Are your teeth crooked, and searching for “straighten my teeth”? If yes, do not worry because you aren’t alone. The journey to achieving a straight smile may differ with every individual. For instance, dental braces for kids differ from that of adults even though it is the most effective teeth-straightening technique. This is because it is a method that treats serious misalignment cases and bites issues. Teeth straightening time is dependent on several factors, and every individual has their own experience. So, let’s venture into how long do braces take to straighten your teeth?
Can Braces Straighten My Teeth?
Yes, braces move your crooked teeth in various directions until they get straightened. The process is gradual; hence, after you remove the braces, they remain in position. Braces may also bridge gaps found between teeth. They can also uncross your teeth and move them below your gum line, which matches your teeth’ length.
How Long Does It Take to Fix Crooked Teeth in Adults
For adults, the question of how much time it takes to straighten teeth is very common on orthodontics FAQs. On average, it might take you around two years to finish an orthodontic treatment. Other individuals take around one year to experience results, while others take around three years for perfect straightening.
Orthodontics refers to a one-size solution, and every individual’s mouth is special. So, even though we cannot really tell the exact duration it takes to straighten teeth with braces, a few factors influence the amount of time you take to see results.
1. Kind of Treatment
There are several options for patients who require orthodontic treatment. Some of them include clear braces, traditional metal braces, and ceramic braces. Metal braces are robust and strong because they are made using stainless steel.
On the other hand, the appearance of clear aligners and ceramic braces is more appealing compared to metal braces. So, how long does metal braces take to straighten teeth? Metal braces take around two years to achieve quality results. You might also find that these braces come in different colors. For instance, braces colors for girl may differ from that of a boy.
2. Seriousness of the Case
The seriousness of your orthodontic condition is another major factor. Cases like mild crowding or spacing may take a year or less, while other serious cases might take longer.
3. Patient Compliance
To make sure you experience a successful treatment, you should make sure that you follow the instructions that your orthodontist provides. This includes keeping dental appointments, maintaining proper dental hygiene, and applying the orthodontic appliance as instructed.
4. Age
Young children or teens are likely to get results faster compared to adults. The reason being, their jawbones are still developing, making the teeth manipulation process easier. This does not necessarily mean that adults must wear the braces for over two years. Discussed above are some other factors which might affect the time taken to get results.
How Do Dental Braces Work?
All dental braces, including the clear and the traditional braces, aim to straighten teeth with the braces. They gradually and gently move your teeth into the perfect position and alignment. If you choose to have conventional braces, the brackets will get bonded to every tooth and threaded via each bracket. The expert will then tighten the wire at regular intervals. This will move the teeth into their perfect positions.
When it comes to invisible or clear braces like Invisalign, you will wear a customized aligner tray to move your teeth into perfect alignment. The trays will not get bonded to your teeth, and you can remove them when eating or brushing.
Someone may be wondering, can braces fix a misaligned jaw? The uneven bite mainly causes a misaligned jaw. In case your teeth are crowded or crooked, you might be experiencing discomfort or pain in the jaw. Orthodontic treatment is a procedure that helps to align and straighten your teeth, ensuring that your jaw is in perfect position.
Someone else may be wondering, will braces fix my underbite? Yes, braces can correct an underbite because of the low pressure placed on the jaw and the teeth. Depending on the seriousness of the underbite, various orthodontics alternatives might be appropriate.
Teeth Straightening or Alignment Process
How long does it take to straighten teeth, or what is the process? Here are some of the things you might expect when having a teeth straightening process.
- You will first meet with the orthodontist, who will assess your oral health and teeth alignment. They will then suggest a treatment option that best suits your case. In case you have overcrowding, the dentist will have to remove the tooth or teeth before fitting the dental braces.
- In case the clear dental braces are the best for you, the dentist will customize your aligner tray before they fit it.
