Our team at Brodsky Orthodontics is so excited that you’ve finally taken the first step towards your bright smile future: getting braces! This is a huge milestone for your confidence, and we’re happy to be here every step of the way. But now that you’ve got your braces, you’re probably wondering when you will get them off.
It’s only natural that you want to see the end goal! Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question, and your treatment times vary depending on the different factors that caused you to seek treatment. Keep reading to learn more!
Treatment Time Factors
When it comes to orthodontic treatment, every smile has its own unique treatment plan, and that means treatment times are different for everyone, too. While there may be many factors that affect how long you’ll wear braces, these are the most common.
How Well You Take Care of Your Braces
Taking care of your braces is a huge responsibility and can affect your treatment time in the long run. If you stay compliant with Dr. Brodsky’s instructions, you may shorten your time spent in braces! If you don’t follow all instructions, you could extend it by accident.
Which Treatment Plan We Choose
At Brodsky Orthodontics, braces aren’t your only option! With metal braces, clear braces, and Invisalign clear aligners, you have choices when it comes to treating your smile – and they may affect how long you’ll be in treatment. Depending on your orthodontic condition at your free consultation, Dr. Brodsky may recommend one of these options:
Metal Braces: Metal braces use a system of brackets and wires to align your smile over time. By meeting with Dr. Brodsky every eight weeks, you’ll get the smile you love. Some patients spend as little as nine months in braces, while others can spend up to two years.
Clear Braces: Ceramic braces work the same way metal braces do. Designed for aesthetics, our clear braces are smaller than ever and are made of nearly invisible, tooth-colored polycrystalline ceramic material that blends in with your smile. Depending on your orthodontic condition, you can expect to wear clear braces between nine months and two years.
Invisalign: Invisalign is a system of custom-made, clear plastic aligners designed to straighten your teeth and align your bite. Each aligner is personalized to fit your unique smile. You’ll visit the doctor every 12 weeks and switch to a new set of custom-made aligners every week or two, so you can expect treatment to take between six and eighteen months.
InBrace Hidden Braces: InBrace uses a customized SmartWire that fits on the back of your teeth, so no one will ever know you’re undergoing treatment. You’ll enjoy fast results and fewer trips to the orthodontist. With InBrace treatment from Brodsky Orthodontics, you can expect treatment to last between nine and eighteen months.
How Old You Are When You Get Treatment
Our Brodsky Orthodontics team believes that everyone deserves a beautiful smile, no matter how old they are. We offer treatment plans for kids, teens, and adults alike! However, depending on your age, the time you spend in braces could change.
Adults: If you’re over the age of 18, your treatment might take longer than average. That’s because your jaw is more permanent than your child or teen’s jaw, so treatment requires extra effort to correct misalignment.
Teens: The most common age for braces falls in the teenage years. That’s because your teen has all of their adult teeth, and their jaw is still flexible enough for orthodontic treatment to take effect. Teens usually require the least amount of time in braces.
Kids: According to the American Association of Orthodontics, children should visit an orthodontist as early as age seven for their first checkup. Early intervention allows Dr. Brodsky to determine whether your child needs two-phase treatment, which requires two rounds of braces over a longer period of time – but don’t worry! The results are worth it.
What You Want To See From Treatment
Whether you’re treating your smile for an aesthetic touch-up or a severe malocclusion, your treatment goals play a role in how long you’ll wear braces. If you’re a patient with minor orthodontic issues, you may only wear braces for a short amount of time. If you have more complex problems, however, you might be in braces longer than average.
Ask Dr. Brodsky about your orthodontic condition. This may give you a better idea of how long treatment might take.
Tips for Speeding Up Treatment Time
Although your treatment time depends on the factors above, there are a few things you can do to speed up the process.
Keep Your Teeth Clean: Plaque buildup can harm your appliance, so make sure you see the dentist regularly for cleanings. You’ll want to brush and floss your teeth twice a day to keep your teeth bright and shining. Maintaining your oral hygiene throughout treatment can speed up your treatment time while failing to do so can make the treatment take longer.
Attend Your Checkups:
It’s essential to your treatment plan to attend every orthodontic appointment you can. Dr. Brodsky needs to meet with you once every 8-12 weeks to assess your progress and your body’s reaction to braces.
Sometimes things come up, and that’s okay! Just let us know as soon as possible so we can reschedule your appointment and keep your treatment plan on track.
Follow instructions:
Part of following Dr. Brodsky’s instructions means you care for your braces, Invisalign, or InBrace appliances. By avoiding sticky or crunchy foods that can weaken the bond strength of your brackets, you can decrease your treatment time overall.
Sometimes brackets come loose even when we do our best to keep them safe, but you must schedule another appointment with Dr. Brodsky as soon as possible to fix the issue. Your braces won’t work while the brackets aren’t glued down, so a broken bracket or wire could increase treatment time.
Brodsky Orthodontics: Your Smile Experts
At Brodsky Orthodontics, it puts a smile on our faces to see yours shine. We are dedicated to giving every patient that walks through our doors the VIP treatment so that you feel confident in the smile you’re shaping.
If you’re ready to get braces, Invisalign, or InBrace, schedule your free consultation in Lakewood today! Follow us on Instagram to keep up with all things Brodsky braces!