Getting braces is a big decision that can transform your smile and improve your oral health. The question everyone asks is: How long will I need to wear them?
While the average treatment time ranges from 18 to 24 months, your specific timeline depends on several factors unique to your situation. Ready to start your journey to a straighter smile? Schedule an appointment with Ultra Dental today to get a personalized treatment plan.
What are braces?
Braces are orthodontic devices that use gentle, continuous pressure to gradually move your teeth into their proper positions. They consist of brackets bonded to your teeth, connected by metal wires and sometimes elastic bands, working together to correct misalignment, spacing issues, and bite problems over a period of time.
When should you consider braces?
- Crowded or overlapping teeth – When your teeth don’t have enough room to fit properly, they can overlap or twist, making cleaning difficult and increasing cavity risk.
- Gaps between teeth – Spaces between teeth can trap food particles and affect your bite, leading to gum problems over time.
- Bite problems (overbite, underbite, crossbite) – Misaligned jaws can cause difficulty chewing, speaking issues, and uneven tooth wear.
- Crooked or rotated teeth – Teeth that have grown in at angles can affect your smile’s appearance and make proper oral hygiene challenging.
- Jaw alignment issues – Problems with how your upper and lower jaws meet can lead to TMJ pain and long-term dental complications.
How long do braces take?
What is the minimum time to have braces?
The minimum time typically starts at around 6 months for very minor corrections, such as fixing a single crooked tooth or closing a small gap. However, most orthodontic cases require at least 12 to 18 months to achieve lasting results. Your orthodontist needs sufficient time to move teeth safely without damaging the roots or surrounding bone structure.
When can I stop wearing braces?
- When your teeth reach their target positions. Your orthodontist uses X-rays and models to track when teeth have moved to their planned locations.
- When your bite is properly aligned. Both your front and back teeth must meet correctly for proper chewing function.
- When roots are stable in their new positions. Teeth need time for the bone to solidify around the roots in their new locations.
- When your orthodontist confirms that treatment goals are met. Only your orthodontist can determine when all treatment objectives have been successfully achieved.
5 Factors that Affect Your Treatment Time
Age of the Patient
Younger patients, especially children and teenagers, often experience faster treatment times because their bones are still growing and teeth move more easily through developing bone tissue. Adult patients typically require longer treatment periods since mature bone is denser and remodels more slowly. The average teen might complete treatment in 18 months, while adults often need 24 months or more for similar corrections.
Severity of Orthodontic Issues
- Mild Issues (6-12 months) – Small gaps between teeth, minor crowding of front teeth, or slight tooth rotation.
- Moderate Issues (18-24 months) – Multiple crooked teeth, moderate overbite or underbite, significant spacing throughout the mouth.
- Severe Issues (24-36+ months) – Major jaw misalignment, impacted teeth requiring surgical exposure, severe crowding requiring tooth extraction.
- Complex Cases (30+ months) – Combination of bite problems, jaw surgery requirements, or significant facial structure corrections.
Oral Health Status
Starting treatment with healthy teeth and gums allows your orthodontic device to work most effectively from day one. If you have cavities or gum disease, these dental issues must be addressed before or during treatment, potentially extending your timeline. Maintaining healthy habits throughout treatment prevents complications that could slow progress.
Type of Braces Used
- Traditional Metal Braces – The most efficient option, typically completing treatment in 18-24 months for moderate cases.
- Ceramic Braces – Clear or tooth-colored brackets that may add 2-4 months to your treatment time due to their more delicate nature.
- Lingual Braces – Hidden behind teeth, these often require 24-36 months due to adjustment complexity and tongue interference.
- Self-Ligating Braces – Use special clips instead of elastic ties, potentially reducing treatment time by 2-6 months through more efficient tooth movement.
Patient Compliance
Following your orthodontist’s instructions directly impacts how quickly your treatment progresses. Patients who maintain excellent oral hygiene, attend all scheduled appointments, and avoid damaging their braces typically finish on schedule. Missing appointments, breaking brackets, or not wearing elastics as prescribed can add months to your treatment time.
6 Tips for Getting Your Braces Off Faster
- Keep all orthodontic appointments. Regular appointments every 4-6 weeks keep your treatment progressing steadily toward completion.
- Maintain excellent oral hygiene. Brush after every meal and floss daily to prevent tooth decay and gum problems that can delay treatment.
- Wear rubber bands exactly as prescribed. If your treatment includes elastics, wearing them consistently is crucial for timely bite correction.
- Avoid hard and chewy foods. Protecting your orthodontic appliances from damage prevents emergency repairs and treatment delays.
- Report problems immediately. Contact your orthodontist right away if a bracket loosens or a wire breaks to minimize disruption.
- Follow all care instructions. Your orthodontist’s guidelines are designed to optimize your treatment efficiency and results.
4 Faster Treatment Options vs Braces
Clear Aligners (Invisalign)
Clear aligners are removable, transparent trays that gradually shift your teeth into position through a series of custom-made aligners changed every 1-2 weeks. For mild to moderate cases, aligners can sometimes work faster than braces, completing treatment in 12-18 months compared to the typical 18-24 months with traditional orthodontics. However, their effectiveness depends heavily on wearing them 22 hours daily, and they may not be suitable for complex orthodontic issues that braces handle more efficiently.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of your teeth, providing an instant cosmetic transformation in just 2-3 dental visits over 2-4 weeks. Unlike braces that actually move teeth, veneers cover imperfections like gaps, minor misalignment, and discoloration without changing tooth position. While they offer the fastest “straight smile” results, veneers are purely cosmetic and don’t address underlying orthodontic issues or bite problems.
Dental Bonding and Contouring
Dental bonding uses tooth-colored composite resin to reshape teeth and close small gaps, often completed in a single visit lasting 30-60 minutes per tooth. This option works faster than any orthodontic treatment but only addresses minor cosmetic issues like small chips, gaps under 3mm, or slightly uneven tooth edges. Unlike traditional orthodontics, which provides permanent tooth movement, bonding is a temporary cosmetic fix that may need replacement every 5-10 years.
Surgical Orthodontics
For severe jaw misalignment cases, combining orthognathic surgery with braces can actually reduce total treatment time from 3-4 years to 18-24 months. The surgery instantly corrects major skeletal discrepancies that would take years to camouflage with braces alone, though it requires significant recovery time. This option is reserved for adult patients with severe bite problems where traditional braces alone cannot achieve optimal results within a reasonable timeframe.
Conclusion
Your braces journey is unique, and while most treatments last 18 to 24 months, following your orthodontist’s guidance can help ensure you stay on track. Remember that achieving a beautiful, healthy smile is worth the investment of time and care.
Ready to transform your smile? Schedule an appointment with Ultra Dental to discuss your personalized treatment plan. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X for more dental tips, and check out our reviews on Yelp to see why patients trust us with their orthodontic care.