If you’ve heard of metal braces, you know they’re a big commitment. It’s only natural to want to learn how long you’d need them. When you know how long it takes braces to straighten teeth, you can adjust your schedule and make plans around your treatment. There’s good news: your dentist can help you achieve a straighter, healthier smile in a much quicker fashion than you may have realized. Just keep reading to learn about the timeline for braces, how it can vary, and ways to keep it short.
The Timeline for Braces Depends
Metal braces treatment often takes 1-3 years (on average) to wrap up. Still, various factors affect whether a patient’s care involves more or less time. The most common of these are:
Your Overall Age
If you get braces, how long you wear them will partly depend on your age. The number of years you’ve lived can make the treatment timeline shorter or longer.
It boils down to how orthodontic work is quick for young patients. Since little kids have still-developing jawbones, it’s often fast and easy to move their teeth. In contrast, the aligning process tends to run longer for teen, adult, and senior patients.
Your Orthodontic Issues
Your orthodontic issues also affect the timeline for braces. After all, severe problems take longer to fix than mild ones.
For the sake of argument, say you have a crooked smile. Aligning it may only take a year if the crookedness isn’t too bad. However, your treatment could take upward of three years if you have very crowded teeth that stick out or are spaced apart.
Your Orthodontic Tools (if any)
Some patients need “extra” items alongside metal braces. If you’re one of them, your orthodontic tools will affect your treatment time.
Aside from braces, your dentist may have you wear rubber bands, palatal expanders, or even headgear. Needing such accessories means your treatment time will likely run long. Those tools make extra corrections that braces alone can’t, and their changes can take a while to “kick in.” (You should also remember that you’ll need to wear a retainer after treatment.)
Ways to Make Your Braces Timeline Shorter
To make your time with braces as short as possible, just do the following:
- Practice Good Oral Care: You’re less likely to have treatment disruptions if you brush twice daily and floss once daily.
- Get Regular Checkups: By seeing your dentist and orthodontist for regular checkups, you’ll avoid issues that delay treatment.
- Make Smart Dietary Choices: To keep your braces functional, make sure to avoid (or limit) sticky and crunchy foods. These items could dislodge or break your device’s brackets and wires.
- See an Orthodontist for Repairs: Remember to see an orthodontist whenever your braces break.
It may take time for braces to straighten teeth, but treatment doesn’t have to be harsh. Simply use the tips above, and you’ll have an aligned smile before you know it!
About the Practice
Benchmark Family Dental and Orthodontics is based in Copperas Cove, TX. Led by Dr. Ahmet Celebi, our practice works to make your smile the best it can be. We embody that commitment by tailoring our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services to your specific needs. In taking this approach, our team ensures your teeth and gums thrive for years! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (254)-547-4866.