Why Does Adult Orthodontic Treatment Take an Average of 2 Years?

Hello,

I’m Dr. Lee Juri, the CEO and head doctor of Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic.

“Why does orthodontic treatment take so long?” It’s been over a year since I started orthodontic treatment, and it still hasn’t finished...

One of the most common questions people ask when starting orthodontic treatment is,

“How long will it take, really?”

And as time passes, they ask again.

“Why is it taking so long?” "When will it be over..?"

For adults, orthodontic treatment generally takes an average of 1.5 to more than 2 years.

That’s quite a long time, longer than many people expect.

Why Does Adult Orthodontic Treatment Take an Average of 2 Years?

Today, let’s take a look at the reasons.

The bone has to resorb for teeth to move

Orthodontic treatment is about moving teeth.

But teeth are embedded in bone, right?

Moving these teeth means

that the tooth roots firmly anchored in the bone must be moved,

and in the process, the bone must repeatedly be resorbed and then rebuilt.

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If any patients broke a bone at least once during childhood,

you may have experienced this.

It takes at least one to two months for a bone to heal.

During that period, you end up in a cast.

Orthodontic treatment also cannot move just one or two teeth, so it cannot progress quickly.

That’s because we have to wait for the body to resorb the bone and rebuild it.

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Second, growth has stopped.

Most orthodontic treatment patients are teenagers. The reason is that the younger the person is, the softer the bone and the faster the teeth move.

In adults, the growth plates are closed, and the bone is more firmly established, so tooth movement is slower than in teenagers.

That is why, as people reach middle and older age, they may hear, “Your teeth are moving slowly..”

It does not mean orthodontic treatment is impossible, but it does mean there are more factors to consider.

Many people also have complex issues such as cavities or gum disease even before starting treatment.

Orthodontic treatment duration varies from person to person

The duration of adult orthodontic treatment is, quite literally, an average, and it can vary depending on the severity of the condition.

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The more crooked the teeth are, depending on whether extractions were done or not, depending on age, and depending on the patient’s level of cooperation, it can really vary!

While bone flexibility may be better during adolescence, adults have a clearer motivation to undergo orthodontic treatment.

That is why, in terms of cooperation such as wearing elastics and visiting the clinic as scheduled, adult patients are often quite good.

Also, adults often start orthodontic treatment not simply to straighten their teeth,

but to chew better, for gum health, and to reduce stress on the temporomandibular joint.

It may be frustrating that it takes a long time, but

moving slowly also means that the change is happening safely.

They say there is beauty in slowness.

If orthodontic treatment is done by forcing too much pressure on the tooth roots, the roots may be resorbed or side effects may occur.

Without overdoing it, so the body can adapt on its own.

But the result is definitely worth waiting for.

Even if it seems slow right now, it can protect your oral health for the next 10 or 20 years.

Please remember that patience is bitter, but the fruit is sweet!!

#AdultOrthodonticTreatmentDuration