You should only expect to wear your braces for a maximum of three years. While this may appear to be an excessively long period with braces on your teeth, please make an effort to understand that this is the worst-case scenario. Two years is an approximate time of how long your braces will last.
The average orthodontic treatment plan is anywhere from 18 months to three years. It's different for everyone, but anything beyond a four-year treatment plan warrants getting second, third and fourth opinions.
Is It Normal To Still Have Braces On 5 Years Later? Even the most complicated orthodontic problems are normally fixed with braces within 24-36 months. It is not normal to still have braces on after 5 years of treatment.
The answer is: “It varies”. Every case is unique and treatment could take from several months to three years. There are four main factors that impact on the orthodontic treatment time for patients – age, complexity of their case, compliance and the type of braces used.
There's No Age Limit for Braces (14 and up)
Many believe they are too old for braces and straight teeth, but that's not true. Your teeth don't grow like hair or fingernails. They're always going to be the same size and can be fixed at any time from 14 to 41.
But teeth continue to shift as we age, so there's never a time when braces won't work. Braces adjust teeth by putting pressure on them, and this pressure works even after bones have stopped growing. It takes longer to straighten teeth in adults because bones are more solid. Still, braces are effective at any age.
The answer, it's never too late to get braces! Getting braces is usually associated with children and teenagers, but we are here to inform you that there is no age limit on getting braces.
At what age can you get braces? For children, most get braces between 9 and 14 years old. But adults can benefit from orthodontia as well, and there's no right or wrong age for adults to get braces. As a general rule, once the adult teeth are in, braces are possible.
Dentists warn that all the work of braces may be undone unless the prescribed retainers are worn for a long time. Simon Littlewood, a consultant orthodontist at St Luke's Hospital, Bradford, explained, "If you lose or break a retainer, there's a problem because the teeth will probably begin to relapse.
Keeping your Mouth Healthy
Clean and healthy gums are more likely to move faster allowing you to get your braces off earlier. Keep the area between the brace and teeth clean and free of plaque build up. Flossing between teeth and brushing your gums daily will keep your mouth healthy.
Orthodontic treatment is nearly always a lifetime benefit and does not renew yearly. It is usually separate from your dental benefit but may include some oral surgery procedures.
If brackets remain in place for years, plaque could build-up in places that are hard to reach, eventually leading to tooth decay and gum disease. Some Brackets May Later Dislodge– Under normal circumstances, when a bracket dislodges, your orthodontist will reattach it.
Frequency of Braces Tightening
Your orthodontist is the best person to tell you when you need braces tightening. The average frequency is 4-6 weeks. They might call you sooner or later, depending on your case. But sometimes, you might need braces tightening before your scheduled appointment.
If you haven't had the chance to get braces when you were younger, perhaps because of financial issues, it's never too late to get braces as an adult. Likewise, if you had braces before and the results did not last, you can get orthodontic treatment again.
Today, adults, and even senior adults, are getting healthy smiles with adult orthodontics. Dr. Patel has had many adult patients come in and ask, “Am I too old for braces?” The simple answer is, no, you're never too old for orthodontic care — our oldest patient at The Brace Place was 78-years-old!
If you're thinking about correcting your smile with braces as an adult, it isn't too late. While braces are commonly thought of as a treatment for children or teenagers, they can actually be used for anyone of virtually any age – once most of the adult teeth have emerged.
Braces are doable at any age, and it doesn't dim down your attraction. You can expect to wear adult braces from 14-26 months. The average length you spend wearing braces depends on the style you pick and the severity of your problem among other factors.
There's really no age limit for braces except in a very broad sense. Children shouldn't get braces placed on their baby teeth, for example; they should wait until they have their adult teeth. But once the adult teeth are in, the only contraindications for braces are health-related, not age-related.
Speeding up your orthodontic treatment can be done through the use of high-frequency vibrations. High-frequency vibrations can help recruit cells responsible for tooth movement to help get your teeth in place faster. The major benefit is that patients can do this at home.
While it is generally recommended that orthodontic treatment is undertaken during teenage years, it is not because braces hurt more for adults. No matter what age you are, you will likely experience the same level of discomfort after an adjustment which will dissipate in the coming days.
On average, it takes about 24 months to complete an orthodontic treatment. Some patients require less than 12 months, but there are also patients requiring up to 3 years of treatment before their teeth reach the desired position. Orthodontics is not a one-size-fits-all solution and each patient's mouth is unique.
When wearing braces, the areas of the teeth and gums that are close to or under arch wires and brackets are difficult to clean. When teeth aren't cleaned carefully, food particles can get trapped in these areas. This allows dental plaque to accumulate, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.