Very occasionally orthodontic treatment can shorten the roots of your teeth, so we'll take X-rays to make sure there are no underlying issues. If everything's in tip-top condition, there's nothing to stop you from wearing braces two or even three times. Although done properly, once should be enough!
1. Adults Can Get Braces. If you haven't had the chance to get braces when you were younger, perhaps because of financial issues, it's never too late to get braces as an adult. Likewise, if you had braces before and the results did not last, you can get orthodontic treatment again.
The short answer is nearly always “yes.” So long as your gums, teeth and mouth are healthy, your bones are strong and your roots are deep, there should be no problem restoring your proper alignment. Early treatment doesn't in itself preclude later orthodontic work.
Crowding & Shifting
Unfortunately, without continued use of a retainer, teeth tend to shift out of place. This is the main reason most patients need braces again.
What happens after the braces come off? Many people who undergo orthodontic treatment wrongly assume that once the braces are off the treatment is over. But braces and other types of orthodontic treatment should be seen as a lifelong project.
But teeth continue to shift as we age, so there's never a time when braces won't work. Braces adjust teeth by putting pressure on them, and this pressure works even after bones have stopped growing. It takes longer to straighten teeth in adults because bones are more solid. Still, braces are effective at any age.
Tooth relapse after braces is very common, especially in the first year after braces. The cause is simple: your teeth have been moved, but they haven't become fully fixed in their new places yet. When braces and other orthodontic treatments move your teeth, they cause your body to remodel bone around your teeth.
When children that young have braces, their teeth are still prone to a significant amount of movement and shifting as they age. This means that even if they are perfectly straight when they are 7 or 8, they may once again require braces as a teenager or adult when all of their adult teeth have come in.
If at any point during your orthodontic treatment you have concerns about how it is progressing, don't hesitate to speak with your orthodontist or a member of the orthodontic team. Their goal is the same as yours – a beautiful, healthy smile that will last a lifetime!
This is because you will likely only need to wear them for a shorter period of time, and your teeth will have already been straightened to some extent. The exact cost will depend on your individual situation, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000.
Fortunately, now that your facial structure is fully developed, the second treatment of braces won't take as long as the first. On average, adult treatment takes about 6 months to 1 year.
If you have minor dental issues, your dentist will initially suggest wearing retainers full-time for 2-3 months. But you might have to wear your retainers for over 6 months if you have severe dental problems. However, the good news is that you do not have to wear your retainers forever.
Very occasionally orthodontic treatment can shorten the roots of your teeth, so we'll take X-rays to make sure there are no underlying issues. If everything's in tip-top condition, there's nothing to stop you from wearing braces two or even three times. Although done properly, once should be enough!
Insufficient retainer use is the main reason for orthodontic relapse. This condition occurs when your teeth begin to move back toward their original position, as they were before treatment. It is estimated that more than 50% of patients experience some amount of relapse within 10 years after treatment.
It may not be a common topic, but orthodontic relapse is actually fairly common. In fact, some studies estimate that over half of all orthodontic patients will experience some level of relapse within 10 years of completing their treatment.
Some orthodontists cut down on waste—and costs—by recycling dental appliances. Companies such as Ortho-Cycle clean, inspect, sort, and decontaminate previously used metal brackets so that they are safe to use again.
Some people wonder if the shape of their face will change with teeth braces, and the short answer is yes — this is true. Your body will react to how braces are shifting your teeth into their corrected positions, therefore, your face shape is also likely to change.
Retainers keep your smile in place when active treatment is complete. Adults need to wear their retainers for life, but adolescents may be able to stop wearing them after about 10 years.
The average orthodontic treatment plan is anywhere from 18 months to three years. It's different for everyone, but anything beyond a four-year treatment plan warrants getting second, third and fourth opinions.
The average orthodontic treatment falls somewhere between 16-18 months, but can sometimes take as long as 24 months, or even more. Be wary of promises from anyone who says you can have a straight smile in only six months.
The minimum time to wear braces can be as little as several months to fix a basic crooked tooth or spacing issue through to 36 months for both metal braces and ceramic braces. Ceramic braces use tooth-coloured brackets and arch wires so they are less conspicuous than metal braces.
The answer, it's never too late to get braces! Getting braces is usually associated with children and teenagers, but we are here to inform you that there is no age limit on getting braces. Having the perfect smile can be lifetime goal of yours no matter what your age.