How Long Will I Have Braces On My Teeth – There are a few commonly known facts about braces. They can be quite unsightly (especially the metallic ones), they cause quite a bit of discomfort, and they often take an awful lot of time before they can take effect. However, only braces can correct the problems with your teeth’s arrangement. Whether you suffer from crowding, spacing, overbites, or any other problem that mess your teeth’s appearance, braces are probably the solution for you.
So if you are wondering if it’s worth it to go through all that trouble, the answer is definitely YES. So let’s focus on one particular problem: time. But exactly how much time? And why all that time? How long will I have braces on my teeth? We’ll attempt to answer all your questions related to braces’ time of treatment.
View this post on Instagram
Why do braces take so much time to work?
Unlike other dental procedures such as fillings and cleanings – which can be finished within the hour – braces are all about the long game. But why?
The answer is simple: it all depends on how much pressure your teeth can withstand without damage. The teeth are anchored in the jawbones by what is known as the periodontal ligament (or PDL). The PDL is an array of fibers that holds the tooth in position, and also acts as a shock absorber so that you can eat and chew freely. When your orthodontist puts braces on and starts applying pressure to the teeth so that they can move, he\she will literally be stretching the PDL in the direction of pull. This stretch causes the bone to shift around the tooth until it reaches a new position.
The bone may not look like it, but it is a very delicate structure. It is very sensitive to pressure and needs extra care when healing or remodeling. It is exactly the same principle when a bone in your body breaks, and you put a cast on it. You have to give the bone time to heal and adjust, and therefore very light – but continuous – the pressure is the basic movement of braces.
Does this happen with all braces cases?
Yes. The essence of braces is controlled pressure on the teeth. What differs is the direction of pressure so that the orthodontist can open space, close space, rotate the teeth, or any other sort of movement.
If that pressure is elevated, the bone remodeling process will be impaired, and the end result is damage to both the teeth and the bone. You can end up with teeth mobility and bone malformation as a result of improper pressure.
So How Long Will I Have Braces On My Teeth?
It all depends on the case, and what sort of movement needs to be done. Space opening usually takes a lot of time, while space closure often happens quite quickly. Rotation is the motion that usually takes the most time. So there is no fixed amount of time for braces to work, but on average, it takes between 6 months and 1.5 years with all modern systems. Invisalign – one of the greatest technologies in the field – boasts the ability to be quicker than traditional braces. It is entirely dependent on computers, so is highly accurate and quick.
So if time is a sensitive issue for you, then Invisalign may be the right choice for you.
1 (209) 524-8381
Modesto Office