How Long Does It Take to Straighten Teeth? And Other Questions

Teeth straightening procedures help to improve the appearance of crooked or overcrowded teeth, and this treatment can be done at any age. As long as your teeth are in generally good condition, you could be an excellent candidate for this life-changing treatment.

Here at Leigh Dental Centre, we know that deciding to undergo teeth straightening is a big decision. So in this month’s blog, we’re answering some of the most commonly asked questions about teeth straightening. 

If you still have questions about treatment at the end of this post, we recommend getting in touch with our team to learn more. And if you’re convinced this is the treatment for you, book a consultation to start your teeth straightening journey.

1. Do I have to have teeth extracted?

It may sometimes be necessary to remove teeth to ensure the best possible outcome for your teeth straightening treatment. This is usually in the case of overcrowding or if you have impacted wisdom teeth that may interfere with your treatment.

The dentist will need to perform a full assessment to determine the best treatment plan to meet your needs. This will include X‑rays and scans to help determine the location of each tooth and its capacity for movement. 

2. What is the age limit for teeth straightening?

There is no age limit for teeth straightening. The only criteria is that you are dentally fit, which does become more difficult as you age. This means that you could achieve dramatically straighter teeth at any age, so don’t worry if you missed out on braces as a teenager.

You can also consider teeth straightening if you have completed this treatment in the past. So if you had braces as a teenager but you have stopped wearing your retainer and your teeth have shifted, you can restart treatment to achieve a straighter smile again.

3. How long will it take to straighten my teeth?

This will depend on the number of teeth to be moved and the complexity of the overcrowding. Some treatments can be completed in as little as 6 months while more complex cases can take up to 2 years. The dentist will be able to provide you with an expected timeline prior to you starting treatment.

If you are concerned about long treatment times, options like Invisalign could be perfect as it is far less disruptive to your everyday routine. Since the aligners are nearly invisible and removable, you might not mind wearing them for 18 – 24 months.

4. Do you offer Invisalign?

Yes, we do, and it is one of our most popular treatment options. Invisalign’s clear plastic aligners are virtually invisible so no one will be able to tell that you are having treatment.

This makes them a great choice for professionals in a client facing job or teenagers who don’t want to be seen to be wearing braces.

There are other benefits to this treatment besides the clear plastic aligners. Since they are removable, you won’t have to make drastic changes to your diet throughout the treatment. No foods will be off limits, so the treatment plan can be a lot less restrictive. 

5. Is teeth straightening painful?

You will experience some discomfort for a few days following a change in aligners or an adjustment of your braces, but this should be easily managed with over the counter painkillers.

It can take a few days to get used to wearing your aligners, and you might notice that your speech sounds a little strange while you get used to the feeling of having the aligners over your teeth.

Any discomfort should be short lived, and you should get used to wearing your braces or aligners fairly quickly. If you are in persistent pain, it’s important to contact your dentist for a checkup as this could be a sign that something is amiss.

6. Aren’t braces solely cosmetic?

Many people do get braces for cosmetic reasons, but straight teeth also have many health benefits. Straight teeth are easier to clean, reducing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. 

Straight teeth also help to spread the biting pressure evenly across all teeth, reducing the risk of wear and tear from an uneven bite and temporal mandibular joint problems. The same can be said from closing gaps in your smile.

Well-aligned teeth can also change the shape of your dental arch, which can influence how you breathe, particularly at night. If you snore or suffer from sleep apnea, you might find that straightening your teeth has positive health benefits.

7. Will I need to wear retainers following treatment?

Teeth straightening is not a permanent solution. Your teeth will always want to move into the easiest possible alignment, and this won’t always be perfectly straight alignment. 

In order to ensure that your teeth do not regress back to their original position, no matter what teeth straightening treatment you undertake, you will need to wear retainers.

Retainers are only worn at night time, and they may be made of rigid plastic or an acrylic and metal combination. It’s also possible to have a bonded retainer fixed to the back of your teeth which you do not need to remove. 

8. Do you offer payment plans?

Yes, we are able to offer payment plans. We want to ensure that monetary considerations should not prove to be a barrier to accessing teeth straightening and with our 0% finance you can spread the cost into manageable monthly amounts.

9. Can I play sports while wearing braces?

You can continue to play sports, but you may need to wear a custom mouthguard to protect your braces and teeth. This custom mouth guard will fit over your teeth and braces and protect you from impact your trauma. 

Final thoughts on teeth straightening

If you are interested in learning more about teeth straightening with us, do not hesitate to contact Leigh Dental Centre on 01702 472929 or email info@​leighdentalcentre.​co.​uk. This is the first step in your journey to straighter teeth.