I have been wearing my braces for 13 months. My treatment time is 18-24 months. On August 20th I had elastics put on. When I went to the orthadontist, one of the people there measured my overbite and wrote on a paper "20%". I don't know what this means but it may be helpful to anyone who can answer my question. I would like to know approximently how long until my braces come off once I start elastics? My overbite is not too bad, and my teeth seem to move fast. I know that every person is different but I am just wondering how long this might take.

Hello Bonita,

Unfortunately, this is a question only your orthodontist can answer.

I asked him and he said approximently 6 months:( I was hoping they would come off earlier. Is it true if I wear my elastics all the time(except for eating) that it can help the braces come off faster?

Your teeth move just so fast and there is nothing you can do to hasten their movement. You also have to remember that if the teeth moved in one direction, then they can move in the opposite direction just as fast. You need to be patient. You are young and your teeth will be there for years to come. I had to wear braces when I was young and I foolishly didn't wear my retainer as long as I should have and my one tooth started to turn again, but thankfully stopped. Had I had it to do over again, I would have listened to what the dentist said and kept wearing it.

Bonita,

You are correct, if you wear your elastics as the orthodontist recommended your teeth will move into place quicker. Once the teeth are in proper alignment you may have to wear the braces for a few weeks until they take the impressions to make your retainer. If you want to be sure your teeth don't shift like twinkies' ask the orthodontist to make you a permanent retainer for your upper teeth too (most orthodontists already do permanent lower retainers).

It really won't be that much longer, you have come this far, don't rush the final months. Just look forward to the beautiful smile you will have the rest of your life once the braces come off!

I also quite wearing my retainer after about a year of college and my lower teeth got crooked again, although the top ones stayed pretty straight. My son's orthodontist told us -- after the fact --that he would have to wear his retainer for the rest of his life to keep his teeth in position. Well, he's not wearing it and the teeth are moving. But I'm not sure I would have had him go through the orthodontia if I'd known it would mean depending on him to wear the retainer for more than 3-4 years. But I think the orthodontist was right. Teeth move.

Anyway, I post this just to warn you that you may have to wear a night time retainer for a long time even after the braces are off (at least if you don't want to waste all the effort that's gone into straightening your teeth).

Thanks to everyone for replying. I'm just very anxious to get my braces off. I just turned 19 and I don't want them to be on much longer. I know in the end it will be worth it but they're such a pain sometimes. I found out that the 20% meant I have a 20% overbite, which I don't think is too bad, so hopefully I won't have much longer to go. I will wear my retainer for sure when I get it though, I want to keep my perfect teeth once they're done.

I have to go to a <a href="http://www.centreforinvisiblebraces.com/miami-orthodontics-office.php">Miami orthodontist</a> but I'm hoping he tells me I don't have to wear mine too long. This is the second time I'm getting braces and now I wish that I just would have worn my retainer more.

Just wanted to add, it's so important to wear the retainer. I had to get adult braces to correct what slipped after teen braces. Now I wear it at night, always, and it's not a problem. I want to keep my now-beautiful teeth straight. It's worth it.