How long do braces last? How long do you need to wear braces

The minimum wearing period for orthodontic braces is six months. However, it can vary depending on the age category of the patient, since the bite is corrected much faster in younger people than in people. The duration of treatment is adjusted by the orthodontist along the path of the braces and can be significantly extended. Often, after the end of treatment, the teeth return to their original place, so the patient either puts on again or uses a special removable retainer that fixes the new position.

The retainer must be worn for the same period as the braces - and in no case should it be removed before the time set by the orthodontist.

The maximum period of wearing braces is from two to three years, followed by wearing a retainer. In most cases, the visible correction of the bite becomes noticeable as early as three months after putting on the braces. However, if the defect is too pronounced, the effect of braces on the curvature of the teeth may show positive results over time.

The nuances of wearing braces

The duration of wearing braces depends not only on each specific case, but also on their type. So, the period of wearing the most modern braces of the latest generation reduces this time by a third or even half. In this case, the final correction of the curved dentition is achieved after a year, and the degree of curvature, if used, does not play the most important role.

The latest generation orthodontic braces are more expensive than standard metal braces, but this does not negatively affect their widespread demand among patients.

To correct very complex defects - cross or open bite - braces should be worn as long as possible: at least one and a half to two years. Therefore, when prescribing them, you should not argue with the orthodontist about the duration of treatment, because in order to get a beautiful smile, you will have to endure exactly as much as this or that case requires. However, if the choice in favor of braces has already been made, you never need to focus on the timing of their wearing by other people, since the required duration of treatment can only be determined by a qualified orthodontist.

When the decision is made and the long-awaited braces are installed on the teeth, the question arises - how long will you have to wear this design. Modern braces allow for a complete reconstruction of the dentition and eliminate any defects and anomalies of the bite within several years. But even the attending physician orthodontist will not be able to answer unequivocally how much braces a patient needs to wear.

Indeed, for each person, depending on the initial degree of occlusion changes, the correction of the position of the teeth and the shape of the dentition will take a different period of time. That is why, after installing the braces, the patient is seen by his dentist regularly, visiting the doctor once a month or several months, depending on the type of braces chosen. Such consultations are needed to monitor the speed and dynamics of bite correction and correction of the bracket construction, replacement of fixing elements or bracket-plates, in case of damage or detachment.

Therefore, in order to answer the question of how long it takes to wear braces, you need to know the patient's clinical situation and possess the data of regular examinations, during which the doctor assesses the speed of bite correction and calculates the approximate completion date of the correction.

Photos showing wearing braces before and after

But how do you calculate how long you need to wear braces to align your teeth? In some cases, this issue is very important, especially in situations when it is suggested to use braces to correct the bite in children or adolescents. Therefore, we will analyze all the nuances that determine how long the wearing of braces will be. And we will also answer the parents' questions about how many children under the age of 15 wear braces on their teeth, and how many years older children wear braces. And if you choose braces for bite correction for a child, is it painful to wear them?

Factors that affect the speed of bite correction:

• The degree of bite deformation. With slight changes that may not even be noticeable visually, with the help of non-removable orthodontic systems, it is possible to correct all defects within six months. For children under the age of 7, removable constructions can be offered instead of braces, which will also help correct crooked teeth and preserve the bite. If there are serious bite anomalies, after a complete diagnosis, the doctor will suggest the most optimal type of braces and then the correction period will be longer, within several years.
• Twisting of dental units. In the presence of excessively twisted teeth, removal of some dental units is indicated for the installation of braces. This is due to the fact that when twisted, there are no normal gaps between the teeth and it will be problematic to install braces. Therefore, the period of tooth correction in this pathology will also be longer.
• The condition of the tissues of the oral cavity, gums, periodontium. If you do not have problems with gums and periodontal disease, you have not previously treated gingivitis, periodontitis and periodontal disease, and you have never been pulped or implanted dental units, you will not wear braces as long as patients who have these problems
• The age of the patient. Currently, braces can be installed at any age; there are differences only in the types of braces that are more effective for different cases. However, in children under 13 - 14 years old, it is possible to correct the bite much faster than in adults. And this is due to an incompletely formed permanent bite, because teeth in children are more susceptible to correction and curvatures are corrected faster.
• Types and models of braces - systems. Each model of braces has its own advantages and disadvantages. Due to modern mechanisms, some models of braces allow you to correct the bite within a shorter period. And an experienced orthodontist will always be able to correctly advise the patient which braces are preferable and which will be more effective.