- You will then meet the dentist for the first session of treatment, and at this time, they will fit your dental braces. They will then guide you on how to maintain your teeth properly by brushing and flossing. They will also discuss the kind of discomfort you are likely to experience during the first few days of braces fitting.
- You will then have scheduled follow-up appointments with your dentist. They will tighten the braces or fit your new set of clear dental aligner trays during this time. The dentist will then check the treatment outcomes and make any changes that they deem necessary for your treatment.
- After they complete the teeth alignment process, your teeth will now be straight and the braces removed. The dentist may advise you to put on a retainer for several months to ensure that the teeth remain straightened for a long time.
Treatment Times and the Things to Expect
Braces timeline may vary between individuals depending on spacing, bite issues, treatment method and crowding. Because in adulthood, the jaw is not changing or growing anymore, braces timeline may get extended in some individuals. This is because the set of teeth is more permanent than in kids who are still growing.
Your biological condition might also have an impact on the time taken to straighten teeth with braces. This means that the teeth might naturally move to alignment slower or faster. Each person is unique, and every individual’s teeth might uniquely respond to this treatment.
Teeth aligning using dental braces might take any time between 6 and 24 months for most people. The dentist will provide you with an accurate approximation of the amount of time the treatment will take based on similar cases he has handled.
Do Braces Hurt?
During braces installation, you should not experience any pain. However, during and after tightening, you might feel some discomfort and pain. This pain feels like a throbbing or dull soreness. In case you experience such pain, you can consume an OTC pain reliever for relief. When it comes to removable braces vs. fixed braces in terms of pain and complications, you will find that removable braces such as Invisalign is used to correct minor misalignments. On the other hand, fixed braces are used in the correction of severe alignment issues. This means that you might experience much more pain with fixed braces, particularly during tightening, than with removable braces.
How to Maintain Braces
After dental braces installation, you will have to evade some foods that are likely to stick on your gumline and braces. Some of these foods include hard candy, chewing gum, and popcorns. With braces fitted in your mouth, the teeth are more likely to trap foods and cause teeth decay. It would be best if you also minded your consumption of sugary drinks and starchy meals, which eat away the teeth enamel. If you have dental braces, you will need to go for adjustment at regular intervals, maybe after eight or 10 weeks. The dentist will check your mouth to make sure that you are practicing good oral hygiene. The dentist might also change the O-rings if necessary.
Cleaning Your Mouth When Having Braces
When you have dental braces, minding your oral hygiene is essential. It would be best if you brushed after every meal to remove every particle that might have stuck on your teeth or braces. The dentist might also offer you a special floss, which helps you floss around your braces two-times a day.
You might also require to go for a Waterpik flosser, which navigates easily around the braces and helps get to areas that are difficult to clean. A special tool called an interdental toothbrush is used to clean around and underneath the brackets and the archwires. After every several months, you should also contact your doctor and schedule a mouth cleaning appointment.
Does Braces Cost the Same as Invisalign
The cost of braces keep on changing with time. For instance, prices for conventional dental braces keep on rising in Houston. Based on braces and Invisalign price 2023, the average cost of braces is almost equal to that of clear aligners. However, the severity of the case is the one that determines the cost. For instance, a case that will require two years to get results will not be charged the same as the one that will use six months. So, braces price in Houston is determined by several factors.
Contact the Experts at Zara Dental in Houston
Even though everyone wants to straighten their teeth in just a single appointment, dental braces take time. The dentist will exert pressure on the jawline using braces to modify the appearance of your smile. Did you know if your orthodontist properly straighten your jaw and align your teeth, they may impact your appearance and your whole health. Dental braces treatment vary for every individual and work slowly.
The process is gradual so that you can protect your teeth from harm and have a painless process. In case you have crooked or misaligned jaw or teeth, search no further; our dentists at Zara Dental in Houston are ready to help you. They will carry out the procedure and ensure that you get quality results. All you have to do is contact us for any consultation.
