How long do you have to wear braces?
One of the first questions we’re usually asked is: “How long do I have to wear my braces?”
Of course, patients understand that good things take time—and this is especially true when it comes to teeth and dental treatment. For most misalignments, it’s necessary to move or even rotate the teeth. It goes without saying that this can’t happen overnight. Depending on the misalignment, braces must be used to correct the position of one, two, or more teeth. Since every orthodontic treatment is tailored to the individual—based on the patient’s specific needs—the duration of treatment varies greatly. As a general rule, however, braces must be worn for about two to three years. In cases of very mild misalignment, however, treatment may be completed more quickly.
Whether Free braces or clear clear aligners, we have a quick consultation appointment for you!
The cost of the initial consultation is covered by health insurance providers with an e-Card.
What We Value
Our Prof. Jonke loves straight teeth. As soon as the end of treatment is in sight, you’ll notice that Prof. Jonke and our team don’t simply wrap up treatment once your teeth are halfway straight. Only when Prof. Jonke and our treatment team are satisfied that the best possible result has been achieved will we conclude the treatment with a clear conscience. Of course, our commitment to perfection comes at no extra cost to you.
Different Types of Braces
With “fixed” braces (free braces or “tooth-colored” brackets), brackets are bonded to the teeth and a wire is tensioned to move the teeth in the desired direction. The duration of treatment depends, on the one hand, on individual factors beyond the control of both the patient and the orthodontist, and, on the other hand, on strict adherence to follow-up appointments. The wire must be regularly retightened and adjusted—without these important appointments, the braces can no longer continue to work effectively.
The modern Invisalign method uses clear plastic aligners that are replaced at regular intervals. With the aligner treatment method, the duration of treatment depends primarily on how consistently the aligner is worn: If the patient wears the aligner for only about twelve hours a day, even though 22–23 hours are recommended, the treatment duration will be extended accordingly.
Good teamwork is important!
It is therefore essential to follow the orthodontist’s instructions carefully so that treatment can be completed as quickly as possible. However, since the duration of treatment varies depending on the initial condition, Prof. Jonke can only make reliable predictions after a thorough analysis, consultation, and treatment planning. The cost of an initial consultation is typically covered by health insurance—for information on consultation dates or to schedule an appointment, our reception team looks forward to your call or message.
You will find the estimated duration, along with all other information regarding the course of treatment, in your treatment plan. As explained above, this duration may be shorter or longer depending on the success of the treatment—for example, if the braces are not worn regularly or if follow-up appointments are missed.
After treatment with braces or aligners, a device called a retainer is used to prevent the teeth from shifting back to their original positions. However, this is not—or hardly—visible, as it is either a thin wire running from canine to canine on the inside of the teeth or a clear aligner that is worn at night.