Therefore, an experienced orthodontist always takes these factors into account, conducts a complete examination of the patient and monitors the dynamics of tooth correction. This is the only way to more accurately say how much braces are on the teeth of adults or children.

Terms of bite correction for different pathologies

When braces are installed for a patient, the wearing time depends primarily on the degree of deformation of the teeth and dentition. Orthodontists distinguish a clear relationship between the degree of pathological changes and the period of occlusion correction.

• The term for bite correction with a bracket-construction is up to 1 year - in the presence of defects in several dental units. In case of single defects, the minimum period of wearing braces is 7 months.
• The term for bite correction with a bracket-construction is within 1.5 years - in the presence of bite anomalies, defects of more than 3 dental units
• The term of bite correction with braces - with a construction for 2, 5 years - in the presence of serious pathological changes in the bite, jaws, changes, facial asymmetry

These pictures show the stages of wearing braces

Depending on the type of selected braces - systems, doctors also allocate certain periods of wearing each braces. This list shows how long braces of different models are worn:

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• Metal braces are the classic model. Correction period in most cases takes 1-1.5 years
• Modern lingual braces are a new kind of invisible braces - structures that are invisible on the teeth. Correction period in most cases takes 1, 5 - 2 years
• Plastic braces are an economical option for braces systems. Correction period in most cases takes 1 - 2, 5 years
• Sapphire transparent braces are quite expensive, but at the same time extremely aesthetic. Correction period in most cases takes 1 - 2, 7 years
• Ceramic braces are classic white braces that match natural teeth.

Correction period in most cases takes 1 - 3 years

Of course, the speed of teeth correction is individual for each person, and the doctor can not always say for sure how long the patient will have to wear braces. However, the general rule for all is that in children under 15 years old, it is possible to correct the bite with the help of braces faster by 5 - 7 months. And after removing the braces, the retention period will also proceed much faster.

Many people ask how much adults wear braces. At the age of over 25, teeth can be corrected with braces - the construction is possible only for several years. Also, doctors often hear the question, is it possible to wear braces during pregnancy? Currently, the installation of braces is not contraindicated, and the only thing that can stop the doctor is the woman's nervousness and fear of the procedure.

The question - how much braces are worn - does not have a specific answer, it all depends on the individual characteristics of the patient. An experienced orthodontist dentist will always be able to tell you how to wear braces, how to care for the structure and teeth, and schedule regular examinations, but it is impossible to predict the time by which the teeth will become perfectly straight. Therefore, a guarantee of successful bite restoration is compliance with visits to the attending doctor for the correction of the braces system and compliance with all the doctor's recommendations.

Do teeth hurt after installing braces?

After the installation of braces - systems, almost every patient asks if it really hurts to wear braces and what to do to prevent the teeth from hurting? Also, many parents ask, is it painful for children to wear braces?

For the first few weeks after braces have been placed, it is important to eat very sparingly and not consume too cold or hot drinks. At first, there will be discomfort in the oral cavity, and, as a rule, all patients will adapt by the second week. But if the painful sensations continue, it is worth contacting the treating orthodontist to find out the cause of the pain.

What do they wear after removing braces?

Before installing the braces, each patient is warned that after the removal of the structure, there is still a stage of fixing the result obtained with the help of special retainers. But not everyone understands what is at stake and what they wear after braces. Currently, orthodontists, after removing the braces - systems, install a special retention arch that will prevent the teeth from returning to their previous, incorrect position. However, for many, it is still not clear how much to wear retainers after braces, or how much mouthguards are worn after braces.

