How Long Do Braces Take to Straighten Teeth?

Posted on: 27 December 2017

If you are considering getting braces to straighten your smile, you may be wondering how long they will need to stay in place. Unfortunately, there is no single answer to the question of how long braces take to work, as the treatment length depends on the starting positions of your teeth, your age, and the type of braces you choose. Here are some helpful guidelines that could help you work out a rough estimage of how long you will need to wear your braces.

Typical Time for Braces to Work

According to orthodontists, most dental braces need to stay in place for between six months and two years to fully straighten a smile. However, many factors can affect the treatment time. For example, adult orthodontic treatment with braces often takes longer than it does for children, because adult's teeth are more firmly fixed in place. If your treatment involves removable aligners, the number of hours per day you wear your aligners will also have an effect. 

Invisalign Can Take Longer

Many people, particularly adults in professional jobs, opt for Invisalign when they want to straighten their smile. The main benefit of Invisalign is that the clear plastic aligners are almost invisible. However, Invisalign treatment can take longer than treatment with fixed braces. Orthodontists usually recommend fixed dental braces for complex orthodontic problems, although Invisalign is still a good option if you want to correct relatively minor misalignment. However, you should note that taking your Invisalign aligners out for long periods could make your treatment take longer. To get the smile you want as quickly as possible, you need to wear the aligners any time you are not eating or cleaning them.

No Time to Waste? Try Fastbraces

If you are eager to straighten your smile quickly, ask your dentist about fastbraces. These fixed braces apply precise torques and tipping forces to the teeth to realign their roots, close up gaps in the smile, and bring the teeth into a regular alignment in as little as 120 days. Fastbraces can fix many dental problems, including crowding, irregular tooth spacing, large gaps between the teeth, open bite, overly pronounced overbite, underbite and crossbite. However, they are not the best option for every patient as every mouth is unique.

To find out which orthodontic options could give you the best results and how long you can expect your treatment to take, ask your orthodontist for advice.

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