The time required to correct flared teeth is highly personalized and varies significantly. Flared teeth, also known as proclined teeth, are front teeth that angle or jut outward from the jawline. This outward tilt is often a result of insufficient space in the jaw, chronic habits like thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting, or an underlying jaw misalignment. Because the movement of teeth is a biological process that depends on many individual factors, the timeline for correction is unique to each patient.
Treatment Options for Flared Teeth
Orthodontic treatment for flared teeth focuses on applying continuous, gentle force to retract the teeth into an ideal position within the dental arch. The two most common methods for achieving this movement are fixed appliances and removable aligners.
Traditional braces use brackets bonded to the teeth and connected by a wire, which is periodically adjusted to guide the teeth backward. This fixed system allows for precise control over complex tooth movements, including the retraction necessary to correct significant flaring.
Clear aligners (e.g., Invisalign) use a sequence of custom-made, clear plastic trays. Each tray is worn for a set period, typically one or two weeks, gradually moving the teeth according to a digital plan. While discreet and removable, aligners are generally best suited for mild to moderate flaring cases. For flaring caused by underlying jaw size issues, auxiliary devices like palatal expanders may be used in growing patients to widen the upper jaw and create necessary space.
Key Factors Affecting Treatment Duration
The time required to resolve flared teeth is heavily influenced by the severity of the misalignment, which is the biggest determinant of duration. Mild cases involve less distance for the teeth to travel and can be resolved more quickly, while severe flaring often involves complex movements and longer treatment.
Age also plays a significant biological role; the bone surrounding the teeth, known as alveolar bone, is more malleable in adolescents than in adults. Since adult bone is denser and fully formed, tooth movement occurs at a slower rate.
The treatment plan may require tooth extractions to create space for retraction. The subsequent process of closing these extraction spaces adds several months to the overall timeline.
Patient compliance is a major factor, especially with removable aligners and auxiliary components like elastics. Failure to wear aligners for the prescribed 20 to 22 hours per day or inconsistent use of elastics slows down movement and may require mid-course corrections that extend the duration.
Typical Timelines Based on Treatment Type
The duration for correcting flared teeth is typically measured in months, not weeks, reflecting the biological necessity of slow, continuous force for stable tooth movement.
Patients with mild flaring, where the teeth require only minor tipping or retraction, can often complete treatment in a range of 6 to 12 months with either clear aligners or braces. This shorter timeline is possible when no significant bite correction is needed and the teeth are simply being slightly adjusted within the existing arch.
For moderate flaring, which often involves some degree of crowding or a more noticeable protrusion, the timeline commonly extends to between 12 and 18 months, regardless of whether fixed braces or clear aligners are used.
More complex cases, those requiring comprehensive orthodontics to correct a significant overbite or needing space creation through extractions, generally require 18 to 24 months of active treatment. In severe situations involving jaw surgery to correct a skeletal discrepancy contributing to the flare, the total time can easily exceed 24 months, with the surgical recovery adding to the overall process.
While clear aligners can be as efficient as braces for comparable cases, the fixed nature of traditional braces often makes them the more predictable choice for severe flaring, especially when significant retraction or root movement is required. The timeline is an estimation based on steady progress, and any deviation from the plan, such as broken appliances or missed appointments, will cause delays.
Maintaining Results Post-Treatment
Treatment does not end when braces or aligners are removed; a lifelong retention phase is necessary to prevent the teeth from shifting back, a phenomenon known as relapse. The tissues and fibers around the teeth have a “memory” and will attempt to pull the teeth back toward their original flared position, especially immediately after active treatment. Retainers are custom-made devices designed to hold the teeth in their new, corrected alignment while the surrounding bone and ligaments stabilize.
There are two main types of retainers: removable clear plastic or wire-and-acrylic devices, and fixed retainers, which are thin wires bonded to the back surfaces of the front teeth. Initially, removable retainers must be worn nearly full-time (often 22 hours a day) for several months to ensure stability. Wear then transitions to nightly use, which is recommended indefinitely to counteract the natural tendency of teeth to move over time. Failure to consistently wear the retainer means the investment in time and effort during the active correction phase can be quickly undone, leading to a recurrence of the flaring.