Guidebook
How long does orthodontic treatment actually take?
For patients considering orthodontic treatment, the expected duration of treatment is an important issue. This ranges from simple treatments that are completed after a few months to complex corrections with treatment times of two to three years. In the following article, you can find out more about how long orthodontic treatment takes in individual cases.
Author
Dr. Fabian von Rom
Date
Estimated reading time
approx. 4 min
Duration of orthodontic treatment
Contents
How does the type and extent of malocclusion affect the duration of treatment?
If only slight deviations in the position of individual teeth are to be corrected and there is already sufficient space in the jaw, a relatively short treatment period can be assumed. The greater the necessary tooth movements, the longer the orthodontic treatment will take.
The type of tooth movement also has an influence on the duration of treatment. If only the crown of the tooth needs to be slightly aligned, this can be done relatively quickly. Corrections where tooth tilting is the goal are generally faster than those where the entire tooth including its root is physically moved (e.g. orthodontic gap closure in the case of missing teeth or after tooth loss).
Is it just the teeth that are crooked or is the bite also wrong?
In addition to misaligned teeth in the individual jaws, the bite between the upper and lower teeth is often not quite right. In the case of major deviations from the correct bite, the aim of orthodontic treatment should never be to straighten only the teeth in the individual jaws in isolation from each other. In order to achieve a stable and functionally good treatment result, it is also important to strive for a correct relationship between the two jaws, i.e. a correct bite.
Here too, the greater the deviation from the correct bite at the start of treatment, the more complex the correction. The spectrum here ranges from individual teeth that are cross-bited, for example, to misalignments of the entire jaw.
As a patient, do I have any options to influence the duration of braces treatment?
The orthodontist can usually correct tooth movement in the individual jaws without any problems and without the patient’s cooperation. However, when it comes to bringing the teeth in the upper and lower jaw into the correct relationship to each other, the patient’s cooperation is usually required, for example by attaching elastics. The more consistently the patient does this, the faster the desired goal is achieved.
The conclusion is therefore as follows:
- Simple malocclusions can be treated more quickly than more complex malocclusions where the bite also needs to be corrected.
- In some treatment phases, the patient also has the opportunity to positively influence the duration of the orthodontic treatment through good cooperation.
- An experienced orthodontist is able to make a good prediction of how long the treatment will take in individual cases during the initial consultation.
Your expert for orthodontics
Dr. Fabian von Rom
In the specialist practice for orthodontics, Dr. med, dent. Fabian von Rom uses his extensive expertise and many years of experience to offer patients the best possible care. The practice offers the entire spectrum of modern orthodontics and specializes in innovative and advanced treatment methods. In addition to traditional procedures, the focus is on treatment with invisible braces for teenagers and adults – one of the most modern and discreet solutions in orthodontics. Dr. med. dent. Fabian von Rom attaches great importance to ensuring that medical precision goes hand in hand with a high level of patient satisfaction. By equipping the practice exclusively with individual treatment rooms, individual and professional care at the highest level is guaranteed.
Further topics
In our guide you will find lots more information on current, relevant and interesting topics relating to orthodontics. We hope you enjoy reading it!
