What’s the Shortest Time You Can Have Braces?
Getting braces is among the things you can do to improve your teeth's alignment and appearance. However, you can do a few things before opting for braces. First is speaking with your orthodontist to know which braces will work best for you.
Braces have been around for 300 years. However, their treatment plans vary depending on the severity of your teeth. Read on to learn more about how long you’ll have the braces and what you can do to maintain them.
Typical Time Braces Should Be On
The average time that your braces will be on is between 16 to 18 months. At times, the process can be longer than 24 months. Beware of specialists who promise you a straight smile in six months. What most people don’t know is that their bite might not be properly aligned or their palate formed correctly. Such hidden disorders can affect their long-term systemic and oral health. Visiting qualified specialists will provide the best results, thus ensuring that you don’t need to have the braces for longer than necessary.
What Can Affect the Typical Time Braces Need To Be On?
Age is one of the things that can affect how long your braces are on. Children and teens usually finish their treatment quicker because their jaws are growing, thus making their teeth easier to manipulate. It's crucial to note that this doesn’t mean that adults will wear their braces for two years or more.
The severity of your teeth is another deciding factor in how long the braces will be on. Your dentist can choose an orthodontic treatment that might take longer to achieve the desired results. For example, if you have mild spacing, it can be resolved in less than a year. However, it can take longer if you have a severe crossbite.
The type of orthodontic treatment can also affect how long the braces are on. The advancement of technology has made it easier to get different types of braces. Traditional metal braces can be ideal for specific patients, while Invisalign is recommended for others. The newer types of braces and treatments will take less time.
Lastly, your compliance or responsibility to closely follow your orthodontist’s instructions can affect how long the braces stay. If you don’t follow their instructions, you might prolong your treatment time.
Doing Your Part To Stay on Schedule
As a patient, you should carefully follow the treatment instructions. This helps increase the likelihood of getting the braces off sooner. Maintaining a proper brushing routine is one of the ways you can take care of your braces. It helps remove food particles trapped in the teeth. On the other hand, you can avoid eating foods that can damage your braces. This includes sticky, hard, or chewy foods.
Braces offer plenty of advantages besides straighter teeth. Gum disease prevention is among the significant long-term benefits of getting braces. They help fix misaligned or crooked teeth, thus ensuring that there is no plaque buildup. Braces help address major oral health problems quickly.
In the event that you are in the market to find a good orthodontist, our helpful office staff at Graff Orthodontics will be happy to answer any of your questions. For making an appointment, simply call (505) 327-4884 or request an appointment here.