How long do braces take?
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Which Orthodontic Braces Are Right For You?
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The type of braces and the fastest braces treatment for you will depend largely on your exact situation and it is only via consultation with one of our orthodontists that we will be able to provide an estimate for the length of the treatment. Whites Dental are an experienced, firendly team offering a choice of two dental clinics in central London and choices between specialist braces, traditional braces and the ever popular Invisalign teeth straightening solution.
Getting adult braces in London is a simple and effective process which focuses on gradually moving your teeth into the right position. There are a number of different types of braces that are available via orthodontists in London, including traditional metal braces, clear braces such as Invisalign and Fastbraces. Our orthodontics team at Whites Dental in London also provide specific children’s orthodontics.
Orthodontic treatment can be used to correct issues such as overbites, underbites, and overcrowding issues. It can also be used to correct other issues such as underbites and overbites.
Before & After braces
Braces for Teeth Gaps
Before
After
“Gappy smile corrected with
orthodontic braces”
Braces for misaligned Teeth
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After
“Overlapping twisted teeth corrected using braces & composite bonding.”
Braces for irregular teeth
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After
“Twisted and irregular teeth corrected using braces & composite bonding.”
How Long Will You Need Braces? Understanding Treatment Timelines
“How long will it take for braces to align and straighten teeth?” – we get asked this is a question all the time by our patients in London. From gaps to overbites, to teeth or jaw position there are many factors that can affect the duration a patient will need to wear orthodontic brace. Our orthodontics team at Whites Dental in London Waterloo will be delighted to help create beautiful straight teeth for you and answer any questions you may have regarding orthodontic braces.
So how long do braces last? The short answer – It depends.
There are several factors that determine the amount of time a person must wear braces including age, type of treatment and individual needs or issues that should be addressed. The latter factors have the highest impact on duration, as a patient’s issues could be as simple as minor adjustment, or as major as jaw realignment. While the time it takes for braces to do their thing varies greatly by patient, after an initial evaluation and consultation, your orthodontist can help you better understand the amount of time that may be required for your unique case. The actual braces system is fitted by glueing the brackets to the teeth and this system will last the entire duration of the treatment, the number of adjustments required will depend on your individual case. You can find out more by talking to our friendly dental team in clinic and find information such as, How are braces glued to teeth? in our various site resources.
Factors Affecting Braces Treatment Time:
- Severity of Case: The complexity of your orthodontic issue and type of teeth alignment problem significantly impacts treatment duration. Minor spacing issues might take 6-8 months, while severe misalignment or bite problems could require 12-18 months or more.
- Age: Age plays a secondary role. While younger patients’ jawbones are more flexible and responsive to treatment, adults can achieve excellent results too.
- Compliance: Following your orthodontist’s instructions is crucial. Wearing retainers as directed and avoiding damaging braces helps stay on track.
- Type of Braces: Traditional metal braces are versatile, but newer options like clear aligners might be faster for some mild to moderate cases. Discuss these options with your orthodontist.
Treatment Timeframes:
- Mild Cases (3-6 Months): For minor spacing issues or a single crooked tooth.
- Moderate Cases (12-18 Months): The most common timeframe for addressing crowding, gaps, and some bite problems.
- Complex Cases (18+ Months): Extensive misalignment, severe bite issues, or impacted teeth may require a longer timeframe.
Remember: Preparation is key, book a consultation with our orthodontist to obtain a personalised estimate after a thorough examination, X-rays, and discussion of your goals you will also get further guidance on how to prepare for braces.
Additional Tips:
- Schedule consultations with experienced orthodontists.
- Discuss your desired timeline and expectations during consultations.
- Maintain good oral hygiene throughout treatment.
By understanding the factors affecting treatment times and communicating with your orthodontist, you can set realistic expectations for your braces journey.
