Have you ever wondered if you could make your treatment time with braces shorter? If you could make your teeth move quicker? Well, you can! We have found that our patients that have maintained these 4 things, have finished their treatment early.
- Avoid breaking brackets
Frequently breaking brackets can slow down your treatment. When the bracket is not on your tooth, your tooth won’t move or it may start to move in an unwanted direction. Not having your broken brackets rebounded in a timely manner can also delay your teeth movement or increase the chances of it moving incorrectly.
- Keep your gums and teeth healthy (no gingivitis)
Research has shown that having poor oral hygiene, including gingivitis, can extend treatment time and impact treatment outcomes. Maintaining good oral hygiene allows your treatment to progress quickly and improves your comfort throughout treatment.
- Wear your elastics
Elastics are an important part of orthodontic treatment and are crucial to improving the correction of your bite. By not wearing your elastics, you can prolong your treatment and prevent the correction of your bite.
- Attend your adjustment appointments regularly
Attending your orthodontic appointments regularly is important in ensuring your teeth are continuously being monitored and are progressing on track. Not visiting your orthodontist for long periods of time can result in unwanted movement, unrepaired breakages and delayed treatment.
Not all orthodontic cases are the same, and unforeseen circumstances can prolong treatment time.
References
Skidmore, K. J., Brook, K. J, Thompson, W. M., & Harding, W. J. (2006). Factors influencing treatment time in orthodontic patients. American journal of orthodontics and Dentofacial orthopedics : official publication of the American Association of Orthodontics, its constituent societies, and the American Board of Orthodontics, 129(2), 230-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajodo.2005.10.003
