How Long Do Braces Take to Straighten Teeth?

Braces can be utilized and worn to straighten teeth that aren’t aligned in a natural way. When the jawbone is damaged, it will begin to recede in the front of the mouth, making it harder to properly align teeth in an outward manner. That is why most people that decide to undergo the treatment ask themselves how long do braces take to straighten teeth.

There are multiple factors that impact the length of the treatment, including the existing damages in your teeth or existing gum disease.

You need to understand the benefits of braces before you decide if, or which one to use. You should consider how long do braces take to straighten your teeth but also the associated risks and the cost. They can be very costly, so you will want to know how much it is going to cost you and what you are getting for your money.

This is exactly what we’ll go through in this article. Make sure to read until the end to learn how long do braces take to straighten teeth and everything else you need to know about them.

What Are Dental Braces

Braces are devices that are used in the orthodontic field and that allow their user to have more aligned and straighter teeth. Other than that, braces also have the capability to improve dental health which is, needless to say, an important factor to consider.

Also, braces can also fix gaps in your mouth which is another extremely important thing to consider. If you are considering getting braces, there are a few points that you must know before you begin. In fact, there are several types of braces, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

The most common type of braces are the inlays and the outlays, which are used to cover the teeth and hold them in place. Because they are permanent, they can be used to help straighten teeth in people who have severe dental problems, such as a cleft palate or already damaged teeth.

How Long Do Braces Take to Straighten Teeth

If you want to have straighter teeth, braces aren’t the right solution for you. In fact, while braces are beneficial for many reasons, having straighter teeth does take time and may, therefore, seem frustrating.

Patience will be needed if you want to have straighter teeth with braces. But how long will it take to straighten your teeth with braces? For most people, it will take anywhere between 6 months and 2 years to be done with the entire process.

However, bear in mind that this time frame could be shorter or even longer, depending on your dental condition. For instance, if you suffer from one of the following symptoms, it will probably take longer than 6 months to complete and be done with the braces:

Severe crowding
Biting issues
Spacing problems

Unfortunately, there isn’t any specific timeframe to be given as all dental conditions and mouths are different. Ultimately, we recommend you to check with your orthodontist or dentist to have a better idea of how long braces take to straighten teeth.

There are many factors to how long braces take to straighten teeth. However, can the orthodontic treatment time be shortened? According to research by the National Institute of Health, the average treatment with fixed appliances (read braces) is 19,9 months – or nearly 2 years.

On the other hand, teeth aligners take on average 5,7 months (70% less compared to braces). But, braces are more effective to improve malocclusion, and that’s a point not to ignore. In addition, they report that dental treatments in older patients take a shorter amount of time compared to younger patients.

Why Braces Take Time to Straighten Teeth — Image Source: harold p. freeman

As mentioned previously, braces aren’t the solution if you want straighter teeth in no time. In fact, they can take up to 2 years and even more time in some rare cases. But why do braces take so long to straighten teeth?

How long do braces take to straighten teeth is a common question that has many answers. Braces take time to straighten teeth due to the fact that there are different stages to go through.

First of all, the braces will do their main job and straighten your teeth in the top and bottom arches. This first process doesn’t usually take too long and will take a maximum of a few months. You’ll see your teeth getting more aligned after this, but the whole braces process isn’t over yet.

This is exactly where the second stage comes in. While your teeth are straighter than before, this second phase is here to make the top arch perfectly match the bottom one. In fact, if both top and bottom arches don’t fit in perfectly, there might be long-term consequences and, of course, you don’t want that.

Once both phases are over, this is where you’ll notice the end results. With straightened teeth, better chewing and lip posture, good alignment of the bite, and even better speaking.

Braces come in both removable and fixed, but removable braces are the most popular due to their convenience and flexibility. Braces are usually worn for a number of months, depending on how long it takes for the patient’s teeth to become straight and the severity of their case.

Are Teeth Constantly Moving With Braces? (Do Braces Move Teeth Every Day?)

Do braces move teeth every day? Simply put, yes, braces do move your teeth every day. While this constant move might lead to an unpleasant feeling, you should always remember why you started wearing them.

Sure, having constant teeth shifting isn’t everyone’s dream. But you should always remember the reason why you have these braces, and that beautiful smile will come sooner than expected.

Note: If you are suffering from arthritis then you probably already know that this constant movement can be very painful for the joint itself. When you wear braces they have to constantly move the teeth back and forth in order to keep them in the correct position, and this can often cause a significant amount of pain.

Another problem with constant movement is the metal and cement that is used to hold your teeth in place. Of course, the fact that teeth constantly move is another factor to consider about how long braces take to straighten teeth.

Do Braces Weaken Your Teeth?

Despite the fact that braces can highly improve your dental health and are generally safe to use, there’s another thing to know about them – they may actually weaken your teeth.

According to research by Mayo Clinic, there are short-term and long-term risks associated with wearing braces. These are the most common ones:

You will lose minerals. This can occur on the outer enamel surface of your teeth. This can potentially lead permanent whie stains. (short-term)
Cavities – Potential gum disease such as gingivitis or periodontitis (short-term)
You might experience a shorter root length – During the movement, some bones crossing the moving teeth might break down or dissolve. This translates to permanent loss of tooth root and could even lead to unstable teeth in the long run.
Loss of correction – In case you do not follow your orthodontist’s guidance carefully after braces removal, you may experience loss of the correction.

So, while doing braces strengthen your teeth, they are not a cure-all solution. But for most people who wear them, they help their teeth become stronger and healthier over time. For others, the braces cause more damage than good.

Don’t let this stop you from getting the braces for your teeth. If your teeth are hurting or you don’t feel like you have the strength or the confidence to wear them anymore, don’t lose hope.

Cost of Braces For Teeth

According to research by Oral-B, the cost of braces for teeth depends on the type of braces that you wear. In fact, they can range from as low as $3000 for metal braces and up to $10,000 for lingual ones. This their full analysis:

Metal braces: $3000 to $7000
Ceramic braces: $4000 to $8000
Invisalign braces: $4000 to $7400
Lingual braces: $8000 to $10,000

Of course, the cost will depend on what you and your teeth need. It depends on how expensive the braces are to set up, what treatment you’re requesting, and where you’ll have them installed. Moreover, the price also depends on where you live and, of course, the complete treatment you decide to go for.

To sum up, what is the cost of braces for teeth? The price can go as low as $3000 and gets as much as $10,000.

Conclusion

This is how long braces take to straighten teeth and everything else you needed to know about them. From the overall time frame that you’ll have to wear them to their costs and the daily feelings, you’re now covered on the topic.

While there may be occasional short-term and long-term risks associated with dental braces, the overall procedure is usually safe. Braces are the best and most popular way to get straightened teeth and better dental health.

To conclude, braces can last longer than expected to straighten teeth and to improve your dental condition, can be costly, and might not be the perfect solution, but we recommend checking with your orthodontist for the full details and if your teeth are suitable to the overall process.