Now that you understand some of the factors, let’s discuss the specifics…
At your initial appointment, your orthodontist will do a thorough oral and facial new patient examination to assess your overall oral health and your unique orthodontic needs. Depending on this initial assessment a CBCT scan, facial photographs, digital impressions and/or x-rays may also be taken. Review and recommendation for your patient treatment plan is provided upon a second appointment. This gives your orthodontist and his team ample time to evaluate all the data collected. It is at this appointment that your orthodontist will review your orthodontic records, and show you examples of brace, clear aligners or any appliances that may be involved in your prescribed course of treatment. Moreover, during that appointment, your orthodontist will be able to answer questions specific to your case, as well as talk about the anticipated duration of your treatment.
Typically, how long do braces take to straighten teeth?
The average orthodontic treatment time falls somewhere between 16-18 months, but can sometimes take as long as 24 months, or even more or even less. Be careful of promises from anyone who says you can have a straight smile in only six months. While some patients may believe they only need to close a gap, treatment in less than six months is quite rare. What some patients may not see or know is whether their bite is appropriately positioned, the airway is properly open or is the palate formed correctly.
These are the hidden difficulties that can impact long term oral and systemic health. Only a qualified orthodontist has the experience needed to ensure you have the best results.
In circumstances of adult brace, the average length of treatment can be a bit longer than for children. Again, the actual time depends on the patient’s individual needs but since adult teeth have stopped growing and are set, they require more pressure to move. This means many adult patients can look to wear brace anywhere from 18 months to about three years.
Some children need to wear brace for even longer. In some instances, a younger patient may have a major alignment issue, such as a tooth coming in in the wrong place. In that case it could require tooth extraction and waiting for other teeth to come in before starting treatment. Depending on the wait for remaining adult teeth to come, this procedure could take considerably longer. Our friendly dental team at Whites Dental can advise you of what to expect in your case.
Can I shorten the time for braces treatment?
It depends. A patient who sensibly follows treatment instructions can increase the likelihood they will be wearing teeth braces for less time. This can be something as simple as keeping proper oral hygiene or, in the case of aligners or removable appliances such as bands, wearing them for the full prescribed treatment time every day. Patients should also practice suitable eating habits while wearing a brace. This includes avoiding sticky or hard food like gum, corn, popcorn, hard pretzels or chips and most candy, as this can significantly improve the treatment time. Broken or missing brackets can stretch out the time required for treatment and need to be fixed as soon as possible.
Finally, not everyone realises how much more challenging it is to brush your teeth with brace, but doing it properly is very important. The good news is there are methods for proper brushing that can also help to ensure your treatment plan stays on track. Our orthodontics team have additional information that might help you to better understand the best way to take care of your orthodontic brace at work, at school or at home.
It is important to remember, regardless of how long your treatment is planned to last, the time a patient is required to wear brace does not include the post-treatment retainer that’s necessary to ensure your new beautiful smile lasts a lifetime. If you are thinking of having orthodontic brace and want to find out how long the treatment might last, please feel free to book a free consultation with us, we will be happy to answer any questions that you may have!
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At Whites Dental we have some of the leading orthodontic dentists in London, providing fixed braces, six month smiles, fastbraces, damon braces and Invisalign to patients in London.
Whites Dental has some of London’s most experienced orthodontic braces practitioners offering a wide range of dental braces and cosmetic dentistry treatments.
Our clinic’s Waterloo TEAM provides dental treatments such as Invisalign braces, fixed braces, metal braces & ceramic braces for teeth straightening. They also provide related dental treatments such as composite bonding, teeth whitening, general and emergency dental treatments & hygienist services. Easily accessible from Borough, London Bridge, Southwark, Blackfriars and Elephant and Castle, our clinic offers state of the art facilities in a warm and friendly environment.
Our Marble Arch TEAM serves North and South Kensington, Covent Garden, Belgravia, Paddington & Marylebone, also offering a full range of dental treatments such as orthodontic braces, cosmetic dentistry and dental hygiene.
Both our teams provide interest free – 0% interest – dental finance payment plan options for all types of dentistry treatments. Please contact us to book a free initial consultation on a range of cosmetic dentistry, teeth alignment, braces and smile enhancements treatments. We often have weekday, evening and weekend appointments available.
