How much longer will I have my braces?

Most patients will need to wear fixed braces for around 18 to 24 months. For problems that are harder to correct, or for our older patients, treatment may take up to three years. If you have less severe issues or are a good candidate for clear aligners like Invisalign, treatment may take as little as 6 to 12 months.

What’s the last stage of braces?

The third and final phase of orthodontic treatment is the retention phase. This phase occurs once the teeth have moved into the desired position and the use of the dental appliance ceases.

What happens if your braces stay on too long?

Plaque can certainly build up in brace brackets, too, exacerbating the problem. Also, if you keep braces on for too long, and your teeth can get shorter. That’s not dangerous, but it certainly doesn’t give you that perfect smile you want.

What happens if you don’t get your braces adjusted for a year?

If you don’t regularly have your braces tightened or adjusted by your orthodontist, they may cause damage. Why? Because as your teeth move and slowly align, the tension produced by the wires and elastics of your braces will change.

Can you have braces for only 3 months?

“With traditional orthodontics, patients may need to wear braces for two to four years, but accelerated orthodontics shortens that time to under a year,” explains Dr. Bray. Most accelerated orthodontics patients wear braces for just three to eight months. With orthodontic therapy, you get more than a pretty smile.

Are rubber bands the final stage of braces?

Rubber bands are used to correct your bite to its ideal position. Simply put: Your braces will not come off until your bite is correct, so your cooperation to wear your rubber bands faithfully is essential to complete your treatment as soon as possible.

What do Triangle bands do for braces?

Triangle: Triangle elastics are worn to help close an open bite. Triangle elastics are hooked on the first hook on the upper arch down to the first two hooks on the lower arch. Cross: A cross elastic is worn to correct a cross bite.

Can I remove my braces myself?

Should you remove braces yourself? Braces should only be removed by a qualified orthodontist. They have the proper tools to safely remove the brackets and wires from your teeth. You may injure yourself if you try to remove your braces at home, as many of the pieces are quite sharp.

What’s the shortest you can have braces for?

The minimum time to wear braces can be as little as several months to fix a basic crooked tooth or spacing issue through to 36 months for both metal braces and ceramic braces.

How can I speed up my braces process?

Keep your mouth clean: Better dental hygiene can allow your teeth to move into the correct position quicker, and shorten the wearing time for your braces. Chop up solid food: Cut up foods such as raw fruits and vegetables and hard-crusted bread into bite-sized pieces to reduce pressure on braces during eating.

Should I finish my orthodontic braces?

If the case is paid in full and you no longer wish to have braces anymore, there should be no reason to continue. However, what might appear as “done” to you may not be correct. Ask your orthodontist what else is being accomplished to find out the reluctance to finish.

How long does it take for orthodontic treatment to work?

The overall tooth alignment is a requirement before your orthodontist moves forward with the lengthier part of your treatment—fitting your teeth together The next portion of the treatment is the longer portion of your treatment and can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to complete.

Why do my teeth move when I get braces?

This causes bone around your teeth to be broken down (resorption) on one side of the tooth and created (deposition) on the other side of the tooth. You can read about how the process of braces moving teeth works here.

What happens to your bite when you get braces?

In short, your bite is altered. For this portion, braces are ordinarily applied to both the maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower) teeth to get the two sets of teeth to “fit” them and match them to one another so that your upper teeth will fit perfectly over your lower teeth. In other words, to give you a proper bite.