What Factors Determine My Braces Treatment Time?

Deciding to get braces to straighten your teeth is a commitment, so you want to be informed about your decision. Part of your curiosity relates to braces treatment time and what will affect that.

As your dentist near Love Field explains, some of the factors in required orthodontic time you can control, but not everything is up to your actions. Keep reading to learn more.

How Well Do You Follow Instructions?

You may think the main responsibility for treatment is on your orthodontist, but the truth is that you play a major role in the success of braces. It’s imperative you follow the rules your orthodontist gives you. Otherwise, you could run into complications.

For instance, if you eat foods you shouldn’t, you could break off a bracket. Orthodontic emergencies like this can slow down your progress toward a straight smile. Even something as simple as properly cleaning your teeth when you have braces can impact your treatment timeline. If you develop a cavity or other problem from poor oral hygiene, that issue needs to be addressed before you can move forward with orthodontic treatment, potentially adding to your required duration.

Are You Consistently Attending Your Adjustment Appointments?

Realigning your teeth consists of many small steps. Every few weeks, your orthodontist will need to adjust your braces, which will apply gentle force on your teeth and move them steadily where they should be. These frequent appointments take just a few minutes, but they are important if you want to stay on track. Skipping them prolongs your treatment time.

What Level of Misalignment Are You Trying to Treat?

Small problems, like gaps between teeth, can be fixed relatively quickly. However, if you have rotated teeth or other severe issues, the treatment process can extend significantly. So, the more misaligned your smile is, the longer it will likely take to correct it.

The good news is that no matter the current condition of your teeth, traditional braces can address the problem. Unlike Invisalign, which can only be used for mild to moderate cases, braces can treat patients with severely crooked or misaligned smiles.

In the end, when you and your orthodontist work together, you can achieve your straight smile efficiently with minimal setbacks. The results will be worth your time and patience! In a few years, you can look back and be glad you invested in your oral health.

About the Practice

At Bear Creek Family Dentistry, we can promise you top-tier dental care at our office near Love Field. Our staff includes an array of general dentists and board-certified pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and prosthodontists, so we are ready to offer you virtually any treatment without you having to worry about visiting multiple locations. When it comes to your family’s smiles, Bear Creek is the best place to be. We have 11 other office locations, so there’s sure to be one that is convenient for you. If you are interested in traditional braces, we’d be happy to discuss how they can help your smile, or the grin of your family member, during a consultation. You can schedule one on our website or by calling (214) 350-5333.