If you’re considering braces, one of the first questions on your mind might be: “How long is this actually going to take?” This is a completely fair question! Orthodontic treatment means committing to changing your schedule, your routine, and your budget at times. The truth is that treatment length varies from person to person, and there’s no single number that applies to everyone. But there are some factors that often play a large part in determining how long you’ll be wearing your braces. Here’s what you need to know.
How Long Do Braces Take on Average?
Orthodontic treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of thing; it’s carefully managed and personalized for every patient. For most people, braces treatment lasts somewhere between 12 and 36 months, with 18 to 24 months being the most common range. Children and teenagers tend to fall on the shorter end of that spectrum, while adults often require a bit more time.
What Factors Determine the Overall Treatment Timeline?
That said, there are a few key factors that are always relevant when it comes to the anticipated timeline. These include:
- The complexity of your case – Mild crowding or a small gap between teeth can often be addressed quickly. However, more complex issues like significant overcrowding, a pronounced overbite or underbite, or teeth that are severely rotated, require more time and more movement.
- Your overall compliance with treatment – Eating the wrong foods, failing to wear elastic bands as instructed, or not keeping up with your oral hygiene can all potentially add extra months to your treatment timeline.
- Your age when kicking off treatment – Children and teens have jawbones that are still developing, which makes teeth more responsive to the gentle, consistent pressure that braces apply. Since adults have denser jawbones, tooth movement happens at a slower pace.
You should also know that once treatment is finished, there are things that may cause your teeth to revert to their incorrect positions—mainly, failing to wear your retainer as instructed. This means that you’d be undoing all of your hard-earned progress and causing even more delays in achieving your desired results.
Every smile is different, and so is every treatment journey; however, one thing is true across the board: you play a big role in keeping things on track!
About the Practice
Our team here at Simply Orthodontics Holliston has served the needs of patients and families in the area for several years. Under the leadership of Dr. Alan Carlotto, we offer a wide range of orthodontic treatments for all ages, including traditional metal braces, Invisalign clear aligners, and many other options. If you have any questions about the blog or you’re ready to schedule an orthodontic consultation for yourself or a loved one, you can call or reach out online for more information or assistance. Telephone: (508) 429-7800.
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