How long do you have to wear braces? It may be one of the most common questions we hear at Zombek Orthodontics. The average treatment time for people with traditional braces is 12 months to 24 months or longer. Through LightForce technology and open communication with our clients, we’re often able to shorten that time by 30-40%.
At Zombek Orthodontics, we use LightForce braces for faster treatment, fewer visits, and less discomfort while still achieving excellent results. But we know that the length of treatment also depends on you, the patient. That’s why we explain your dental problems and treatment plan in a way that you can easily understand.
We will assist you in understanding how to shorten the duration of wearing braces. Additionally, we will provide guidance on staying motivated to make healthy lifestyle choices while undergoing treatment.
Every patient is unique, and the complexity of dental problems like misaligned teeth and jaw affects the duration of treatment. We also find that treatment time can be different for adults with braces than it is for children with braces. Patient lifestyle is another big factor in treatment time. Can you follow your orthodontist's directions at home? These factors can all influence how long you wear braces.
LightForce technology helps us do our best work for every patient. It ensures that your braces are placed in the optimal position on each tooth. This helps to expedite your treatment.
It also helps us keep you motivated at home! LightForce's smile design technology allows us to show you how your smile will look after your braces are removed. This can be done on the same day that the braces are put on. When you can picture your goal, it’s easier to chase.
Your first appointment marks the first step in figuring out how long you’ll wear braces.
First, we perform a thorough examination to determine whether you need braces at all. Dr. Zombek does this with cutting-edge technology that makes our patients’ treatment as quick and efficient as possible.
During your initial examination, we make sure you start treatment with healthy teeth and gums. If you have cavities, gum disease, or need teeth extracted for any reason, we’ll refer you to dentists who can get your mouth ready for orthodontic treatment.
The next step is to figure out why you need braces. Our iTero scanner provides a detailed, 3D image of your teeth and jaws. Dr. Zombek reviews those scans to find what type of issues you may have with misaligned teeth. These can include:
Orthodontic issues differ in severity among individuals, impacting the required treatment and its duration. For some people, we recommend pre-treatment appliances such as a palate expander or tongue crib to correct structural issues in the mouth and jaw. While this preparation adds to your overall treatment time, it helps your new smile last a lifetime.
During your first appointment, we’ll also ask you questions about your health, particularly about chewing and sleeping. Can you hear your jaw pop often, especially when chewing? Does your jaw get tired when you chew? Do you have sleep issues, such as snoring or sleep apnea?
Your answers help us determine how orthodontic treatment can help you not only look your best but also feel your best! Excellent orthodontic care can help you to eat and sleep without discomfort.
Every person’s orthodontic needs are different, so each treatment plan is different.
This is a major development in orthodontics.
“Braces used to be a one-size-fits-all with the same treatment for every patient. Technologies like LightForce have revolutionized my practice.”
Dr. Zombek
Age is also a factor in determining how long you will wear braces.
Children’s bones are still developing, so they’re softer and can be reshaped more easily. This makes it easier to move teeth with braces. Adults’ bones have fully developed and have hardened. As a result, it may take slightly longer to move adult teeth.
Does this mean adults can’t wear braces? Absolutely not! Advanced technology (and the maturity to follow our recommendations at home) means that our adult patients get incredible results with braces treatment. It’s never too late to get your dream smile.
The type of braces can be just as important as age or bite to the amount of time you’ll wear braces. Traditional metal braces are an option for most patients, but can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. They need tightening every six weeks, which means lots of appointments and regular spikes in discomfort. That’s why Dr. Zombek recommends LightForce braces to straighten your teeth.
LightForce braces are custom-created for each patient and applied precisely, making them far more efficient and far more comfortable than traditional braces.
LightForce treatment begins with a digital smile design. This 3-D imaging takes the guesswork out of bracket placement, showing Dr. Zombek the ideal spot on each tooth to achieve the best results quickly.
You’ll get to see your digital smile design the day you get your braces. And at Zombek Orthodontics, we see the powerful impact this can have.
“Getting to see the digital smile is incredibly motivating to patients because they get really excited by what the outcome will look like"
Dr. Zombek
We love seeing patients as excited about what’s to come for them as we are! Seeing your future smile helps you take great care of yourself at home throughout the treatment process.
How long will you wear LightForce braces? The average time for traditional braces is 12-24 months, and sometimes longer. LightForce braces have a shorter estimated treatment time, but Dr. Zombek has even better news for patients concerned about how long they’ll have braces.
“While we generally estimate 18 months for LightForce, many of our patients are actually finishing in 12-15 months! Treatment is, on average, 30-40% quicker than traditional braces.”
Dr. Zombek
You don’t have to worry about getting to the orthodontist every six weeks with LightForce, either.
“Treatment is completed in many cases with only 7-10 office visits. We see our patients every ten weeks.”
