What are the benefits of needing orthodontic headgear? Here’s how these appliances can help
many patients have their best smile!

Exert Additional Force

Orthodontic headgear provides additional force needed to move your teeth into their correct
positions. In many cases, the back molars will provide the proper support to move these teeth,
but in others, they won’t suffice.

Headgear relies on a strap that goes behind the neck or head that helps apply extra pressure
and move the teeth faster and into more accurate positions. In some cases, headgear can also
influence facial structure, making it important in cases where a severe overbite or underbite are
affecting facial development in children.

Accelerate Orthodontics

Orthodontic headgear does not need to be worn all day every day. In many cases, it’s rare that
your orthodontist would recommend it to be worn for more than 12-14 hours a day. Wearing
headgear for a limited amount of time is still effective for moving the teeth.

One of the major benefits of headgear is that it’s not only ideal for certain orthodontic cases, it
can also speed up treatment time in cases that might otherwise be complex and time-
consuming to treat. The additional force helps to move teeth in a shorter period of time so
treatment time may be faster!

Necessary for Some Cases

Orthodontists only use headgear when it’s necessary. This might be for cases where the front
teeth need to be moved forward instead of back, or closing a large gap that would otherwise
cause the back teeth to move forward with traditional orthodontic treatment.

Headgear is often necessary in cases where severe overbites or underbites are impeding the smile. Your orthodontist might also suggest headgear for your child in cases where the jaw is not developing correctly since it can help facilitate proper facial development.

Orthodontic headgear won’t be necessary for all cases of orthodontics, but both children and
adults can benefit from headgear in certain cases. If you need headgear, don’t stress. You won’t
need to wear it all day, just when you’re at home or asleep, and your treatment will be over
before you know it. Your orthodontist will let you know if you need to consider headgear to
perfect your smile or your child’s smile!

The post What Are the Benefits of Orthodontic Headgear? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Different types of braces will have different treatment times. Here’s what you can expect when
it comes to your options for orthodontics!

Traditional Braces

Traditional metal braces—which consist of brackets and wires—are going to be one of the most
affordable options. However, they do come with the longest amount of treatment time, which
is an average of 24 months, or two years.

For some people, traditional braces will only be needed for 12 months; for others, their
treatment may extend beyond two years. Remember that ceramic braces are the same as
traditional braces, just with white brackets and wires, so the treatment time will be the same.

Damon Braces

Damon braces are also called self-ligating braces. This means they don’t need to be adjusted
and will adjust themselves as your teeth move into place. Damon braces are becoming very
popular in orthodontics because they tend to be less painful and easier for both patients and
orthodontists to maintain.

Damon braces also offer patients the advantage of having a treatment time that’s six months
shorter than that of traditional braces. Although individual cases will vary, Damon braces are a
popular alternative to regular braces.

Invisalign

Invisalign is another popular alternative to braces that’s not actually braces at all, but a series of
clear aligners that change every few weeks as your teeth shift. Although Invisalign can’t treat
every orthodontic issue, it can treat a wide variety of alignment and bite problems in patients.

The average treatment time for Invisalign is just 12 months, making it even more popular for
adults who want virtually invisible treatment in just half the time of traditional braces.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are just like traditional braces, but they’re on the backside of your teeth rather
than the front. Not everyone will qualify for these braces, as you’ll need to have large enough
teeth to accommodate the braces on the sides of your teeth facing your tongue.

Lingual braces typically have a treatment time that’s less than traditional braces, with 12-24
months being the average.

Accelerated Braces

There are tools that can be used to accelerate the process of orthodontics, such as Propel.
Propel is a tool used by orthodontists that stimulates your alveolar bone (the bone surrounding
your teeth). This helps to speed up the process and make braces more effective and less painful
with predictable results.

When acceleration methods such as Propel are used in combination with regular braces or
Invisalign, patients can expect an average treatment time of just 8-12 months.

Ready for Braces?

Are you curious about what type of braces will work best for you? You can explore your options
with a qualified orthodontist who will review any issues that need to be addressed with your
smile as well as the treatment options that are available to you.

From traditional braces to Invisalign to the more creative lingual, Damon, and accelerated, you
have options for straightening your smile!

The post What Is the Average Treatment Time for Wearing Orthodontic Braces? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.