most patients finish active treatment in 12 to 24 months. Simple alignment can be as quick as 6 to 12 months. Complex bites can take 24 to 36 months. After braces come off, retainers keep the result stable long term.
Fast facts
| Case type | Typical active time |
|---|---|
| Minor crowding or spacing | 6 to 12 months |
| Moderate crowding, mild bite issues | 12 to 24 months |
| Significant crowding, overbite, underbite, crossbite | 18 to 30 months |
| Surgical or very complex cases | 24 to 36 months |
Times vary by person. Here is what actually drives the timeline.
What affects how long braces take
1) Starting bite and tooth movement needed
Crowding, spacing, rotated teeth, and jaw relationships set the baseline. More movement needs more time.
2) Age and biology
Teens often move a bit faster because bone remodels more quickly. Adults can finish within the same range, they just need steadier mechanics and good home care.
3) Appliance type
Traditional metal and clear ceramic braces finish in similar timeframes. Lingual braces can take a little longer in complex detailing because of access. Clear aligners can match braces for many cases. Severe bite corrections may still be quicker with braces.
4) Consistency and home care
Keeping appointments, elastic wear, and great brushing shorten treatment. Missed visits, broken brackets, and poor hygiene add months.
5) Treatment plan details
Extractions, impacted teeth, or jaw surgery add steps. Modern tools like digital scans, custom wires, and bite-correcting elastics can speed certain phases.
A typical braces timeline
- Consult and records
Photos, X-rays, digital scan, and a plan that fits your goals. - Bonding visit
Brackets go on, first wire placed. You learn how to brush and what to avoid. - Alignment and leveling
Lighter wires start the alignment. Visits about every 6 to 10 weeks. - Bite correction
Elastics, stronger wires, or springs fix the way teeth meet. - Detailing and finishing
Small bends, fine tuning, and smile aesthetics. - Debond and retainers
Braces come off. You get retainers the same day in most cases.
How long do retainers last?
Retainers are part of the total plan. Teeth always try to drift slightly, which is normal biology.
- First year: full time or night time per your doctor’s advice.
- After year one: most people wear retainers at night.
- How long: as long as you want the result to last. Many patients keep a simple nighttime routine.
Ways to finish on time
- Wear elastics exactly as instructed.
- Keep wires and brackets intact. If something breaks, call right away.
- Brush well, use floss or a water flosser, and use fluoride. Healthy gums move faster.
- Do not skip visits. Small adjustments keep you on schedule.
- Tell your doctor about big travel or sports seasons so the plan can adapt.
Braces vs. clear aligners and time
For mild to moderate cases, aligners and braces are often similar in total months. Aligners shift more of the responsibility to daily wear. If aligners are out too often, treatment slows. For severe bite changes, braces can still be the most efficient path.
When treatment runs faster than average
- Mild spacing or a single rotated tooth
- Excellent elastic wear and home care
- Early interceptive treatment that reduced later complexity
When treatment takes longer
- Several broken brackets or missed visits
- Impacted canines or teeth that need exposure
- Jaw size mismatch that requires surgery
- Gum health issues that delay wire progress
Bottom line
Plan for 12 to 24 months of active braces, then retainers at night. The best way to hit the short end of that range is simple: keep visits, care for your braces, and follow elastic instructions. If you want a personalized estimate, a quick records visit lets us measure your bite and give you a clear timeline before you start.
Meta title: How Long Do Braces Take? Timeline, Phases, and Tips
Meta description: Most braces cases finish in 12 to 24 months. See what affects your timeline, the stages of treatment, and how to finish on time, plus what to expect with retainers.