Factors That Impact How Long You’ll Need to Wear Braces

When you think about the most beautiful smiles you’ve seen, what do you notice about them? The first thing might be the brilliant whiteness, but the second thing is likely a little more subtle. The true beauty of a smile is brought out by the alignment of the teeth, which, for many people, means corrective procedures such as braces. But how long do you have to wear braces? As it turns out, the answer depends on a few different factors.

Your Age

Okay, so no one really likes to talk about age, but the fact of the matter is that the younger you are, the more quickly your body tends to respond to various medical interventions. The same holds true for braces. All other things being equal, someone who has braces when they are younger will likely not need to have them for as long as someone who’s older since the results will come more quickly.

The Degree of Correction Needed

Arguably the most obvious factor that will impact how long you’ll need to wear braces will be the degree of correction needed. Someone who needs minor adjustments to the placement of their teeth simply won’t need to have braces on for as long as someone who needs to bring teeth into their proper alignment, adjust spacing between the teeth, and correct a bite problem too. In short, the more complex the correction, the longer it will take.

Your Cooperation

You don’t really have control over your age or how much correction your teeth need, but you do have control over how well you follow the instructions you’re given by Dr. Maccaro. The better you are at keeping your appointments and taking care of your teeth and braces, the less time you’ll have to spend in them. Remember to thoroughly clean your teeth and braces, avoid certain foods as instructed, and wear a mouth guard if you’ll be involved in any contact sports.

If you need braces, one of your concerns is likely how long you’ll need to wear them. Braces aren’t a one size fits all sort of thing, which means that how long you’ll need to wear them for is also highly individualized. Just make sure you do your part to care for them and your teeth so that Dr. Maccaro can have your teeth looking their absolute best as quickly as possible.

Straightening your teeth these days doesn’t always mean having a mouthful of metal. Talk to Dr. Maccaro to see if Invisalign is a good option for you.