For retainers, the rule is simple - the device should be worn twice as long as the braces are worn. But after removing the retention arc, you can already use mouth guards or plates at night. This is the only way to fully preserve the achieved result and prevent the bite from changing back.

Braces are the only orthodontic fixed structures that can completely restore and correct bite at any age. If you decide to install braces, but do not know how long the teeth correction will take in your case, contact experienced doctors, and after passing a full examination, you will be able to find out the estimated time for the restoration of your smile.

Contact the Dentistry Guide - and we will find the best solution for you. Our experts will provide up-to-date information about the best dental clinics in the city, and you can independently choose the best doctor and make the right decision about bite correction.

The Dentistry Guide is your opportunity to get the perfect smile, don't miss the chance!

All orthodontist patients are sure to ask how long they need to wear braces in order to correct the bite and align the teeth. It is difficult to say exactly how much to wear braces - it depends on many factors, first of all, on the severity of the anomaly. Next, you need to look at the selected model of the bracket system, age, quality of construction, professionalism of the doctor in the selection and installation of the system.

Let's take a closer look at all of the above, and find out how each item affects how much to walk with braces.

According to Engle's classification, bite defects are divided into several types, depending on the closure of the rows. Physiological - the teeth are in the correct ratio, but there is a slight defect.

• The middle diastema is a small gap between the incisors. In the early change of bite, this pathology is considered the norm, but by the age of 5 years the gap closes. If this does not happen, you will need to wear braces on your teeth to correct the pathology. Mouth guards are also used to straighten the teeth;
• Tremata between the teeth in their normal position. For a milk bite, sparse teeth are considered normal. The divergence of milk teeth is a natural phenomenon, in this way space is freed up for permanent teeth. If a person is an adult, his bite is formed, and the three have not disappeared - food accumulates in the intervals, which leads to inflammation of the gums, the development of caries and other dental diseases;
• Crowded incisors. A similar pathology occurs if the ratio of the size of the teeth is incorrect: the molars are positioned correctly (because they erupted first), and there is not enough space for the incisors. The dentist in such cases suggests removing the incisor, and then putting braces;
• Transposition or dystopia - a tooth erupted in the wrong place. The reasons for this pathology are very different - the pathological location of the tooth buds, the mother's illness in the first 3 months of pregnancy, the trauma of the newborn at the time of delivery due to the use of forceps. To correct the situation, the tooth must be removed, and the adjacent remaining ones must be guided to the desired position using treatment with braces.

How long do you need to wear braces to get rid of all the above anomalies? On average, about a year, but the period may vary depending on the age of the patient.

In case of serious problems, the duration of wearing the systems increases (if the pathology is of the second or third grade according to Engle).

• Distal bite - the jaw is underdeveloped from below, so the upper jaw is pushed forward;
• Mesinal view - the upper jaw is underdeveloped, and the lower one protrudes forward, making facial expressions reminiscent of a bulldog dog;
• Open bite - the row of teeth does not close on the sides and front;
• Deep bite - the upper teeth hide the lower ones. The main difference from a similar mesinal bite is that the development of the jaws is uniform;
• Cross view - when the teeth are closed, the incisors cross.

The minimum period for wearing braces in these cases is extended to 2-3 years, after which it will take another 2 to 5 years to fix the result (mouthguards + retainers).

Influence of the bracket system model

To align the teeth, a special design is needed, known as a bracket system, but when choosing it, people think least of the problem - they are more focused on the model's appearance, which is wrong. How long you need to wear braces depends greatly on the model you choose.

Lingual braces - are installed on the inside of the tooth. This cannot be done if the front teeth are shortened. How far are these types of braces placed? At least 1.5-3 years.

For outsiders, the structure is completely invisible, it is characterized by high strength, but expensive.

