Braces can straighten your teeth and leave you with a long-lasting new smile. They're a popular solution for children, but some adults also choose to undergo braces to fix their smile at a later date. Braces can be quite intrusive depending on the type you get, which might not be desirable for professional adults. For example, traditional braces are obviously seen when you smile and talk.
If you don't want your braces seen constantly, perhaps for self-confidence or professional environment reasons, you might look for the quickest type of braces to straighten your teeth in as little time as possible.
Today we're looking at which type of braces works the fastest, and whether this is the best solution for you.
There are five main types of braces you can get. However, some are more common than others and your orthodontist might not recommend every type of braces for your orthodontic treatment. Here are the five main types of braces:
Metal braces: Traditional braces with metal brackets bonded to the teeth, attached with wire and tiny elastic bands.
Ceramic braces: Similar to traditional metal braces, but made from tooth-coloured ceramic to make them less noticeable.
Invisalign braces: Clear aligners that move your teeth gently without most being able to see your braces.
Self-ligating braces: Similar to metal braces, but with brackets that hold the wire to them without the use of elastics.
Lingual braces: Metal braces that are bonded to the back of your teeth rather than the front to make them less invasive of your smile.
Metal braces are great for many reasons. They're bonded to your teeth so they're impossible to remove and misplace, and they are durable enough to withstand an impressive amount of pressure. Metal braces take between 18 and 24 months to straighten the teeth of an average adult patient, although the severity of your misalignment might increase or decrease this timeframe.
Metal braces are both effective and reliable, with the traditional braces pulling your teeth to their correct place through the tightening of the wire
Metal braces tend to be the cheapest type of braces, so they're good for people on a budget
The majority of patients who use metal braces find that the results are long-lasting and impressive
Some people don't like the aesthetic of metal braces and prefer a type that is less invasive
Metal braces tend to be harder to clean than other types of braces, and they can also get in the way of maintaining proper oral teeth hygiene
Some find that metal braces are more uncomfortable than other types of braces, especially after adjustments.
Ceramic braces work similarly to metal braces, so you get the benefit of the braces not being removable and therefore at risk of being lost. However, ceramic braces are made of ceramic, which involves tooth coloured brackets and wire to keep the braces less obvious when you're talking or smiling.
Ceramic braces can take between 18 and 36 months to straighten teeth, which is slightly higher than metal braces because ceramic tends to be slightly easier to break.
Many people like that ceramic braces tend to be less visible to others than metal braces
Ceramic braces come in a range of colours, so you can choose which colour you want your braces to come in
Unlike metal braces, ceramic braces tend not to disrupt imaging tests so you don't have to worry about inaccurate results
Ceramic braces tend to be more expensive than metal braces
Some patients find that ceramic braces are less durable than metal braces and can stain more easily
As they're more fragile, ceramic braces can work at a slower rate than metal braces
Invisalign treatments tend to work quicker than traditional braces, with some patients finishing treatment in as little as 12 to 18 months. This is because Invisalign treatments tend to be reserved for minor misalignment which would often take longer for traditional braces to treat, as well.
Invisalign braces work by gently guiding your teeth to their desired position millimetre by millimetre, with the clear aligners being swapped out every two weeks or so. You'll need to wear them for around 22 hours a day.
Many patients like that Invisalign aligners are clear and therefore not noticeable when talking or smiling
Invisalign aligners are removable, giving you more freedom to take them out when eating, brushing and flossing your teeth
Most Invisalign patients find that they need fewer visits to their orthodontist
Some people find it tempting to skip using their clear aligners, slowing treatment down or ruining their progress
They're easier to lose, especially if you tend to eat more frequently than three meals a day
Invisalign treatment is better suited to minor misalignment issues rather than major dental problems
Current studies show that there's no difference between the treatment time of traditional metal braces and self-ligating braces, despite the absence of the mini elastic bands. So, self-ligating braces should take around 18 to 24 months to straighten your teeth.
The only reason why self-ligating braces would take less time is if your elastic bands on your metal braces kept snapping or falling off. However, this is very unlikely with modern brace advancements.
Cleaning your teeth tends to be easier with self-ligating braces as there are fewer components for plaque to form around
Some patients find that they don't need to visit their orthodontist as often due to fewer bands snapping
Some dentists offer transparent or colourless toothpicks to reduce the appearance of the braces along your smile
Self-ligating braces tend to be more expensive than traditional metal braces
Some patients find the metal brackets to be more painful in the initial days of treatment, as they can rub more on the cheeks and gums
There have been minimal reports of gum recession due to self-ligating braces
Lingual braces, otherwise known as incognito braces, often take between 12 and 24 months to work. However, some can take shorter or longer to work depending on the severity of your teeth misalignment.
Lingual braces are attached to the back of your teeth rather than the front, like traditional braces. Most orthodontists find that the natural curve of your teeth helps pull the teeth to the correct position when using metal braces. As lingual braces don't have this curve working with them, (instead, it's working against the braces) you might find that they take slightly longer than traditional braces.
Many patients like that lingual braces are a concealed solution to traditional metal braces
Lingual braces can improve confidence and prevent you from having to undergo lifestyle changes
Some patients reported needing fewer orthodontic treatment appointments than those with metal braces
Not every orthodontist offers lingual braces, while almost all offer traditional braces
Some patients report more pain with lingual braces, and you may experience speech difficulties soon after having them installed
Lingual braces tend to be more expensive than traditional metal braces
From the information we've outlined above, Invisalign braces are the quickest with an average treatment time of around 12 to 18 months. However, this is dependent on if you use the aligners every single day for the correct time frame.
Traditional metal, self-ligating, and lingual braces all have a similar treatment time of between 12 and 24 months. Ceramic braces tend to work the slowest, with an average treatment time of between 18 and 36 months.
You will need to factor time wearing a retainer for maintenance into these treatment times.
It can be tempting to opt for the fast solution when you're looking into options for straightening teeth. We get it, you might not want braces to obstruct your smile when you're talking in a professional environment. However, the fastest treatment isn't always the best for you.
For example, Invisalign braces are the quickest on average. However, these are only suitable for minor misalignment issues, so they might not be as effective for your teeth needs as metal braces.
Similarly, you might have major misalignment that requires traditional braces. You could opt for the shorter option of metal braces, which are much more visible, or you could choose ceramic braces, which take longer to work but are much less visible.
Overall, Invisible aligners tend to be the fastest acting braces. Traditional metal braces and lingual braces require similar timeframes of between 12 and 24 months, while ceramic braces can take up to 36 months to achieve the desired results.
However, your treatment time all depends on your teeth and orthodontic needs. Your dentist will be able to give you all of the relevant information about which braces will work best for you, along with projected treatment times.
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