Can the Length of Orthodontics Treatments Be Shortened?

Treatment with orthodontics can typically take somewhere between 12 to 36 months, and many people would be happy to shorten that length. Orthodontics is used to address issues with a person’s teeth or jaw alignments, like a crossbite, underbite, or overbite. Oral appliances, like braces and clear aligners, are often used to push misaligned teeth to a better alignment.

A person’s teeth are one of the first things that other people notice, and it is impossible to have an aesthetically pleasing smile with poorly aligned teeth. Misaligned teeth are harder to clean, so they also increase a person’s risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Poorly aligned teeth are linked to a variety of other problems, like speech issues, difficulty swallowing, teeth grinding, and problems with the temporomandibular joints.

Shortening treatment times with orthodontics

One of the many reasons that most patients love the idea of shorter treatment times is the poor aesthetics of certain orthodontic appliances. Metal braces are common offenders because they are made up of metal components that are cemented to the front of the patient’s teeth. This can affect a person’s self-esteem.

Clear aligners provide better aesthetics because they are barely visible when worn, but they still require patients to make adjustments to their lifestyle, like having to remove their aligners and brushing after every meal. The extra oral hygiene requirements that come with orthodontic appliances and the additional visits to the dentist can quickly become tiresome after a few months.

Long treatment times are also associated with root resorption, carious lesions, gingival inflammation, and white spots forming on teeth surfaces. Also, patients are less likely to comply with their dentist’s recommendations the longer their treatment lasts.

How a dentist can help

Dentists can shorten orthodontic treatment times by accurately diagnosing the patient and coming up with appropriate teeth straightening plans. Procedures like extractions were once thought to shorten treatment times, but the data does not back that up.

Dentists increasing the number of times that their patients have to come in for appointments during their treatments has been shown to shorten overall treatment time. The dentist can evaluate the patient’s progress and make adjustments as needed.

How patients can speed up the process

Patients can shorten their orthodontic treatment times by doing simple things like:

• Using their orthodontic appliance as directed
• Keeping up with their scheduled appointments
• Practicing good oral hygiene