You’ve started your orthodontic journey to a better smile. Now there’s one more question: How long do you keep them on? There’s a lot of anticipation leading to the day you get your new smile, and every patient has a different treatment experience. At Champlain Orthodontics, we want to help you plan your smile journey every step of the way so you know exactly what to expect. This way, when your new smile is revealed, you’ll love what you see! Let’s look at a few factors that can affect the length of your braces journey.
Your treatment
Every smile and treatment is different, with different needs and goals. However, there is a general rule of thumb we can count on for most of our patients. If you have a more complex case that requires comprehensive care, your treatment time will likely be longer than someone with only moderate issues. Displaced teeth or significant bite problems require more time to correct than simple spacing or crowding issues. The more complex that work is, the more time it will take for the treatment to be completed.
Your body’s response
Every patient is unique, so every patient responds to treatment in unique ways. Even patients with similar cases won’t have the same exact response to the same treatment. Gum tissue thickness, bone density, and chewing patterns vary between people, and oral habits such as clenching or grinding the teeth can affect treatment. It’s important to have an orthodontist who knows your specific needs. Dr. Ryan and Dr. Eaton take a customized approach to every patient that visits our office. They’ll build you a treatment plan based on your specific needs for the best results.
Your age
Your age can affect the length of your treatment. While patients can successfully move their teeth at any age, children and teens can move their teeth more easily. This is because their bones are more pliable since they’re not fully developed. For this reason, braces are more common in childhood and adolescence. It allows for Dr. Ryan and Dr. Eaton to have more control over a patient’s bite correction. For older patients, treatment can take longer with more developed teeth. The jawbone stops growing by our early twenties. Treating orthodontic issues after that point may take longer and require more effort.
Lucky for you, our office offers a wide variety of treatments to move your teeth quickly and efficiently. While there will not be an exact end date for your treatment, the average time in braces tends to be anywhere from twelve to thirty-six months. Clear aligner systems like Invisalign can make treatment time shorter.
Are you compliant with your treatment?
Your treatment journey should be a team effort between you and our orthodontists. Dr. Ryan and Dr. Eaton will attach your braces and plan the tooth movements associated with clear aligners. However, don’t forget that you’re important to the process too! Your compliance with treatment guidelines can determine how long your treatment is.
A tip for better treatment plan compliance is maintaining a strong, rigorous oral hygiene routine. Neglecting to take care of your teeth and gum can slow your treatment down. Orthodontic treatment may need to be paused if dental work needs to be done. If you maintain strong oral health habits and follow the instructions of your orthodontist, you can shorten the length of your treatment.
Another essential part of the process is meeting with our orthodontic team. Dr. Ryan and Dr. Eaton will assess the movement of your teeth and make sure everything is going smoothly. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, let us know and we can adjust to your busy schedule! If you want to keep your treatment fast and on track, try to stick to the schedule as close as possible and make up for any missed appointments later. We want to be there for you and check in on your smile!
Braces and aligners can help you get a better smile, but they are also susceptible to damage. Any breaks, cracks, or snaps in your braces require fixing, and this can push your treatment schedule back. If you’re wearing braces, it’s best to avoid any crunchy or sticky foods. These can weaken the bond strength of brackets or snap wires. A broken or loosened bracket is not considered an emergency, and may not need immediate attention. However, we do want to rebond it as soon as possible. When a bracket isn’t properly bonded to your teeth, no active tooth movement occurs. This can add time to the treatment process, so be sure to contact our office if your appliances experience any damage.
Many factors can affect the length of treatment, and not just the ones listed above. No matter how long your treatment takes, we can promise one thing: Our team of orthodontic experts will be there the whole time so your final smile is the one you want.
Find your best smile with braces by Champlain Orthodontics
Braces are an exciting start to your orthodontic journey, we want to guide you every step of the way. Our priority is to provide you with a customized treatment plan and a rewarding orthodontic experience so that you can see exceptional results.
Whether you are considering braces or need a new office to consider, we’re here to help you out! Get in touch to schedule a FREE consultation with Dr. Ryan or Dr. Eaton or talk through your concerns with us! Your satisfaction is as important to us as your smile.