Plastic braces - come in different colors, so they are popular with children. Easily stained with food and somewhat fragile, but will cost much less than many other options. They are worn from 1 to 3 years.

They can be made in any color and are much cheaper.

- excellent durability and inexpensive, but too visible to others. Sometimes they irritate the mucous membranes, they wear metal braces for not so long - only 1-2 years.

They can be made from gold or other precious metal. But it will cost significantly more.

Almost transparent, and therefore unobtrusive. They do not injure the oral cavity and do not stain, but they are less durable and require close maintenance, and are expensive. In the youth environment, this question is rarely raised, the system is now very fashionable and popular. How many years to wear such braces? The required wearing period for the sapphire construction is 1-3 years.

Sapphire braces can be installed on the front teeth, and metal braces on those that are not visible during a conversation. And the strength is at the level, and the price is cheaper.

Ceramic braces they have good durability, their color can be matched to the tooth enamel, they are completely safe and do not cause allergies. The disadvantages include the high price and the ability to be painted with food paints. Used for one to three years.

They can also be combined with metal ones.

Influence of age

The formation of the bite ends at the age of 25 (with the eruption of "wisdom teeth"). All these years, the jaws and teeth are aligned as much as possible and take a permanent position. Before this age, it is best to correct your bite problems, later it is more difficult to do it.

A child's bracket system is installed no earlier than 11 years old, if you do it at a younger age, you can harm. When the teeth have developed and are able to withstand the load, only then can the system be installed.

It is necessary to pay attention to an important fact - in some adolescents, the second painters cut through later. It is forbidden to put braces on such patients before the appearance of these teeth. Therefore, in order not to provoke violations in the formation of the root system, the teenager is first put on light aligners or plates, which allows to reduce the time of application of the braces themselves in the future.

How long do adults wear braces? Six to eight months longer than teens. The reason that you have to use braces longer is that in adults the following processes have already occurred or are occurring in the body:

• slowing down of metabolic processes;
• cessation of skeletal growth;
• slowly regenerate tissues.

The question arises, is it worth wearing orthodontic constructions in adulthood, if the bones of the skeleton do not lend themselves well to correction? Pathology in adults can be corrected, but often one or more teeth are removed to achieve results. For the rest of the teeth, a place is freed up, where they are gradually moved, putting on braces for a certain period. I put them on at 32, and I had to remove two perfectly healthy teeth.

How long do adults need to walk with braces? It depends not only on age, but also on the type of construction. Patients usually choose systems that are made so that they are invisible. This is more true for ceramic and sapphire systems. But along with the positive quality - invisibility, they also have a minus - a long period of constant wearing.

Therefore, there are no contraindications for age in the use of braces, but they are available for the presence of diseases. This refers to mental disorders, diseases of the endocrine and immune systems (including HIV), tuberculosis.

The orthodontist also evaluates how reliably the structure can be fixed on the dentition. This cannot be done if many teeth are missing.

Correct care

The bracket system consists of plates with a groove (these are the braces themselves), arcs that fix the ligatures (they are absent if the system is ligatureless). Each bracket is made individually for the tooth. When manufacturing the system, it is taken into account what distance and where you need to move the tooth to the side or turn it along the axis. If the orthodontist is mistaken and confused individual braces in places, then such treatment will be useless or even hurt. In such a situation, the duration of treatment increases even more.

The arc is of great importance in the design. Not only the price of the bracket system depends on the material of its manufacture, but also the duration of their wearing. Nickel, steel, titanium and their alloys have their own rigidity, and the higher it is, the stronger the pressure on the teeth and the faster the correction takes place.

Dmitry Sidorov

Dentist-orthopedist

As a rule, the orthodontist changes the archwires during the treatment. At the very beginning, a thinner arc is placed. The smoother the dentition, the thicker it is. This is done to reduce the fighting sensation of teeth movement.

Treatment may lengthen if the structure is out of order. This is due to the fact that patients inattentively listen to the instructions of the orthodontist and violate the rules for caring for the structure. Making another system takes time, often starting from scratch.

