When Will My Braces Come Off?
It’s common for patients to ask our Carmel, IN, orthodontists for specifics regarding the soon after their braces are applied. Because every patient has different dental needs, however, the answer often varies and is not the same for everyone.
Here’s generally and a few factors that can affect that timeframe.
The Average Length of Treatment
In general, the average amount of time that a patient has metal or ceramic braces on is between 1 and 3 years. Most people fall somewhere in the middle and have braces for 2 years, but again, everyone is different. Dr. Davila and Dr. Hani can provide you with a more concrete timeline after evaluating your teeth and jaws.
What you ultimately choose for your treatment plan also affects the period in which you have braces on. For example, traditional metal braces are built to tackle more extreme dental problems which can take longer to accomplish. On the other hand, someone who chooses InBrace® and only has mild crowding may be finished in as little as 6 months.
How Long You Wear Braces Will Depend On:
1. The Severity or Complexity Of Your Dental Issues
This is probably the biggest determining factor when it comes to your time with braces. The degree to which your teeth are misaligned, or the existence of bite problems will play into how your treatment plan is structured.
The following dental issues may prolong your orthodontic treatment:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Open bite (top and bottom teeth don’t come together)
- Cross bite
- Severe crowding that requires tooth extraction
- Crookedness of teeth
- Wide spacing between teeth
2. Your Stage in Life (Child vs. Teen vs. Adult)
You are never too old to receive braces. In fact, more adults than ever are choosing treatment and according to current statistics from the (AAO), 1 in 4 orthodontic patients is an adult. That’s great!
At our Carmel, IN, orthodontics office, we offer a few types of braces as well as Invisalign® clear aligners for adults looking to straighten their smile. While Dr. Davila and Dr. Hani encourage patients of all ages to seek the treatment they need for better oral health and aesthetics, there is one thing to keep in mind: your jaws.
A child or teen’s jaws are still growing, and their teeth will move into new positions easier compared to an adult. That’s because an adult’s teeth have been in place longer, thus requiring more effort to move. The braces timeline is not greatly affected for adults but can take slightly longer due to this reason.
3. How Committed You Are During Treatment
Missing or delaying checkup appointments will not keep your treatment on track. Quite the contrary. If you want to have your braces removed on time, it’s important that you visit our office as often as instructed.
From your child’s first orthodontic appointment (or yours) on, we’ll tighten and adjust the braces so progress is made on schedule. Neglecting these visits or not properly caring for your braces will only set you back and could result in additional corrections being needed.
Give Us a Call Today
Your braces will be removed when your teeth have achieved proper alignment and your bite is normal. If you have any questions throughout your treatment or need help with at-home oral care, our orthodontists serving Carmel, IN, and Greater Indianapolis are available to talk. Call WestClay Orthodontics today at (317) 593-1400 to request an appointment.