Dr. Zombek
After several months of wearing braces, you may look at your teeth and think, “They’re straight enough. Why do I need to keep wearing braces?”
We get it. You’re ready to see that gorgeous new smile! However, treatment is not necessarily over just because your teeth look straight in the front. We also want to be sure your jaw is aligned correctly and all of your teeth are where they should be.
Dr. Zombek knows exactly what it will take to create your perfect smile, and our whole team is here to help motivate and support you. We know you want your braces off as quickly as possible, and we’ll let you know the minute you’re ready!
Here are a few things you can do to keep your treatment time as short as possible:
If you have any concerns, even small ones, let us know. We are here for you throughout your treatment and beyond.
The team at Zombek Orthodontics can help you create routines at home that make caring for your teeth and braces during treatment easier. We’ve talked with lots of patients over the years about small challenges that can get in the way of taking great care of braces at home, like not wanting to brush when your mouth is tender, having trouble finding fun foods you can still eat during your treatment (Halloween, anyone?), or maintaining good habits when you’re traveling. Talk to us about the challenges you’re facing! We have lots of tips and tricks that can make it all feel more manageable.
Call us right away if a problem arises, such as a loose bracket or broken wire. Accidents can happen, and the sooner we address them, the faster we can get your treatment back on track.
If you’re experiencing pain, we want to hear from you. LightForce braces are more comfortable than traditional braces, but you still may have some discomfort after an adjustment. That’s okay, but if the pain gets too severe or you have pain between adjustments, let us know! There may be a problem we need to address, such as the adjustment being too tight or a cavity forming.
A key to good health is eating nutritious foods. For braces patients, it’s also about keeping an eye on the texture of what you eat. Eating sticky, crunchy, or chewy foods can damage your braces.
The last thing you want is to delay your treatment while your braces are fixed, right? That’s why we recommend avoiding certain foods while you have braces. The good news is once you’re done with treatment, you can go back to enjoying those foods. Better still, you can do it with teeth ready to bite and chew properly!
Trust us, your diet won’t be as limited as you think. If you need suggestions, though, ask the team at Zombek Orthodontics. They’re sure to have snack and restaurant recommendations for you! We love our community, so we’ll tell you all the great places to eat.
You may have fewer office visits with LightForce braces, but it’s still important to keep your appointments. We’ll need to check your progress and make adjustments. We’ll work with you to make your visits fit your schedule as seamlessly as possible.
It’s also important to see your dentist regularly. Just because you have braces doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get your semi-annual cleanings. In fact, those cleanings are even more important when you have braces because brushing and flossing can be more challenging. Staying ahead of tooth decay and gum disease allows your treatment to proceed uninterrupted.
Your dentist will help you — and us — keep your oral health in top shape. Do you need a dentist? We’re happy to offer a few recommendations!
We know a lot of our patients enjoy sports. We also enjoy sports! What we don’t love is seeing sports injuries in our patients.
That’s why we recommend you wear a mouthguard while playing sports. Feel free to ask us if you need help choosing the right mouthguard!
Always practice good oral hygiene to take care of your braces throughout treatment. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, though brushing after every meal is best during your treatment. Be sure to floss before brushing at least once a day. If you can’t brush right away, rinse your mouth to remove food debris from your braces.
Let us know if you have a cavity or think you might be getting one. We’re happy to check. We’ll send you to the dentist if you have a cavity. However, we may need to remove a bracket or wire first.
The sooner that cavity is treated, the sooner we can get your braces treatment back on track.
It’s so important to follow our instructions during your treatment. Following this one after your braces treatment is important, too: wear your retainer!
Once you see yourself with the smile you’ve always wanted, it’s easy to believe that treatment is over. Remember, though: orthodontic pre-treatments and braces have loosened your teeth in order to move them into alignment. Your retainer helps your teeth stabilize again.
When patients skip this final step, they often don’t notice that their teeth are moving out of alignment again until it’s too late. Wearing your retainer keeps your smile in its perfect state and keeps you from having to redo treatment you’ve already finished.
Most patients start by wearing a retainer 22 hours a day. Eventually, we’ll reduce that to a few hours a day (most people choose overnight). Wearing your retainers means keeping that smile you’ve worked so hard to get!
At Zombek Orthodontics, cutting-edge LightForce technology, individualized treatment plans, and a team that’s here to encourage and support you means you spend as little time as possible in braces. We also make sure that the time you invest in treatment is worth it!
Braces and other orthodontic treatments can make you look and feel better. It can relieve everything from headaches and jaw fatigue to breathing problems and digestive issues. Improving your confidence and well-being is at the heart of everything we do.
How long will you have to wear dental braces? Schedule an appointment in our Weston, FL, or Hollywood, FL, office!
We’ll walk you through your treatment options and timeline and show you your future smile. We’re also here to guide you through the financing process.
With Zombek Orthodontics and LightForce braces, you can have the smile of your dreams sooner than you think!
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