You’ve started your orthodontic journey to a better smile. Now there’s one more question: When do I get my braces off? There’s a lot of anticipation leading to the day you get your smile, and everyone has a different treatment experience. There are a few things to consider to know how long your braces will be on. At Davis & Goldberg Orthodontics, we want to help you plan your smile journey every step of the way so you know what to expect. Let’s take a look at a few factors that could determine the length of your treatment.
Your Treatment
Every patient has unique needs, but there is a general rule of thumb we can count on for most of our visitors: If you have a complex case, your treatment time will likely be longer than someone who has only moderate issues. Severely displaced teeth or significant bite problems require more time for correction than simple crowding or spacing issues. The more work that’s needed, the more time it will take for the treatment to complete. Lucky for you, our team wants to provide you comprehensive care for your oral health issues, no matter how complex the job!
Your Body’s Response
Everyone responds to treatment in different ways, because every patient is unique! Patients with similar cases will rarely have the same response to the same treatment. Gum tissue thickness, bone density, and chewing patterns vary between patients, and oral habits such as clenching or grinding the teeth can affect treatment. That’s why it’s important to have an orthodontist who knows your specific orthodontic needs. Dr. Goldberg, Dr. Davis, and Dr. Seitz take a personalized approach to every patient that visits our office. They’ll build you an individualized treatment plan based on your goals for optimal results.
Your Age
Here’s something to think about: Your age can play a role in the length of your treatment too! Children and teens can move their teeth more easily because their bones are more pliable since they’re not fully developed. This is why braces tend to be more common in late childhood and adolescence. It allows for Dr. Goldberg, Dr. Davis, and Dr. Seitz to have more control over your bite correction. However, patients can successfully move their teeth at any age! For older patients, treatment can take longer with more developed teeth. The jawbone stops growing by our early twenties. Effectively treating orthodontic issues after that point may require more time and effort.
Our team of doctors has a variety of treatments to move your teeth comfortably and quickly. While there won’t be an exact date your treatment will finish, the average time in braces can be anywhere from twelve to thirty-six months. Treatment with a clear aligner system like Invisalign can be shorter.
Your Compliance
Your orthodontic journey should be a collaborative process between you and our orthodontists. Dr. Goldberg, Dr. Davis, and Dr. Seitz will attach your braces and plan the tooth movements associated with clear aligners. However, you’re an important part of the process too! Your compliance with treatment guidelines can determine how long and how successful your treatment process is.
A good tip for remaining compliant with your treatment is to keep a rigorous oral hygiene routine. Your braces can’t improve your teeth if you’re not keeping them clean and healthy. If you neglect to take care of your teeth and gums, this 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 keep your process on track.
Another part of the process is meeting with our orthodontic staff. Dr. Goldberg, Dr. Davis, Dr. Seitz, and the rest of our team will check your teeth movement and make sure everything is going according to plan. 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. This means staying on top of your scheduled appointments with us. We want to be there for you so you can get the most from your treatment time!
Braces and aligners are important tools for building and maintaining your ideal smile. However, 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 lengthen your treatment process, so be sure to contact our doctors if there’s any damage to your appliance.
Many factors can affect the length of your treatment, and not just the ones we’ve discussed above. Regardless of how long your treatment takes, we can promise one thing: Our team of orthodontic experts will be there at every step so your final smile is the one you want.
Trust your smile to Davis & Goldberg Orthodontics
At Davis & Goldberg Orthodontics, we’re passionate about providing high-quality orthodontic care to patients of all ages in High Point and Greensboro. No matter what kind of treatment you’re seeking or where you are in your orthodontic journey, we want to be there for you every step of the way!
Dr. Davis, Dr. Goldberg, Dr. Seitz, and our friendly team are standing by with the education and experience you need to get the smile of your dreams. Schedule a FREE consultation today!