How Long Does It Take to Get Your Braces On?

Long Beach, CA – Orthodontic treatment improves smiles and increases self-confidence for patients of all ages. More people than ever are reaping the benefits that come along with braces. But you may have some questions if you’re in line for treatment. One common question is how long it will take to have the braces put on.

Understanding the Braces Placement Process

In general, plan for your appointment to last about 90 minutes. So, what happens during this time?

1. It is important to keep the teeth dry when placing braces, otherwise the braces won’t stick to the teeth. In order to do so, we’ll place plastic cheek retractors to move the lips and cheeks away from the teeth to ensure they stay nice and dry.
2. We then use a special solution to clean the surface of your teeth and prepare them for the braces. We liken this solution to a “shampoo” which preps the enamel. Then, the teeth are rinsed and thoroughly dried to allow the brackets to adhere.
3. Once your teeth have dried, it’s time to condition the teeth and place the brackets. We’ll apply a bonding material, or “conditioner,” to each tooth. Then a bracket is attached with a dental adhesive. Don’t worry – this material is harmless, although you may not love the taste.
4. It’s now time to cure the brackets. We’ll use a special blue light to ensure the glue sets up and is strong enough to hold the brackets securely in place.
5. We thread the archwire through the brackets. A tiny elastic, or ligature tie, holds the archwire in place. You can show off your personality with this! Choose your favorite color, or color combination, for your elastic ties.
6. The archwire is snipped at the ends to ensure no wires can poke the back of your mouth.
7. We’ll do a final check to ensure everything is secure and properly placed, review some care and dietary instructions with you, and you’ll be on your way!

Managing Discomfort During and After Placement

Another common question patients ask is whether this process will be painful. There should never be pain associated with having your braces put on. You may experience some discomfort keeping your mouth open wide or having it stretched out with the cheek retractors, but there shouldn’t be any pain. It is very common to have some discomfort in the days following braces placement, though. You could have a bit of a headache or some jaw discomfort while your body gets used to the braces. An over-the-counter pain reliever like Advil or Tylenol should be all you need to relieve these symptoms. We also recommend eating a soft diet to relieve pressure on the teeth while you acclimate to your new appliances.

It’s important to remember that this process is what you can expect for standard metal braces or ceramic (clear) braces. If you opt for a different treatment, the process will be slightly different.

Exploring Alternative Orthodontic Options

Lingual braces are metal braces placed behind the teeth so no one can see them. They consist of brackets and wires just like traditional braces, so the process of putting them on will be similar. The lingual braces, however, are completely customized to each patient’s smile, so the brackets are pre-set in rubber jigs to ensure precise placement on the teeth. Since the brackets are placed on the back side of the teeth, reaching them can be a bit challenging. As a result, it can take longer to place lingual braces than traditional metal braces.

If you opt for clear aligners like Invisalign, your appointment will be a little different. Scans of your mouth are made and then sent off for the doctor to customize your treatment and create your aligners. Once your aligners have arrived, your first appointment will consist of bonding attachments to your teeth and fitting your first set of trays to ensure they fit properly. The process of bonding attachments is similar to putting braces on but is usually a lot quicker because they are all placed at once, versus one at a time. You’ll be given care instructions as well as a schedule for when to switch out aligner sets, and you’ll be ready to go.

Braces are a wonderful way to improve your oral health and increase self-esteem, and the process to have them placed is fairly quick and completely painless. If you’re ready to start your orthodontic journey, call HD Orthodontics today at 562-283-6590.