How Long is the Orthodontic Process?

Braces are one of those traditions that young people tend to go through. Seems like a rite of passage for some, while others see it as an unending form of torture that dentist must inflict on us to keep us lesser humans down. Only joking! Braces for a lot of people are for more than the aesthetic benefit. Did you know that having braces can actually help to improve both your digestion and mental health? That’s crazy!

So now that you are scheduled to get braces, what next? What’s the process and what is more important, how long will you have to have this metal attached to your teeth? Good news- no matter how long it takes, your teeth will thank you for it later! To be honest, everyone is different when it comes to any type of health issue/concern/treatment/etc. Since every person is made up of their own unique genetic material, it is always hard to say exactly if one differs from another. Some patients need more focus on straightening their teeth, while others may have to have more complex treatments for jaw realignments.

During your initial consultations and visit with your Orlando orthodontist, you will have a much better understanding of and underlying issues that need to be addressed, along with bite alignment and, of course, the cosmetic aspect of braces. From there, your orthodontist will be able to give you a much improved timeframe of how long you will have to be in your braces.

On average, typical orthodontic treatments can range anywhere from 16-18 months, however, there have been some cases that see the patient in braces for as long as 2 years or more. This is a realistic timeframe for the majority of patients, but again each case if different. What most people do not realize it that the majority of work being done to the mouth, cannot be seen. Your orthodontist is making sure these hidden areas, such as your airways and palate are forming correctly during treatment as they are important for your long term health.

If perhaps you are an adult reading this, and are looking to have your turn at the age old tradition- welcome! With advances in oral health and treatments, braces are now more financially obtainable now. For adults, since you are now past the years of growth and development, braces may take a little longer only because, just like you, your teeth are more set in their ways and are a little more stubborn to move. Do not let that by any means deter you away from taking care of your teeth! We encourage patients of all ages to take care of their health, especially their oral health- but we may be bias here at Baptiste Orthodontics.

To sum up, it really depends on your unique case. What you and Dr. Baptiste decide is the best orthodontic journey for you starts with scheduling a consultation with our team today!