Meta Description: Youngsters and adults alike who wear braces all wonder how long before they can be taken off. Unfortunately, not even your orthodontist can provide an exact treatment timeframe initially. However, there are things you can do to ensure that your treatment with braces remains on schedule. Read to learn what they are.

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When Will Your Braces Come Off?

Many of us have had them at one point or another. Whether it was in our teens or as adults, the best part of having braces was the day they finally came off. Anyone who has ever had braces will forever remember when the orthodontist said they were ready to take them off. Unfortunately for many who have worn braces, that time can feel like it takes forever to come. While some people seemingly have their braces on for a few months, others feel as if theirs have been on for years.

The truth is, for some, it is possible that your braces can stay on for several years. However, the amount of time they will need to stay on is difficult to predict because it’s dependent on several factors. From genetics to the amount of work that is being done, there’s a lot that goes into how long it takes before your orthodontist can give you the thumbs up. Before getting to that, let’s first review what dental braces are and how they work.

What are Braces?

Similar to those used in orthopedics and other forms of medicine, dental braces are devices intended to correct irregularities of your teeth. Whether they’re crooked, misaligned (underbite or overbite), too close or too far apart, braces can help to fix many issues with your teeth.

Types of Braces

People who haven’t worn braces may not be aware that there are different types available. Your dentist or orthodontist will recommend the one that best suits your needs. The most popular are traditional braces, which can include a combination of wires, brackets, bands and other types of corrective fixed or removable appliances. Also, depending on your case, your orthodontist may prescribe “mini braces,” which are smaller than traditional braces. For extensive orthodontic work, headgear, which is much bulkier and is also visible to the outside world, may be recommended.

How Do Braces Work?

Simply put, braces work by applying constant pressure to the teeth so that they move in a desired direction. As pressure is applied, the teeth move and the bone changes shape. Your orthodontist will adjust the pressure from your braces as your treatment goes on until you reach the desired end state.

Here are how all the components of braces work together to fix your teeth.

Brackets

Brackets are small squares that are attached to the front of each tooth either using a special adhesive or tied to orthodontic bands. Their purpose is to serve as a both a guide and buffer as the arch wires push the teeth. There are several types of brackets including plastic, tooth-colored ceramic and stainless steel. Sometimes, the brackets can be placed on the back side of the teeth to keep them out of sight.

Orthodontic Bands

Orthodontic bands are also bonded to the teeth using special dental adhesives. They wrap around each tooth and can be either stainless steel, clear or tooth-colored. The bands wrap around each tooth and create an anchor for the brackets. Orthodontic bands are not used in all cases.

Spacers

Before installing the orthodontic bands, spacers are sometimes used to create space between the teeth.  

Arch Wires

Arch wires are attached to the brackets and serve as tracks to help the teeth follow the designated path. They can be made of metal or be clear or tooth-colored to blend in better.

Ties

Ties are fine wires or little rubber rings that attach the arch wires to the brackets. These can either be clear, metal or colored.

Buccal Tube

The buccal tube is an apparatus on the last tooth that holds the end of the arch wire in place.

Rubber Bands

Small elastic rubber bands, also known as ligatures, keep the arch wires attached to the brackets.

Springs

Depending on the intended outcome, your orthodontist may choose to place springs on the arch wires in between the brackets. Their function is to push, pull, close, open and do whatever else was intended by the orthodontist.

Headgear

Your orthodontist may also use a headgear to aid in correcting your teeth. To fix crowded teeth or bite discrepancies, it may be necessary to push the molars back using a headgear. It’s made up of a metal part shaped like a horseshoe that’s attached to the buccal tubes and another part that goes outside of your face and is connected to a headgear strap.

When Do Braces Come Off?

How long will you need to keep your braces on? That’s everyone’s first question once they’ve been informed that their condition requires braces. The general answer to this question is usually one to three years. However, the truth is the exact amount of time will vary from person to person. There have been individuals who had their braces removed in less than a year and others whose braces stayed on for more than three years. The actual amount of time it takes will be based on several factors.

Problem severity: Minor adjustments will require less treatment time than major realignments. Your doctor should be able to inform you relatively early in the process where your case falls along the severity spectrum.

Patient care: How well you follow instructions while wearing your braces is vital to your success. Your doctor will provide specific care instructions, but there are certain universal guidelines that you should be ready to adhere to including avoiding chewing gum as well as eating candy, ice and other hard food items.

Oral health: In addition to following instructions specific to caring for your braces, a key factor in the amount of time your braces stay on is your overall oral health. How healthy are your teeth, gums and supporting bones? For example, if your teeth and supporting bones are weak, then the amount of pressure that can be placed on your teeth by the braces will differ than someone with strong and healthy teeth.

Space available: The amount of space available for your teeth to move also plays a role in how long your braces stay on. If you suffer from severe overcrowding in which multiple teeth in a small space need to be adjusted, that likely will require more time than a case in which the overcrowding only impacts one or two teeth.

Additional issues: As with any other medical care, you will have regular follow-up sessions with your orthodontist to keep tabs on your progress. During these sessions, it’s possible that new issues will be identified. When this occurs, your orthodontist may need to adjust your braces and even your timeframe.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

In addition to wondering when braces come off, there are other pressing questions that arise among those who are considering braces. Let’s go over a few of them here.

Can I continue to be active with braces?

You can continue to play sports and live an active lifestyle with your braces. If you plan on participating in a sport where your mouth will be exposed to contact, you should speak with your orthodontist about getting fitted for a special mouthguard.

Does my age impact how well the braces work?

Yes and no. Generally, braces usually work faster for children because their bones are still growing as opposed to adults whose bones have been set for a while. Although age doesn’t impact the success rate, different and longer treatment plans can be expected for those who are older.

Do braces hurt?

There may be times when you experience soreness after an adjustment, but it shouldn’t be overly painful. If you feel pain beyond just discomfort or soreness then you should contact your orthodontist to obtain medications or to have your braces readjusted.

What happens after I take them off?

After your teeth have been cleaned to remove any residue from the braces and trapped food, your orthodontist will probably request X-rays be taken to confirm the final outcome and if there are any new developments.

To ensure that your teeth don’t revert to their previous state, your orthodontist will fit you with a retainer. The retainer is usually made of rubber or clear plastic and customized to your teeth. You will have to wear your retainer all day for approximately six months to solidify your teeth’s new position. This may be a bit problematic for some initially as it will need to be removed prior to eating. However, after the six months are over, you’ll be able to wear it only when you go to sleep.

Summary

For individuals suffering from imperfections with their teeth, whether due to genetics or otherwise, braces can feel like a true life-saver. Aside from severe deformities requiring surgery, braces usually can be used to fix almost any issue.

However, even with the possible benefit of a new, beautiful smile, many are hesitant to wear braces because of the amount of time required for braces to work. While a specific end date can’t be given up-front, following the orthodontist’s instructions and maintaining proper oral care can help to ensure that the treatment time doesn’t extend beyond what it needs to.