Length of time in braces?

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#1 Post by **HeidiLinette** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:39 pm

My orthodontist said I will have braces for 24 months.. My teeth aren't that bad, and I have an impacted canine..

I've googled lots on braces and individual cases of people with braces.. and I've looked at "Before/After" stuff on websites of specific types of braces (Damon's, etc...)

The point is.. I haven't found many cases of people who have had their braces for 24 months.. and most of the cases had teeth worse than mine currently. Mine have some spaces, but not a ton.. and of course that silly canine that's barely poking out.

So.. I know every person is different, but the orthodontist just did xrays and a visual inspection of my teeth.. and I know things may progress quicker than expected..

But 24 months? Is that standard? I've gone to orthodontists' websites and looked at some of their before and after photos of patients.. and I couldn't believe at how craaaazy some of the teeth were originally.. way crazier than mine.. and most of them were 12-16 months.. I'll have to find the link sometime..

I don't know.. lol... I'm just curious why mine will take so long and others with way worse problems than mine have had braces not nearly as long as they say I need them. It just seems weird.

Also, I thought it was weird.. my orthodontist didn't tell me how long it would take after I chose the type of braces.. they just gave me a set price for everything and "24 months" and THEN let me choose which kind I wanted. (I chose clear damon's on top, metal damon's on bottom since they don't offer clear for bottom)

*sigh* I'm tired.. I'm going to bed. I'm getting more and more anxious as the brace day nears.

#2 Post by **ollielloyd** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:39 am

My braces have been on 3 years - my teeth are perfect, and were before - its all about the canine. We've been pulling on mine with elastics from surgery for over a year and its not even close to poking through....very,very disapointing. Just hope for the best. I was scheduled 18 months...wouldnt suprise me if thats the length of time i still have left.

#3 Post by **purpleteeth** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:43 am

Length of treatment depends on many factors, especially how your body responds to the treatment. Some people really have trouble getting their teeth to move and not everyone complies with treatment (wearing elastics, brushing, making all scheduled appointments, etc...). How your ortho decides to treat your case also will help dictate the length of your treatment because as you will read on this board, there is more than one way to do almost everything! Some people have trouble with their brackets staying on, while others never have a break or bend or anything go wrong in treatment.

I will be in braces for an estimated 18months, but it could be longer or it could be shorter.

#4 Post by **CactusZAF** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:51 am

Just remember, the bracket brand makes very little difference, it's the arch wires, elastics, etc that do all the work the brackets only transfer the forces applied by the wire. I have "Damon" brackets and was told at my last adjustment that I'm looking at three years not two as originally estimated, this just goes to prove it's more up to the speed your teeth are prepared to move as well as your compliance as a patient.
Perhaps your estimated longer treatment time is due to more serious underlying problems with your teeth that are not visible to the untrained eye? Just looking at before and after pics of other patients is not a true indication of how long things should take, remember those pics posted by ortho's and orthodontic manufacturers are selected to attract potential customers (in other words, they are chosen because of their short treatment period and visibly impressive results), not because they are average cases/results.
Best of luck with your orthodontic adventure!

#5 Post by **iBorg** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:31 pm

Sometimes it seems like forever and sometimes like last week when I started this project. September will 24 months. I haven't a clue when it will be over. I've had a few detours and thrown my ortho off the path a couple of times. No matter, even now I'd tell you its been all worth it. If it takes another two years (and I won't be surprised if it does), if I can sleep without grinding, smile and show teeth and less TMJ, it will be time well spent.

How long it takes matters more to you than anyone else. Don't mind it, don't bother others with it and no one will care.

Mike

#6 Post by **catfish** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:49 pm

My estimated treatment time is 24 months, and I thought that sounded quite long, too. Especially since my teeth weren't that bad. I had some crowding on the bottom and hardly anything wrong with the tops. But the tops will be in braces for even longer than the bottoms. I had top braces for 4 1/2 months before I got braces on the bottom. So it doesn't make obvious sense, but I trust my ortho to know what he's doing. So far so good!

#7 Post by **janessa** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:18 pm

Keep in mind that orthodontists go to a TON of school to get where they are. Thus, they know what they are doing. I have given myself near anxiety attacks researching medical stuff before I had it done on google--perhaps it's not the best idea. My ortho likes to make adjustments gradually to make the process as comfortable as possible, so something like this also would slow down treatment. I don't really mind as it gives me longer to stretch out my monthly payments, and I'd rather be patient then in pain. I don't have my first appointment until 2 months after braces were put on. Speak with your ortho about your concerns, and by all means--get 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinions, as many as you want until you are comfortable with who is doing your treatment and the duration and specifics. It sounds like you don't fully trust your ortho so perhaps shopping around might be a good idea for you.

#8 Post by **Thathrill** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:40 pm

as already stated there are many factors that go into the time in braces. But like how airlines over estimate the time of arrival, orthos estimate the time in braces. I was told that it would take me 24 months total for treatment. A year to close gaps, straighten teeth, and have proper arches. Surgery next with braces for 4-6 more months. After that, I would finish it all off with invisalign. For me, I took about 13 months to close all my gaps and have all of my teeth straighten. I was told that I am still on target even though its been over 14 months and Im just now having surgery.

Have to understand that every case is never the same. There are people on here who were able to get out of braces early and well before their estimate. I would talk it over with your ortho and don't worry too much about the time frame. For me I was dreading every day at first and now I can't believe its been 14months. The time flies by.

#9 Post by **HeidiLinette** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:11 am

I trust my orthodontist and I don't feel like 24 months is that long compared to my best friend having braces from middle school all through high school.. I just feel my teeth aren't as bad as some other people who have way more "obvious" problems. I know it's different for each person (and I sort of have an edge to edge bite that elastics will be fixing).. so yeah.

Also about the tooth they want to pull.. I don't think it's necessary to have it extracted because it looks perfectly fine where it's at.. so I'm going to talk to them about it. There is no overcrowding, there are actually more spaces than anything.. and I'm worried about pulling a tooth and having yet another space.. so.. I'm definitely going to talk to them about that before going ahead with it. But my appointment is Wednesday at 10 to get the braces.

Eek.. I'm nervous.

#10 Post by **badsmile** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:09 am

Im in for 24 mo as well. When the doc explained all that was required to treat my open bite it made sense (surgery and such).
Oh well.

YouTube · #11 Post by **retainerjoe** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 2:03 pm

your right , time in treatment is different for each one , for me it started out to be 24 to 36 , an 2121 days later thay can off , check out some of my new pictures , link posted at the bottom take care all an have a great day ,

retainerjoe

#12 Post by **acd** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:16 pm

Treatment estimates are just that--estimates. I'm getting close to my 22-28 mo initial estimate but I'm prepared to do whatever it takes. I'd really only go through this once!

#13 Post by **Lisa65** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:17 am

I never even asked for an estimate. I knew it was going to take a while and was prepared to put up with it as long as necessary to get a good result. I'm 25 months in and nowhere near finished.

You might be lucky and if that canine co-operates you might be out well before your 24 month estimate.

#14 Post by **chef** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:27 am

24-30 months, 11 months done as of last week.

#15 Post by **sparkles** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:03 pm

I was initially told 18 months then surgery. But by the time I went back with a decision, it was extended to 3 years...apparently will give a better result if I'm in braces longer