October 17, 2021
From the fear of physical discomfort to the general sense of insecurity one feels when the metal brackets are applied, we understand that many orthodontic patients are crossing their fingers and hoping for a treatment option that concludes sooner rather than later.
Of course, that depends entirely on what your teeth currently look like and how, exactly, you’d prefer to undergo the alignment process.
But that being said, how often does treatment usually take? And how might that differ between Invisalign and braces?
Is It Possibly Time For Invisalign?
“The length of treatment depends on multiple factors, like how complex your case is and how often you wear your aligners,” Invisalign explains. “On average, Invisalign treatment time is 12 to 18 months, though you can start seeing results in a matter of weeks.”
Specifically, clear aligners are designed to treat mildly crooked or misaligned teeth. Capable of eliminating gaps between teeth or eliminating overlapping of the teeth, it is not suited for patients with extremely crooked teeth or in cases where the jaw bone itself needs to be shifted in order to ensure a safe and proper treatment process.
Thus, as Invisalign is generally suited for less severe orthodontic complications, treatment may often take less time.
Counting Down To Basic Braces
Traditional braces are the recommended treatment for patients who:
- Have a severe overbite
- Have a severe underbite
- Are likely to forget to wear their clear aligners
- Are too young to keep up with cleaning their clear aligners
- And more
“How long your child will need to wear braces depends on the problems the orthodontist is trying to fix, but the average is about two years,” according to Nemours Kids Health. “After that, your child might wear a specially molded retainer.”
Otherwise, for older teens and adults, the treatment process is again dependent upon multiple individual factors, particularly as the jaw bone is no longer growing for this age group.
“The entire process may take longer for you than for a child or adolescent,” Harvard Health clarifies. That being said, the average treatment for adults also lasts approximately two years.
Aligning With The Bottom Line
Regardless of whether your treatment entails clear aligners, traditional braces, ceramic braces, and another appliance, here at SouthShore Orthodontics, we’re equipped to help you achieve a renewed, healthy smile in a warm and friendly office!
What’s more, we have our own in-house method of creating custom-fit clear aligners: Simply SouthShore. These aligners are designed to treat slightly misaligned smiles or individuals that have previously undergone orthodontic treatment.
So are you ready to learn more and embark on your journey to a brighter smile? Then contact our team today by calling (813) 815-0080! We look forward to providing you with exceptional results in a welcoming environment.