Retention period

This term is called the stage of correcting bite pathologies, when an intermediate result becomes noticeable and fixed. This is done using an arc-shaped retainer. It is attached to the inner surface of the jaw and must be timely adjusted by the orthodontist. If this is not done regularly and in a timely manner, the result of the treatment will be lengthened, for nothing.

Let's summarize the above in video quality:

Summing up, we note: the minimum wearing of braces is six months, and the maximum is three years. This difference is caused by age, the severity of the pathology and the treatment scenario. The term becomes clear only in the course of treatment, before that even the orthodontist cannot indicate it exactly, only approximately.

Usually, the increase in all terms is caused by the carelessness of the patient, who is too lazy to follow the doctor's instructions, as well as the fact that the teeth themselves often occupy the wrong positions after treatment, do not want to align - you have to act again. It is impossible to unequivocally indicate specific dates - at first the doctor calls them approximately, and in the process of treatment they become more distinct.

Braces, they are also orthodontic braces, are a complex non-removable structure that is installed on the dentition to correct the occlusion in case of incorrect position of the teeth. Nowadays, the installation of braces is quite common, many people choose this correction method in order to straighten their teeth and get the famous Hollywood smile. And everyone asks the question: how long does it take to wear braces to get the result. Braces

What determines the term of wearing braces?

The term of wearing braces for each person is individual. The duration is influenced by many factors:

• Age - the older the patient, the more difficult it is to change the position of the teeth
• Features of the bite - the more difficult the case, the longer it takes to correct the position of the teeth
• Individual reaction - some patients experience severe discomfort when wearing braces due to strong pressure, due to which they have to be loosened, which increases the period of bite change
• Bracket Design - Different designs of orthodontic braces change bite at different rates.

How does the wearing time depend on the choice of bracket systems? (Terms for each type of system)

Metal braces

The most common type of construction. It is popular due to its optimal combination of strength and price. Unfortunately, this design is quite noticeable to others, therefore, if you do not want to draw attention to your teeth while wearing braces, it is better to choose another type of braces. The period of wearing such a system is minimal compared to others - from one to one and a half years.

Lingual

This type is suitable for those who are embarrassed to wear braces. The bracket is installed on the back of the tooth and is absolutely invisible to others. But there are also disadvantages: such a system is expensive and not suitable for everyone (if you have short teeth, it will not work), and can also cause short-term problems with diction. If at work you have to communicate a lot with people, then it is better to install this type of braces at the beginning of your vacation so that you have time to get used to new sensations. Such a design will help to correct the bite in one and a half - two and a half years.

Plastic

The design differs from metal in that the plates that are attached to the teeth are plastic. Because of this, this type of brace is quite fragile. On the plus side, the plates can be ordered in any color you choose, making them great for children compared to boring metal braces. You need to wear such a system from a year to two and a half.

Sapphire

Sapphire braces, like metal braces, are attached to the outer side of the tooth, but due to the transparency of the material, they are less noticeable to others. They are also perfect for people with weak mucous membranes, they have almost no traumatic effect. Such a system is quite expensive and requires special, careful maintenance. The period of wearing this system can stretch from one to three years.

Ceramic

The system is attached to the outside of the tooth. Despite this, they are almost invisible to others because of the plates, the color of which is individually matched to the color of the enamel. This type of braces are highly durable and absolutely do not cause allergies, which allows you to wear them from anyone. This design also has a number of disadvantages: first of all, it is the size of the structure, which may cause short-term diction disorders; secondly, the ceramics can change color under the influence of food coloring. Another disadvantage is the high cost of installing such a bracket system. Correction of the bite with this design takes from one to three years, depending on the individual characteristics of the patient.

How long should adults wear braces on their teeth?

