The duration for wearing dental Braces to correct malocclusions or teeth malformations can be determined by a wide range of factors. Moreover, every person reacts differently to Treatment. Your orthodontist will have to evaluate your response to treatment before deciding that you’re stable and don’t need them anymore. In fact, an orthodontist undergoes specialized training after graduating from dental school that will enable him or her to weigh between various variables before developing a treatment plan and estimating your brace-wearing duration. He will have to consider certain factors such as your mouth space, the distance that your teeth need to move and the current condition of your teeth in order to customize the perfect type of braces and treatment suitable for you.

On average, most patients wear dental braces for six months to two years. However, sometimes the duration can be longer in other patients depending on the severity of their conditions. Here are some of the factors that determine the type of braces you will need and the duration it will take the orthodontist to treat your malocclusions.

Type of Braces

There is a wide range of dental braces suitable for various orthodontic treatments. Some dental braces take lesser time to wear than others. If you are not so conscious about your appearance, then you can settle for metal braces that take the shortest time and are believed to be most efficient. However, if you don’t have a problem with stretching your treatment a little bit longer, then you can settle for other types such as ceramic and Invisalign or the less noticeable lingual braces.

General dental health and hygiene

It’s always advisable to consult with your dentist widely before considering the option of using braces. The orthodontist will further give you instructions and advice on how to take care of your braces while undergoing treatment. Following your orthodontist’s instructions will make the treatment run efficiently as stipulated and hence avoid other unnecessary extensions.

In fact, if you develop other unexpected conditions such as cavities or gum inflammations, due to poor hygiene, the orthodontist may be compelled to suspend your treatment plan. Eating crunchy foods can break the brackets or archwires connecting the brackets and thus disrupt the entire teeth realignment progression. This will definitely delay your treatment period.

Your Current Smile

There are quite a number of people who are getting braces for cosmetic purposes. Regardless of whether you want braces for enhancing your smile or for medical reasons, the intensity of adjustments that your teeth and bones require to achieve the desired smile dictates your treatment rate. Major cases require a longer time to treat than minor misalignments that don’t need intense adjustments.

The amount of space available for the braces to fit into position and the distance your teeth require to travel will also play a big part in all the treatment rate. The shorter the distance that your teeth need to travel coupled with enough space, the faster the treatment.

Level of your severity

Even if you choose to use the same type of braces with your friend at the orthodontist’s office, the rate of treatment will be different due to your different levels of severity. There is a possibility that you or your friend have received some intervention treatment before your visit to the orthodontist.

The professional might choose to recommend a two-phase treatment in order to best help your case so as to better prepare your mouth to react to a later phase of treatment. At this stage, the length of treatment can be determined by your personal discipline; you ought to keep and respect the orthodontist’s next appointment, failure of which will affect the entire treatment plan.

Age

Age is also another factor that determines how long you have to wear braces. Younger patients tend to take shorter durations than their older counterparts. Teenagers and adults take longer than children because the latter’s bones and tissues are still vigorously developing. However, the time difference is relatively negligible because the treatment procedures or applications used by the orthodontist in both instances is virtually the same.

Taking other medications

There are several medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin that have been proven to lower the frequency of tooth movement. Therefore, you should avoid frequent usage of these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other categories of medications are fluorides, estrogen, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants. Thyroid hormone and Vitamin D does the exact opposite of increasing the rate of teeth movement. It’s only safe to consult with your orthodontist before starting or stopping any medication during the braces treatment period.

Additionally, after you have completed treatment, you be will be required to wear retainers for a period of about one to three months, after which you’ll only need to wear them at night only. You will slowly withdraw from the retainers gradually by wearing them for two to three nights a week.

The state-of-the-art appliances and expertise available on Katy Dentist Care is revolutionary, in providing you with the best orthodontic experience that you desire. Irrespective of the rate of treatment, choosing the right orthodontist and the perfect type of braces will certainly make you smile.

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