At any one time, approximately 4 million Americans are wearing braces. The primary benefit of wearing braces is to straighten teeth in order to improve the appearance of a person’s smile. Other benefits include alleviating bite issues, preventing bone erosion, alleviating speech impairment, aiding digestion, and improving overall oral health.
If you are considering getting braces, there are a number of important questions and considerations to take into account. These include understanding the different types of braces that are available, average treatment length, and average cost. In this blog post, we will ask and answer 5 of the top questions about getting braces.
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What Are the Benefits of Braces for Me?
Orthodontic treatment is fully personalized to each individual. To fully understand how braces can help you, you should visit your orthodontist for a consultation. They will be able to explain how your current teeth alignment is impacting you and how braces can help.
For example, misaligned teeth may be affecting your ability to brush or floss your teeth. Depending on your specific case, braces may also fix bite issues, alleviate speech impediments, or improve self-esteem and confidence issues.
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What Are the Different Types of Braces?
Today, there is a range of different orthodontic treatment options available. These include:
- Metal braces
- Ceramic Braces
- Self-ligating braces
- Lingual braces
- Clear aligners (such as Invisalign)
Your orthodontist will be able to recommend the most suitable option for you, depending on your specific case. Click here to learn more about the different treatments.
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How Long Will My Treatment Take?
This depends on a number of factors, including the type of braces being used and the complexity of treatment. Invisalign treatment, which is most suitable for mild to moderate cases, takes an average of 12 to 18 months. For more complex issues, treatment length may be between 24 and 30 months.
Your orthodontist will be able to give you an estimated timeframe prior to commencing treatment.
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What Will My Braces Cost?
To determine the cost of treatment, a number of factors should be determined. These include:
- Length of treatment
- Type of braces
- Age (child or adult)
- Specific issues to fix
Generally speaking, braces cost on average between $3,000 and $6,000.
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How Should I Take Care of My Braces?
The answer to this question largely depends on the type of braces that you choose. Clear aligners like Invisalign can be removed so that you can eat and brush your teeth, which makes them easier to maintain.
Non-removable braces can be more difficult, and your orthodontist will provide you with instructions on how to maintain both oral health and the braces themselves throughout the treatment stage. With non-removable braces, you may be advised to avoid certain types of food, for example.
Useful Advice When Getting Braces
If you are planning on getting braces, the above guide to getting braces will help you better understand how braces can help you and what the treatment stage will look like. We recommend scheduling a consultation with your orthodontist and asking these 5 questions.
Like this blog post on advice about getting braces? If you want more information about the best braces to get, or just want to read other informative articles, then check out the rest of our blog.