As mentioned above, the period of wearing braces also depends on the patient's age. This is due to the fact that over the years, our body does not regenerate as quickly as in childhood and adolescence, metabolism becomes slower, and bones stop growing. It often turns out that there is no place for moving incorrectly standing teeth, and the doctor is forced to remove a healthy tooth to free up space and allow the teeth to take an even position.

All this prolongs the process of wearing the braces by 6 - 8 months. Fortunately, there is no upper threshold for braces and you can improve your bite at any age.

IMPORTANT! Not everyone can have braces. There are contraindications for its installation. These include:

• Mental illness
• Tuberculosis
• Venereal diseases
• Diseases of the immune system
• Blood diseases
• Absence of a large number of teeth

How long do children wear braces?

However, it's best to get braces as early as possible. In childhood and adolescence, it is easier to correct the position of the teeth due to rapid tissue regeneration and greater bone plasticity.

But do not rush and install the system too early. The optimal age is 10-13 years, when the last painters cut through. If you hurry and do not wait for this event, then the changed teeth can spoil the bite again, and all your efforts to change it will be useless. Moreover, placing braces too early can affect the roots of young teeth, which in the future will lead to serious problems.

The period of wearing braces for children is 7 months less than for adults, and the retention period is 50% less.

How long if the teeth are not too crooked?

Mild bite pathologies include:

• The presence of gaps between the teeth (diastema is a gap between the incisors, the so-called chipped; trema - a gap between any teeth, except for the incisors, is often observed in children before the change of milk teeth)
• Crowded incisors. This is typical for people with small jaws, which makes the teeth lack space.
• Incorrect tooth eruption. In this case, this tooth is removed, and when wearing the bracket system, the neighboring ones stand in its place and fill the space.

With mild bite pathology, wearing braces can be up to a year. The term will vary depending on age, system design and patient response.

IMPORTANT! Do not try to determine the degree of malocclusion yourself. This can only be done by an experienced dentist, and only he can set the period of wearing the bracket system.

The maximum period of wearing braces

With more complex malocclusion pathologies, the period of wearing braces can greatly increase, and surgical intervention may also be required. These pathologies include the following:

• Insufficient development of the lower jaw, or distal bite. With such a pathology, the patient's upper jaw is larger than the lower one.
• The upper and lower dental arches do not close in any part of the jaw. Dentists call this pathology an open bite.
• Lonely development of the upper and lower jaw, while the upper teeth overlap the lower ones quite strongly. This type is called a deep bite.
• Insufficient development of the upper jaw, or mesial type. A person with this type of bite can be distinguished by the protruding lower jaw.
• The intersection of the incisors when the jaws are closed.

In difficult cases of malocclusion, its correction can reach the longest possible period - three years, and the retention period, in rare cases, can last a lifetime.

How long is the retention period?

The retention period is the time it takes to fix the result of wearing a bracket system.

To fix the changes in the position of the teeth in the jawbone, a special structure (retainer) is installed, resembling an arc. This device is fixed on the inside of the teeth, therefore it is invisible to others. It is impossible to neglect wearing a retainer, without it the teeth can return to their original place, and the result of installing braces will be reduced to zero.

Wearing a retainer is a long-term process and is approximately equal to two periods of wearing braces. If you wore a bracket system for six months to correct the bite, then the retention period will be a year; if braces were worn for two years, then the retention period is four years, etc. For a child, the retention period is usually two to three years. In rare especially severe forms of malocclusion, this period can last a lifetime.

Wearing braces has long ceased to be a luxury and has become a common practice of treatment for malocclusion. More and more people who are dissatisfied with their smile correct their bite and become more confident and happy. If you also want to install a bracket system, contact your dentist, he will help you choose the optimal design of braces for you and advise on the timing, because they are individual.

Relatively exactly how much to wear braces, only an orthodontist can tell after the examination. The duration of treatment varies significantly - from 1 to 3 years. This discrepancy is associated with many individual factors: the degree of curvature of the bite, the individual characteristics of the patient and the type of system. In each case, a separate treatment plan is drawn up, indicating the timing of therapy.

