likely to fail than stainless steel brackets, making them slightly faster. Studies have shown that clear aligners take less time than braces, mostly because they are designed for less severe cases of misaligned teeth.
As a patient, you must also exercise greater self-control during this orthodontic treatment, as noncompliance can seriously jeopardize your dental procedure.
Adherence to your treatment plan can greatly impact the duration of your treatment. If you miss an appointment, your treatment period may be extended by one month. Poor oral hygiene and eating foods that damage your braces can also slow it down.
The same applies if you decide to use clear aligners instead of braces. You must wear your aligners diligently for at least 22 hours every day, maintain optimal oral hygiene, and remember to put them back after eating.
So, if you want to see your braces treatment reach port quickly, following your orthodontist’s instructions is key.
The last and probably most impactful factor affecting your orthodontic treatment is age. Because children’s and teens’ bones are still growing, their teeth move more easily than an adult’s, making their treatment times shorter.
Therefore, although treatment for adults might take longer than for children, they can still be excellent candidates for braces.
As you can see, several factors affect the total duration of braces treatments. Some you have control over, but others are completely beyond your power, like the complexity of your case or your age.
Still, it’s never too late to get the dental care you need. By following your Village Square Dental orthodontist’s instructions, you can make your treatment time as short as possible and prevent the need for additional treatment in the future. If you’re interested in learning more, reach out!