How Long Does Teeth Straightening Take? A Complete Guide 2026

How long does teeth straightening take? Here we explain the amount of time it takes to straighten teeth with braces, clear aligners, adult considerations and retention.

Straightening your teeth can boost your confidence, provide a better bite and help protect your smile in the long term. When patients first come in for their orthodontic treatments the first thing they generally ask is how long will it take. Everyone wants to know when they will see their final results.

On average teeth straightening takes between 6 months to 24 months. If you have small cosmetic changes it can be done in 3 to 6 months. If you have a large bite correction or crowding you may need 24 to 36 months, however due to everyone having different bone structure in their jaw and root structure there will never be an exact same treatment.

We have covered all the information you need to know about how long orthodontics will take, types of treatments and biological factors affecting your treatment.

What Is the Quick Summary of Teeth Straightening Time?

Average: The majority of children, adolescents and adults will have completed their active treatment in between 12-18 months.
Small Changes: If you have small gaps or slight movement of your front teeth this can be completed in 3-6 months.
Large Corrections: If you have a large overbite/under-bite or crowding this can take between 18-36 months.
Types of Appliances: Mild cases can be completed quickly with clear aligners whilst metal fixed appliances are great for complex jaw issues.
Non-Compliance: Not attending appointments, broken brackets or not wearing your aligners can leave you with extra months on your timeline.
Retention: You will need to wear your retainers after your active treatment to prevent your teeth from moving back.

What Factors Affect How Long Orthodontics Will Take?

There are various factors that will influence how long your orthodontic treatment will take. Before your orthodontist can give you an accurate estimate they will assess you based on the following factors.

Severity of Issues: If you have a small amount of crowding on your front teeth this won’t take much movement. If you have a large overbite, open-bite, cross bite or rotated canine root this will involve multiple stages of movement.
Age and Bone Density: Teenagers have softer bones in their jaw meaning they will adapt quickly to the constant pressure. Adults have a higher bone density in their jaw meaning they will take slightly longer for the bone to remodel.
Cell Turnover: Everyone has a different cell turnover around their root. Some will have rapid breakdown and rebuilding whereas others will have a slower response.
Type of Appliance: Fixed appliances will constantly apply pressure to your teeth. Whereas clear aligners will rely on you wearing them for 20-22 hours.
Compliance: How well you comply with wearing your appliance will directly affect how quick your teeth will move.

How Long Do Different Types of Orthodontics Take?

There are many modern options available to straighten your misaligned teeth.

Metal Braces: Traditional metal braces take between 12-24 months. They use stainless steel to give pinpoint control over each root. They are the best option for large rotations, crowding and complex bites.
Ceramic Braces: Ceramic braces take between 18-30 months. They are tooth colored or clear but due to the material there will be slightly more friction on the arch-wire causing your active treatment to take a few extra months.
Clear Aligners: Clear aligners take between 6-18 months. They use individual trays to gradually move your teeth. If you wear them for the recommended amount of time (22 hours) they are extremely quick for small to medium crowding/gaps.
Lingual Braces: Lingual braces take between 18-36 months. They are completely invisible as they are fixed behind your teeth. Due to the complexity of bending wires and lack of working space they can take longer than front facing braces.
Accelerated Orthodontics: This uses specialized vibrating devices or small holes in the bone to speed up your treatment. It takes between 3-9 months.

What Are the Stages of Teeth Straightening Treatment?

To move your teeth there needs to be a biological reaction in your jaw bone. Pressure is applied to one side of the root causing the old bone to break down. There is also space on the opposite side causing new bone to grow.

What Happens During Stage 1 – Leveling & Alignment?

Stage 1 – Leveling & Alignment (1-6 months): Crooked crowns are pulled into position using wires or initial sets of aligners. You will see large improvements to your smile but the roots will still not be aligned.

What Happens During Stage 2 – Bite Correction & Closing Gaps?

Stage 2 – Bite Correction & Closing Gaps (6-15 months): The orthodontist will adjust your arch-wire, use elastics or special attachments to correct your overbite, close gaps from extractions and align your top and bottom arches.

What Happens During Stage 3 – Detailing?

Stage 3 – Detailing (3-6 months): The practitioner will make small adjustments to each tooth, set your biting surfaces and ensure everything is stable.

What Happens During Stage 4 – Active Retention?

Stage 4 – Active Retention (Lifespan): Once your brackets are removed or your final trays are worn your custom retainers will hold your teeth in place whilst the surrounding bone becomes solid.

What Are the Common Reasons For Delayed Orthodontic Treatment?

Despite careful planning things can go wrong if you do not follow the correct procedures. Avoid these common errors to keep you on track for your finishing date.

Broken Brackets & Loose Wires: Eating hard, sticky or chewy foods can cause your brackets to become loose. If your bracket becomes loose it will stop any force being applied to your teeth causing them to stop moving.
Not Wearing Aligners: Taking your clear aligners out for long periods of time such as long lunches, going out or weekends can cause your teeth to move back. If you fall behind with your aligners you will need new impressions and refinement trays causing extra months on your timeline.
Not Wearing Elastics: Inter-arch elastics are used to correct complex bites. If you do not wear them your top and bottom jaws will not work together causing your second stage to take longer.
Poor Hygiene: Plaque build up around your brackets can cause your gums to swell and become inflamed. If you suffer from severe gingivitis or cavities your orthodontist will have to pause your active movements whilst your gums recover.
Not Attending Appointments: You will need regular appointments every 4-8 weeks to move your wires up a size. If you miss your appointments your appliance will sit idle.

What Are the Top Tips To Keep On Track With Your Treatment?

A large proportion of how fast your treatment will be is dependent on you. Creating good habits will help your treatment go as quickly as possible.

Aligner Rule: If you are wearing clear aligners only take them out to eat. Once finished brush your teeth and put them back in. Never take them out for longer than necessary.
Avoid Certain Foods: Avoid eating popcorn, hard sweets, gum, ice cubes and tough bagels if you have fixed appliances.
Brush: Brush after every meal using an orthodontic brush and fluoride toothpaste. Clean between your teeth daily using inter-dental brushes or water flossers.
Aligner Seaters: Bite down on the soft foam aligner seaters for a few minutes a day to remove any air pockets and ensure your aligners fit tightly over your teeth.
Attend Appointments: Attend all your appointments to ensure any small issues with tracking can be picked up early.
Wear Retainers: Wear your custom retainers full time at first then night time to ensure your smile stays straight.

What Are the Frequently Asked Questions About Teeth Straightening?

Can I Speed Up My Braces/Aligners?

Yes you can speed up your treatment by attending your appointments, wearing your elastics constantly, wearing your aligners for 22 hours and avoiding breaking your brackets. Never try to speed up your treatment by using double elastics or changing your aligners. Excessive force can cause permanent damage to your root and surrounding bone.

Why Do Adults Take Longer to Align Their Teeth?

Adults have stopped growing and have a higher density bone in their jaw. This means the cells will take slightly longer to remodel. However adults tend to be more compliant with wearing their appliances.

What Happens If I Stop Wearing My Retainer?

If you stop wearing your retainer your teeth will be pulled back into their original position due to the elastic fibers in your gums. This is called relapse and can happen within a few weeks/months. Wearing your retainers as advised will ensure your smile stays straight.

Are Clear Aligners Faster Than Metal Braces?

Clear aligners generally complete mild to moderate cosmetic cases quicker as they are individually planned using plastic software. However traditional metal braces are faster and more effective for complex bite corrections, large gaps in the jaw and rotated roots.