It's the question that everyone asks!

The three most common questions we get asked about orthodontic treatment is 1) do I need treatment; 2) how much will it cost; and 3) how long will it take.  So you're in good company!

And not surprising as we totally get that if you need to have orthodontic treatment, you'll want to know how long it'll be before we can unveil your new smile and you can be smiling with abandon!

So let's jump in...

So, how long does treatment usually take?

How long orthodontic treatment will take can depend on a number of different things and treatment times can vary greatly depending on: 

          1) the severity of the problem

          2) growth during treatment

          3) how well you follow instructions 

          4) your age (teens and children teen to get results faster)

But what we can tell you which may help is that the average treatment time for an adolescent is around 24 months and adult treatments generally take a little longer and average between 24 and 30 months. 

Can I do anything to reduce treatment time?

And what's important to consider is that Invisalign treatment times are generally shorter for both adolescent and adults.  Not only that, but if you're suitable for Invisalign treatment, it's a great option because:

          1) you can wear clear aligners which means you can have treatment without anyone know

          2) you can continue to eat all the foods you enjoy as you can take out your aligners when you eat

          3) you can continue to play all your favourite sport 

Also the more compliant your are as a patient, as in the better you are at following instructions provided by Randal (including proper oral hygiene, keeping your dental appointment and using your orthodontic appliance as directed by Randal), then the better your chance of unveilling your new smile as quickly as you possible can!

So how can I find if I need treatment and for how long it would take for ME?!

The only way to determine if and for how long you'll need orthodontic treatment for is to have a consult with Randal.  He'll take some x-rays and have a chat to you about whether you need orthodontic treatment and what your treatment options might be. 

If you've got more questions that we've not answered here, pop over to our FAQ page or get in touch.

Keen to get in touch?

Dr Randal McAlister is a specialist Orthodontist at Hey Bunyan McAlister Orthodontists located at 2 Walter Macdonald Street in Howick, Auckland.  Randal commenced his specialist orthodontic practice in Howick in 1997 and has been there ever since. You can  learn more about Randal here or get in touch here.