How Long Does Orthodontic Treatment Take?

We all know that orthodontic treatment is helpful to correct the alignment of the teeth. The Richmond ortho treatment can also be helpful to treat the overbite and underbite issues. Unfortunately, a lot of people proceed from the orthodontic treatment as they are concerned about their smiles. 

The metal braces treatment is not only for cosmetic purposes; it helps treat so many dental problems. But the question here is how long does an Orthodontic treatment take to correct the teeth alignment and spaces between the teeth. 

Ideally, the orthodontic treatment takes around 18 months to correct the alignment of the teeth. However, several factors may affect the duration of the treatment. Let us pay some attention to these factors. 

How Much is the Space Between the Teeth and How Much Teeth are Crooked? 

As per the best orthodontists Richmond, orthodontic treatment will depend on the spaces between the teeth and how much the teeth are crooked. It may take a longer time if you have cavities and enamel erosions along with misaligned teeth. 

Also, wearing metallic braces may be extended if you have any of these dental issues. You may need to wear metallic braces or Invisalign for more than 18 months if the condition of the teeth is severe. 

For instance, if you have overcrowded teeth, the ortho in Richmond first removes the teeth to make some room for adjustment, and after that, treatment will proceed. The teeth removal and space shifting may take a longer time than expected. 

Types of Orthodontic Treatments You Have 

The timing of the orthodontic treatment may also depend on the type of braces you have. There are three kinds of orthodontic treatments available that are used to correct the teeth alignment, which are as follows: 

• Metal Braces: It involves metal brackets attached to the teeth with the help of rubbers and metallic wires. This treatment may take up to 18 months to correct the teeth’ alignment. Moreover, the orthodontist also tightens the loose wire at regular intervals of time. The treatment is highly recommended to those who have severe alignment issues. 

• Invisalign: These are removable and made with a plastic tray, which are changed after a few weeks when the teeth start moving to their accurate position. The best thing about this treatment is that it takes less time than the metal braces, and you can remove them easily to maintain oral hygiene. This treatment is best to correct the teeth’ alignment. 

• Lingual Braces: Lingual braces are a form of metal braces fixed on the back of the teeth. This treatment effectively treats almost every kind of alignment severity issue and takes comparatively less time than metal braces. 

The Condition of the Bite 

Bite condition is considered as the arrangement of teeth and its alignment. The majority of the patients proceed for orthodontic treatment due to biting issues. Some individuals have biting problems due to open bite, overcrowded teeth, deep bite issues, crossbite and underbite issues. 

Hence, if a patient has a biting problem and has misaligned teeth simultaneously, then it may take a longer time than the other orthodontic treatment. 

Oral Hygiene and Lifestyle 

Oral hygiene plays a crucial role in orthodontic treatment. If you maintain proper hygiene and bring changes in your lifestyle, then the treatment time may get shorter. Along with oral hygiene maintenance, make sure to visit the best orthodontist, Richmond, for braces adjustment because the wire and braces grip get loose when teeth start moving to the confined place. 

So, it would be great to tighten the grip of the metal braces timely by the orthodontist so that you can achieve straight teeth early. Aside from this, cleaning after a certain period on teeth and braces avoids tooth decay issues. 

Your Dietary Habits 

You are what you eat. You may have heard this several times whenever we talk about health. The same thing is applied here too, and the time of the orthodontist treatment depends on what you eat. Eating sticky, crunchy, oily and hard food may break the metal braces. This, in turn, affects the amount of time required to treat the alignment of the teeth. 

Bottom Line 

So, here are a few reasons which can affect the time of the orthodontic treatment. Other than this, consumption of too much sugar may create tooth decay, which can further impact the process of orthodontic treatment. Also, try to get in touch with the orthodontist timely so that you can get the best results.