How long you need to wear braces is influenced by several factors:

• Patient age... The older the person, the longer it takes to correct the bite. This is due to the fact that the dentition in children and adolescents is still being formed and is more mobile. Whereas adults have low bone permeability.
• The degree of curvature of the teeth... It takes less than a year to correct individual curves of units (dystopia) without significant disturbance of occlusion (contacts between crowns with closed jaws). In case of severe disocclusion (violation of the jaw closing), non-removable structures will have to be worn from 1.5 to 3 years.

• Individual characteristics of the patient... Individuals have varying degrees of tooth mobility. In addition, patients individually react to the force of pressure that the braces exert on the units.

Some people tolerate it easily, others note severe pain and inflammation of the periodontium (soft tissues). In the second case, it is necessary to reduce the impact of the braces, which increases the duration of their wearing.

• ... Some types of braces take longer to wear than others.

Additional Information! The professionalism of the treating orthodontist, patient compliance with the doctor's prescriptions and the specific model of the system do not so clearly affect the period of wearing braces.

There are no age restrictions for adults for treatment with braces. It is possible to correct occlusion defects at 20, 35 or 50 years. But age directly affects how long you need to wear braces. The older the person, the more difficult the dentition is amenable to change.

During the alignment of the bite, the crowns, under the force of the pressure of the structural elements, move into the correct position. From the side to which they move, resorption (rarefaction) of bone tissue occurs, and from the place from which they move, its compaction occurs.

The body is fully formed by the age of 25. After this age, you will have to be prepared that the wearing of braces will last for at least 1.5 years. In difficult cases, the duration of how long adults wear braces increases to 3 years.

The child's body is more susceptible to changes. His jaws are still forming, the bone tissue is not compacted, and the teeth are easily moved with braces. On average, adolescents wear orthodontic appliances for six months less than adults - approximately 1 - 1.5 years.

However, the braces must not be placed until the second molars ("sevens") are fully erupted.... They usually grow up at age 12. But they may appear a little later or earlier. Age 15 - 18 is considered optimal for occlusion correction.

If you install structures earlier, then the problem will worsen. The growing molars will displace the remaining units, or there will be no room for their appearance due to the already moved crowns, irreversible changes in the dentition will occur.

Therefore, for children under adolescence, orthodontic correction is carried out with trainers, dental plates, removable multifunctional devices.

How long does it take to correct various bite pathologies

The main factor in how much braces are worn on the teeth depends on the degree of curvature of the bite. The indicative terms of orthodontic treatment are as follows:

Up to 1 year with slight curvature... This is the minimum period for wearing braces. An important condition is the preservation of normal or conditionally normal occlusal contacts. These include:

• diastemas (spaces between the incisors) and tremes (gaps between any teeth, except for the frontal);
• slight crowding of the incisors due to abnormal growth or underdevelopment of the jaw;
• separate areas of dystopia;
• closing the gaps or expanding them after removing the dental unit and before preparing for prosthetics (installing crowns or bridges).

About 2 years with significant malocclusion pathologies with disocclusion... Among them:

• underdevelopment or excessive size of one of the jaws;
• distal bite - forward extension of the upper jaw;
• mesial occlusion - the predominance of the size of the lower jaw over the upper;
• cross disocclusion - in which the teeth intersect with each other, are located as if "overlapping";
• open bite - in the anterior or lateral region there are no contacts between the crowns.

Up to 3 years with serious occlusion defects, for the elimination of which it is necessary to resort to methods of orthognathological surgery - surgical interventions aimed at eliminating skeletal anomalies of the face.

Important! The duration of wearing braces is approximate. Only a doctor can tell how long the correction will take. But the terms can be shortened or extended by several months during the course of treatment.

How the duration of treatment depends on the type of design

How long you need to wear braces is influenced to a certain extent by the type of system.

