Braces are fixed orthodontic appliances that use brackets and wires to apply continuous, gentle force, gradually moving teeth into a healthier, straighter position. This biological process of bone remodeling allows the teeth to shift, but the total time required for correction is highly individualized. The duration depends on the initial condition of the teeth and the patient’s biological response to the forces applied. Understanding the active treatment time and necessary follow-up is important for anyone beginning orthodontic treatment.
Average Treatment Timelines
For most people undergoing comprehensive orthodontic treatment, the active phase with braces typically lasts between 12 and 36 months. Mild cases, such as minor crowding or small spaces, may be completed more quickly, sometimes requiring as little as 6 to 12 months of active appliance wear. Cases involving moderate crowding or overbite correction generally fall into the 18 to 24-month timeframe. Conversely, very complex malocclusions, especially those requiring extensive jaw adjustments, extractions, or surgical coordination, often require the full 24 to 36 months or even slightly longer.
Factors Influencing Treatment Duration
Case Complexity
The variability in treatment length is determined by three factors: the complexity of the initial case, the patient’s age, and patient compliance. Addressing a severe malocclusion, such as a significant overbite, underbite, or crossbite, requires more time than correcting minor tooth rotation. Cases that involve the extraction of permanent teeth to create space for alignment will also prolong the total treatment time compared to non-extraction therapies.
Patient Age
The density of the jawbone affects the speed of tooth movement. Adolescents benefit from softer bone structure and ongoing growth, which facilitates faster changes. Adults typically have denser bone, meaning teeth move more slowly. Adults may also present with pre-existing conditions, such as periodontal issues, which must be managed carefully and can extend the overall timeline.
Compliance
Patient compliance can significantly accelerate or delay the predicted timeline. Failing to wear prescribed orthodontic elastics or auxiliary appliances as directed reduces the efficiency of planned movements, causing delays. Missed appointments or frequent breakages of brackets and wires require unscheduled visits that interrupt the continuous treatment sequence, thereby extending the total time the braces must be worn.
The Phases of Orthodontic Correction
Leveling and Alignment
The process begins with the Leveling and Alignment phase, which focuses on initial tooth movement to straighten the teeth and place them along a smooth arch form. This phase uses flexible wires and primarily addresses crowding and rotation. It often requires between three to six months to complete.
Correction or Working Phase
Once the teeth are generally aligned, treatment moves into the Correction or Working Phase. During this time, the orthodontist uses stiffer wires and often introduces elastics or other devices to correct the bite relationship, such as an overjet or open bite. Major space closure, like filling gaps left by extracted teeth, also occurs during this phase, which can take six months to a year or more.
Finishing and Detailing
The final stage is Finishing and Detailing, where the orthodontist makes precise, minute adjustments. This fine-tuning stage ensures that the roots are correctly positioned, the bite fits perfectly, and the aesthetic alignment is maximized. Though it involves subtle movements, this detailing phase can still take several months to finalize the result before the appliances are removed.
Maintaining Results After Removal
The date braces are removed marks the end of active tooth movement but signals the start of the Retention Phase, which is crucial for long-term success. The surrounding bone and periodontal ligament fibers require time to reorganize and stabilize around the new tooth positions. Without this support, the teeth have a natural tendency toward relapse, gradually shifting back toward their original misalignment.
Retention is maintained using custom-made retainers, which can be removable (like a clear plastic aligner or a Hawley appliance) or fixed (a thin wire bonded to the back of the teeth). The initial instruction is typically to wear retainers full-time for a prescribed period, usually several months, to secure the new position. Following this, retainer wear often transitions to nighttime only, and this commitment is generally considered a lifetime necessity to prevent unwanted shifting.