How Long Do Braces Take to Straighten Teeth?

You likely want your braces to align your smile quickly. After all, it’s better to have the process end sooner rather than later. Brackets and wires make eating food and cleaning teeth harder, not to mention give you a “metal mouth.” That said, you may be wondering about the average braces treatment time. How long will you be wearing your orthodontic appliance? Well, your Dallas dentist can help you find the answer. Here are four factors that affect how long braces take to straighten teeth, including ways to keep up their progress.

Factors in Braces Treatment Time

In general, braces take 1-3 years to work correctly. However, depending on your circumstances, you may need them for more or less time. For instance, the items below could shorten or lengthen your treatment.

Your Teeth’s Crookedness

You may wear braces to correct teeth that are crowded, stick out, or stand too far apart. That’s a good reason, as such issues raise your risk of cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay.

As you’d expect, though, braces will need extra time if this crookedness is severe. For example, alignment might require tooth extraction to make more room in your mouth.

The Type of Braces You Wear

There are three main types of braces: Metal, lingual, and clear aligners. Which kind you wear will influence treatment duration.

Traditional metal braces attach to the front of teeth. They tend to work for more serious dental misalignment.

Lingual braces, meanwhile, glue onto your teeth’s back surfaces. People believe them to be the most aesthetic type.

Lastly, clear aligners are clear, plastic-like trays changed out every few weeks as your teeth shift. Though removable, they need to be worn all day.

Your Bite

The length of treatment is also affected by whether you need to correct bite problems in addition to misaligned teeth. The process will take longer if you want to fix your open bite, deep bite, underbite, or crossbite.

Added Orthodontic Tools

You may end up needing more orthodontic tools to ensure successful treatment. These accessories include rubber bands, palatal expanders, and even headgear. If such items are necessary, your treatment time may increase.

Tips for Keeping Up Treatment Speed

To ensure your braces work as fast as possible, follow these tips:

• Practice Proper Oral Care: Brush your teeth twice daily, floss once daily, and rinse with mouthwash.
• Make Regular Dental Visits: Visit your dentist for your six-month checkups and cleanings.
• Get Professional Repairs: See your orthodontist at once if your braces break.

Remember to treat your teeth well while you’re wearing braces. By considering the factors and tips above, your smile straightening will be a snap!

About the Practice

Daily Smiles Dental is based in Dallas, TX. As led by Dr. Arrechea, the practice believes in trustworthy and affordable dental care. Therefore, its staff offers preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, not to mention emergency tooth-and-gum treatments. Each patient’s care is tailored to their unique needs, whether they’re 2 or 102! For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (214)-233-9460.