How long does it take to straighten teeth? It’s a good question and one that we’re frequently asked. Often, the main reason people look to align their teeth is to become more confident in their smile but are hesitant about the time it takes! When it comes to understanding how much time it takes to straighten teeth, there are multiple paths one can take to achieve a straighter smile and each option will result in a different time frame.
Typically, the time frame is shorter for youth as their jawline and teeth are not fully grown therefore easier to move and manipulate. Everyone is different; your own biology can impact the length of time it will take to reach your desired results as everyone responds uniquely to treatment. Teeth straightening treatment times can vary depending between patients, severity of spacing, bite issues, crowding and the treatment plan you choose.
Teeth misalignment solutions can be confused as inconvenient and a ‘hassle’ but the methods to fix your concerns may be simpler than you think. Let’s look at the different ways that teeth straightening time frames can vary from patient to patient.
How Much Time It Takes to Straighten Teeth
Teeth straightening time is all dependant on the individual and the method they choose to use! Teeth straightening treatments last anytime from 3 months – 2 years on average – some being shorter, and some longer. The time that it takes to straighten your teeth will all be dependent on the method you choose and the individual case. Here are some factors that may influence the teeth straightening time:
The Severity of Teeth Misalignment
People often perceive ‘teeth misalignment’ as an aesthetics issue alone; however, there are many complications that can arise when your teeth are misaligned.
The severity of your misalignment will have a large impact on the time it will take to straighten your teeth. As such, more severe cases will have a longer treatment time as your teeth have further to travel to their desired position, or more complex dental procedures that may be required.
On the other hand, more mild cases of misalignment are more likely to be able to be treated within a shorter timeframe. Before you begin your treatment, you’ll likely receive a teeth straightening plan, or at the very least you’ll be advised on how long your treatment is expected to take to complete.
How Quickly Your Teeth Move
Teeth straightening time is one of the main concerns when people look to get treatment done. As a general rule of thumb, teeth move about 1mm per month. Depending on the severity of your teeth, majority of treatments last from anywhere between 6 months and 3 years. In saying this, different types of teeth straightening treatment will have different treatment lengths and will also vary depending on the individual.
Are There Any Underlying Bite Or Jaw Issues To Be Corrected?
Having additional bite or jaw issues can increase treatment by some time as it’s not just about fixing crooked teeth. There are many factors that can increase the duration of your teeth straightening experience, including: overbite, underbite, uneven jaw size and more. It is important when considering which path of treatment that you are doing to take that you factor in any of these issues you may have.
The Teeth Straightening Method
As we mentioned before, expected teeth straightening time can vary depending on the individual and the method chosen. Clear aligners typically take around 6-12 months to straighten your teeth, but for more complex cases such as crowded teeth, that treatment time can be 24 months or longer. For more severe cases, orthodontists may suggest a different treatment such as traditional braces.
In saying that, there are many different paths you can take to straighten your teeth, including:
Metal Braces: With traditional braces, a metal bracket is bonded to each individual tooth of the patient and then a dental wire is threaded through each bracket. This wire is then expertly tightened at regular intervals to slowly move teeth into perfect alignment.
Ceramic Braces: Whether you choose ceramic or metal braces, they all work the same to achieve the same result. The difference is aesthetics. Clear, ceramic braces are more discreet on the tooth, making the appearance of braces less noticeable.
Clear Aligners: With clear aligners, a progression of see-through, custom aligners are worn to shift your teeth into place. These aligner trays are not bonded to your teeth and are made to be taken out when eating and drinking (or if you have a special event on!).
All of which we will go into further detail later on in this article.
How Long Will Braces Take to Straighten Teeth?
It’s a question we hear a lot: how long will braces take to straighten teeth?
The average braces treatment can take around 2 years to reach that desired smile; however, some cases can take a little bit shorter or longer depending on the complexity. Typically, during your initial consultation your orthodontist will advise to you whether the 2-year time frame is an accurate estimate for how long you can expect to be wearing braces for.
Traditional Braces: Usually, the process of braces consists of a few consultations and meeting before you get your braces on. Then you will have your appointment where they will place the metal or ceramic braces in your mouth and run you through the next steps. Typically, from there you will have visits to the orthodontist or dentist every 4-8 weeks to tighten, re wire and check up on your movement progress!
How Long Do Clear Aligners Take to Work?
So, how long do clear aligners take to work?
Timing does come down to complexity per case, but one of the great things about clear alignment treatment is that you can begin to notice the difference within just a few weeks! The results may seem minimal and only of small movements, but you will begin to see detectable changes within 4 to 6 weeks of starting your treatment. Again, every patient is different, and you might see movement a lot quicker or slower than your family or friend who are undergoing the same treatment.
Clear Aligners: The procedure of clear aligners at EZ SMILE is super EZ! Firstly, we get you to take a 30 second free assessment to ensure EZ SMILE is initially right for you and then we can move forward with the treatment. Next, you will get a 3D scan of your mouth or complete an ‘at home’ impression kit so that the team in our lab take a closer look at your teeth. This is where we will get a good idea of how your teeth will move and the duration of your journey! It’s also at this stage that we will advise is EZ SMILE can treat you – you’ll receive a full refund is we can’t! After this we will send you your clear aligners and you are set to start your teeth straightening process. We also keep in touch with you during the process to check your progress and to send your more aligners and eventually retainers too.
Are You A Candidate for EZ SMILE?
Now that you understand how much time it takes to straighten teeth, it’s time to consider the best option for you. For many people, consistent dentist visits just are not practical and for that reason they’re looking for more convenient options. That’s where we come in!
EZ SMILE allows customers to achieve the smile of their dreams from home with treatment lengths averaging 4-8 months – much faster than traditional braces!
EZ SMILE’s clear aligners are custom made BPA-free, high quality plastic designed for results. With EZ SMILE, your clear aligners are delivered direct to you 5 sets at a time to make sure there’s no waiting time or dental visits for your next set!
Not to mention, EZ SMILE clear aligners are 70%^ cheaper than traditional methods! Purchase your aligners for just $2,499 which includes all the aligner sets required to straighten your teeth as well as your first set of retainers!
The locally-based EZ SMILE customer support team is always available to answer any questions about your treatment. Let’s get started! Take our FREE 30 second assessment to find out if EZ SMILE is right for you.