How Long Does Treatment With Orthodontics Last?

The severity of a person’s condition determines how long their orthodontics treatment will last. On average, it takes anywhere between 12 to 36 months. Proper teeth alignment is essential for tasks that most people take for granted, like speaking, breathing, and chewing.

Orthodontics helps patients avoid a variety of problems. Improperly aligned teeth put pressure and tension on all the teeth and on the jaw. Improper alignment also makes it more difficult to properly clean teeth with brushing and flossing, since some of them might overlap, increasing a person’s risk of developing issues like periodontal disease and cavities. Improperly aligned teeth can ruin the way that a person’s smile looks, regardless of how white and healthy their teeth may be.

Figuring out how long you need orthodontics

To determine how long a patient’s treatment will last, an evaluation is needed to determine the severity of their condition. Dentists typically start with a visual examination and use diagnostics like X-rays to get a clearer picture of what is going on underneath the patient’s gums.

Once a thorough diagnosis has been made, the dentist will craft a customized treatment plan for the patient. Factors that will be considered when making this plan include the patient’s facial structure, jaw positioning, and the current placement of their teeth.

These factors often determine the types of orthodontic appliances that the dentist recommends for patients. Braces are typically recommended when a patient’s jaw needs to be moved, since other options, like clear aligners, are not as effective at doing that. Factors that determine how long the dentist recommends wearing the appliance include the following.

Age

Younger people have facial and jaw structures that are still developing. That typically leads to shorter treatment times because it requires less force to get their teeth to an improved alignment. The ideal age for orthodontic treatment is somewhere between the age of 9 to 14. At this stage, existing issues are easier to correct, and the dentist can guide the future development of the patient’s teeth.

Severity

The severity of the patient’s condition also affects their treatment time because it takes more time to push severely misaligned teeth into a better alignment. The less correction that the patient’s teeth or jaw needs, the shorter the length of their treatment. Complicated treatments that require extractions or readjustments will take longer.

Commitment

Orthodontic appliances like clear aligners require patients to stick to a strict wear schedule. These appliances should be worn for a minimum of 20 hours per day for effective treatment. Failing to do so lengthens the treatment. People who are likely to have issues being committed to their treatment might be better off with fixed appliances, like braces.