Installed from the inner surface of the teeth, will have to be worn 2 times longer than the vestibular (fixed from the front). They cannot act on units with the same force as external structures. But they are absolutely invisible.

• Ligature-free braces have no effect on the duration of therapy

Manufacturers of structures on locks (without ligatures) claim that the time of their treatment with such structures is approximately 20-25% less than with classical ligature systems. However, in practice this is not the case.

In addition, due to the impossibility of changing the fixation of the arch from active to passive type, the alignment of the bite is not always carried out using optimal methods. This can increase the wearing time of the device.

Brackets (bracket body, braces or clasps that are attached to enamel) can be made of metal, plastic, ceramic - poly (classic opaque ceramic) or monocrystalline aluminum oxide (sapphire).

Plastic and ceramics have slightly less pressure on the teeth. Because of this, the units move slightly more slowly, but not significantly. The difference is only a couple of months.

Note! Most of all, how much braces are worn is influenced by the type of pathology, its severity and age. There is no significant difference between the types of designs. The exception is lingual devices.

Additional nuances affecting the timing of bite correction

When learning how much braces are placed, the following factors must be considered.

The need for preparatory procedures

The mouth is always sanitized before braces are installed. The duration depends on the condition of the oral cavity. So, if you just need to remove plaque and remove tartar, preliminary manipulations will take a couple of days.

But if it is necessary to cure caries, (inflammation of the neurovascular bundle - pulp), gum disease or to remove some teeth, the time increases to several weeks, or even months.

Do I need to resort to gnathological surgery

With complex deformations of the facial skeleton, surgical methods will have to be used. For example, the doctor can "separate" the lower jaw and place it in the correct position, securing it with pins and screws. This will prolong the wearing of braces for several months.

Does the patient follow the doctor's orders

Braces require special care. You need to adhere to a diet, clean the system correctly, protect it from rough physical impact, otherwise the brackets will break or come off the enamel.

It happens that the braces exert the wrong pressure on the teeth - they do not move or move in the wrong direction, then the system will have to be adjusted. Because of this, the system will have to be worn for a couple of months longer.

Design features of a specific manufacturer

Most systems are made from templates. But some, for example, Incognito lingual braces, are made only from individual casts in a German laboratory. Firstly, with such structures it will take 6-8 weeks while they are being manufactured.

Secondly, if an element of the mechanism breaks, then it will take several months to manufacture, replace and deliver. And it will cost more than standard items. Plus, during the "downtime" the teeth will not move in the required direction, which can not only prolong wearing, but also lubricate the whole picture of treatment.

Removing braces is not the end of treatment

Most patients believe that orthodontic treatment consists only of wearing braces and after they are removed, everything will be completed. However, it is not. At the end of the main therapy, there is a post-bracket, retention period. It is needed so that the teeth do not return to their original incorrect position.

Since the process of formation of bone structures takes more than a year, even during a long time of wearing braces, they do not have time to acquire the desired shape. Therefore, after removing the braces, all patients are prescribed to wear retainers - a removable or non-removable wire arch fixed on the inside of the teeth. It is almost invisible and does not cause discomfort.

Trainers can be used as a retainer - myofunctional removable double-jaw devices or mouth guards - hollow plates made of transparent silicone. The former are more preferable, as they normalize the position of the tongue, lips, breathing and swallowing. Trainers need to be worn for a couple of hours during the day and at night, while it is prohibited to strain the facial muscles in any way. Restrictions on how much to wear mouthguards after braces are stricter - up to 22 hours a day. But they are invisible, they can be removed during food and hygiene procedures.

The retention period is equal to two periods of bite correction with non-removable systems. So, if the patient has been walking since 1.5 years, then the retainer must be worn for 3 years. In some cases, usually in adults with severe occlusive pathologies, lifelong maintenance therapy is indicated.

Is a very lengthy process. But do not be upset because of the long terms of wearing braces. The first results will be visible in a month, and in six months the teeth will become almost even. Further treatment is necessary in order to achieve a full result and consolidate it.