Your braces are on and you’ve started your orthodontic journey to a healthier smile. Now there’s one question: How long do I keep them on? There’s a lot of excitement leading up to the day your new smile is revealed. There are a couple of things to consider when planning the length of your treatment time. At Hemphill Orthodontics, we want to help you plan your orthodontic journey every step of the way so you know what to expect. Let’s examine the factors that could determine the length of your treatment
What Is Your Treatment?
While every smile is unique, there is a general rule of thumb our team can count on for most of our patients: If you have a more complex case, your treatment time will likely be longer than someone who has only mild or moderate issues. Severely displaced teeth or significant bite problems require more time for correction than simple crowding or spacing issues. The more work that’s needed, the more time the treatment will require.
How Does Your Body Respond?
Everyone responds to treatment differently, because every patient is different! Patients with similar cases will rarely have the same exact response to the same treatment. Gum tissue thickness, bone density, and chewing patterns vary between people, and oral habits such as clenching or grinding the teeth can affect treatment. That’s why it’s important to have an orthodontist who knows your specific needs. Dr. Hemphill takes a personalized approach to every visitor that stops by our office. They’ll build you a customized treatment plan tailored to your goals.
How Old Are You?
Here’s something to chew on: Your age can play a role in the length of your treatment too! Teeth move more easily in children and teens because their bones are more pliable since they’re not fully developed. This is why braces tend to be more common in childhood and the teen years. It allows for Dr. Hemphill to have more control over a patient’s bite correction. However, teeth can move successfully in patients of any age! For older patients, treatment can take longer with more developed teeth. The jawbones stop growing by our early twenties, so successful treatment of orthodontic issues after that point may require more time and effort.
Our office has a wide variety of treatments to straighten your teeth as comfortably and quickly as possible. While there will not be an exact date your treatment will finish, the average time in braces can be anywhere from twelve to thirty-six months. Treatment with a clear aligner system like Invisalign can sometimes be shorter. Regardless of treatment time, you’re never too old to get started!
How Compliant Are You?
Your treatment process should be a collaboration between you and our team. Dr. Hemphill will plan and monitor the tooth movements associated with your treatment, whether you use braces or clear aligners. However, remember that you’re an essential part of the process too! Your compliance with treatment guidelines can determine how long and how successful your treatment is.
A good tip for remaining compliant with your treatment is to maintain a strong oral hygiene routine. Your braces can’t assist your teeth if you are not keeping them clean. If you neglect to take care of your teeth and gums, it can slow your treatment down. Orthodontic treatment may even need to be paused if dental work needs to be done. If you maintain rigorous oral health habits and follow the instructions of Dr. Hemphill, you can keep your treatment on track.
Another part of the process is meeting with our orthodontic team. Dr. Hemphill will check the movement of your teeth and make sure everything is going according to plan. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, let us know and we can adjust to your busy schedule! If you want to keep your treatment fast and on track, try to stick to the schedule as close as possible and make up for any missed appointments promptly. This means staying on top of your scheduled appointments with us. We want to be there for you so you can get the most from your treatment time!
Braces and aligners are important tools for creating and maintaining your best smile. However, they are also susceptible to damage. Any breaks, cracks, or snaps in your braces require fixing, and this can push your treatment schedule back. If you’re wearing braces, it’s best to avoid any crunchy or sticky foods. These can weaken the bond strength of brackets or snap wires. A broken or loosened bracket is not considered an emergency, and may not need immediate attention. However, we do want to rebond it as soon as possible. When a bracket isn’t properly bonded to your teeth, no active tooth movement occurs. This can lengthen your treatment process, so be sure to contact our office if there’s any damage to your appliances.
Many factors can determine the length of your treatment, and not just the ones we’ve discussed above. No matter how long your treatment takes, our team can promise you one thing: Our orthodontic experts will be there the whole time so your final results are the ones you want.
Trust your smile to the experts at Hemphill Orthodontics
Your smile deserves an expert team, and we want to guide you every step of the way along your smile journey. Whether you’re just getting started on your orthodontic journey or looking for a new office to visit, Hemphill Orthodontics is your location for modern orthodontic treatment. Our office is located in Celina, so your orthodontic care is always close to where you live and work. We’d love for you to reach out for your FREE consultation with our team at Hemphill Orthodontics to get started on your personalized journey to a healthier smile.
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Dr. Hemphill