Are you dying to have your teeth be straight to perfect your smile? Are you thinking about getting braces to do that? If you are, you're probably wondering how long you have to wear braces. But that all depends on multiple different factors! If you're curious, keep reading this article for some answers.
Bite
The bite that you have will impact how long you need to wear braces. If the braces are also meant to correct the bite (like a too far overbite or an underbite), then it may take longer to fix.
Crookedness of Teeth
This basically has to do with the severity of your teeth that need to be realigned. If you have a few crooked teeth in your mouth, it's not going to take as long as if you had an entire mouth of crooked teeth. That would obviously take much longer to correct.
If the crooked teeth create gaps or are too close together, there may be a need for rubber bands or other things on top of braces.
Age
Your age is a huge factor in how long you have to wear braces. Typically, you don't have to wear braces as long since teeth are easier to move in children and teenagers.
For adults, it may take longer. However, that also depends on how crooked your teeth are and the type of braces you choose to get.
Type of Braces
There are a few different types of braces to choose from when it's time to straighten your teeth. And it's mostly up to a personal preference for which ones you choose to go with!
Invisalign / Clear Aligners
Invisalign / 3M Clarity Aligners are clear aligners, much like trays, that you can take in and out of your mouth when you want. You would typically do this when eating or drinking something.
This is not usually a go-to option for children and teens since it is for less severe issues and takes a lot of responsibility to ensure you are wearing them for about 22 hours per day.
Traditional Braces
Traditional braces are the kind of braces that you would think of when you imagine the metal brackets on your teeth.
These braces can be tightened by your family orthodontist every few weeks to make sure your teeth are moving in the way they should. You would typically choose this option if you have more severe corrections for your teeth that need to be made.
So How Long Do You Have to Wear Braces?
It all depends on multiple factors. It can range from 6 to 36 months, averaging 24 months.
Your age, your current teeth alignment, and the type of braces that you end up getting will all dictate how long you have to wear braces.
Working with your orthodontist and heeding their advice will only make it go faster. At GD Orthodontics in Mississauga, we'll make it easy for you.
If you're ready to get started with braces in Mississauga, contact us today for a free consultation so we can straighten your teeth and perfect your smile!