One of the first questions patients ask at our Stirling Highway practice is a very reasonable one: how long will this actually take? It is a fair thing to want to know before committing to treatment. The honest answer is that it depends — but that answer is more useful than it sounds once you understand what it depends on.
This article walks through typical treatment timelines for children, teenagers, and adults, explains what factors affect how long braces take, and helps you know what questions to ask at your consultation.
The short answer: 12 to 30 months for most patients
For the majority of patients — children, teenagers, and adults — orthodontic treatment with braces runs somewhere between 12 and 30 months. The middle of that range, around 18 months, is where many straightforward teenage cases land.
That range sounds wide. It is, because the variables genuinely matter. The starting complexity of your teeth and bite, your age, how consistently you follow instructions, and how regularly you attend appointments all influence where your treatment lands on that spectrum.
Here at Claremont, Dr Denize gives patients an honest estimate at the initial assessment — not a marketing figure designed to sound appealing, but a realistic range based on what he actually sees in your mouth.
Treatment timelines by age group
Children (ages 7–12)
When we talk about braces for younger children, we are usually referring to Phase 1, or early interceptive treatment — which is not full orthodontic treatment. Phase 1 uses simpler appliances to address a specific developing problem, such as a crossbite or a narrow upper jaw, while the child still has a mix of baby and adult teeth.
Phase 1 treatment typically runs 9 to 12 months. It does not eliminate the need for full braces later in most cases. What it does is reduce the complexity or duration of that later treatment — or sometimes avoid a problem that would have required more invasive intervention if left untreated.
Full braces for children who still have some baby teeth are less common. Most orthodontists prefer to wait until most permanent teeth have erupted before starting comprehensive treatment.
Teenagers (ages 12–17)
Teenagers are the classic braces patient, and for good reason. By the early teenage years, most permanent teeth have erupted, the jaw is still growing — which can actually assist some corrections — and the full suite of orthodontic treatment options is available.
Typical treatment time for teenagers: 18 to 24 months.
Simpler cases with mild crowding and a good bite can finish in 12 to 14 months. More complex cases involving significant jaw discrepancies, extractions, or the need for surgical correction may run 24 to 30 months or longer.
Families from Christ Church Grammar School, Scotch College, MLC, PLC, and John XXIII College make up a significant portion of our teenage patients here in Claremont. The school calendar matters, so we work around exam periods and school events where we can.
Adults (18 and over)
Adult orthodontic treatment is more common than many people realise. We regularly treat patients in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond at our practice in Perth’s western suburbs.
Adults do generally take a little longer than teenagers. The jawbone is denser, teeth tend to move a bit more slowly, and jaw growth cannot be leveraged to assist bite correction. A realistic estimate for most adults is 18 to 30 months with braces.
The upside of treating adults: they typically have excellent compliance. Adults who have chosen treatment understand the commitment and tend to follow instructions carefully — wearing elastics consistently, attending appointments on time, keeping their teeth clean. That compliance matters more than most people think.
For adults who want a less visible option, ceramic braces use tooth-coloured brackets that are considerably less obvious than traditional metal — with the same effectiveness.
What actually affects how long braces take
Complexity of the starting problem
This is the biggest factor. A patient with mild crowding of the front teeth and a bite that is already reasonably aligned will move through treatment faster than someone with severe crowding, an open bite, a significant overbite, or a jaw discrepancy that requires correction.
When Dr Denize gives you a treatment estimate, he is factoring in the full picture — not just how crooked the teeth look in the mirror, but how the upper and lower jaws relate to each other, whether extractions are needed, and what the plan is for finishing the bite.
Whether teeth need to be removed
Some patients need one or more teeth extracted before braces can achieve the right result — usually because there is not enough room in the jaw for all the teeth to align properly. Extractions are not always required, but when they are, the additional space they create needs to be closed with braces over time. This typically adds months to treatment.
Patient compliance
Compliance is one of the variables most firmly in a patient’s control, and it matters considerably.
Elastics (rubber bands) are used in most braces treatment at some stage. They are worn between the upper and lower teeth to correct how the jaws fit together. Wearing them only sometimes — or not at all — does not just slow this part of treatment. It can mean the treatment stalls completely, and the orthodontist cannot move forward until the bite correction is achieved.
Similarly, patients who miss adjustment appointments add time. Adjustments are spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart because that is roughly how long teeth need between activations. Missing one does not mean everything stops, but it does extend the total timeframe.
Oral hygiene
Keeping teeth clean throughout braces treatment is not just cosmetically important — it directly affects your treatment outcomes and timeline. Severe plaque build-up can cause decalcification (white spots on the enamel) or decay, which may require the braces to come off early for dental treatment. Maintaining good oral hygiene throughout treatment keeps things on track.
Biological variation
Some patients’ teeth simply move faster than others. This is not something anyone can predict or control with certainty. It reflects differences in bone density, blood supply to the teeth, and individual biology. It is why treatment estimates are always ranges rather than fixed numbers — and why Dr Denize will be honest with you about this rather than promising an exact finish date.
What to expect during treatment
Every 6 to 8 weeks, you will come in for an adjustment appointment. At each visit, the archwire is changed or adjusted to continue moving the teeth. The appointments are usually 30 to 45 minutes. Discomfort after adjustments is normal — most patients experience tenderness for a day or two, which settles with over-the-counter pain relief and usually does not require time off school or work.
Families from Subiaco, Swanbourne, Nedlands, Mosman Park, and Dalkeith find our Claremont location easy to reach for these regular visits — we are right on Stirling Highway, with parking available.
As treatment progresses, you will see the teeth moving into place. In the final months, fine adjustments are made to perfect the bite and the positioning of individual teeth. The braces do not come off until Dr Denize is satisfied the result is genuinely complete — not just “pretty good.”
What happens when braces come off
Removing the braces is the moment patients have been waiting for. But the work does not quite end there.
Immediately after braces are removed, your teeth need to be retained. Teeth have a strong natural tendency to drift back — this is called relapse, and it is well-established in orthodontic research. Retention is lifelong.
Most patients receive both a fixed retainer (a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth) and a removable retainer to wear at night. The fixed retainer holds your front teeth in place day and night without any effort on your part. The removable retainer provides an additional layer of security.
The time commitment for retainers is small compared to the time in braces — but skipping them means your investment in treatment gradually undoes itself.
How to get an accurate timeline for your situation
The only honest answer to “how long will my treatment take?” is the one you get after a proper assessment. An estimate from a friend, a general dentist, or an article on the internet is no substitute.
At our practice, Dr Denize conducts thorough assessments using X-rays, photographs, and clinical examination. He will give you a realistic treatment estimate — including the factors that could make it shorter or longer — so you can make an informed decision.
Take our free 3-minute assessment at claremontorthodontics.com.au/assessment or call (08) 6288 7188 to book a consultation.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Frequently asked questions
Most teenagers complete treatment in 18 to 24 months, though this varies considerably. A teenager with mild crowding and a well-aligned bite might finish in 12 to 14 months. Someone with more significant jaw discrepancies, severe crowding, or compliance challenges (forgetting to change elastics, missing appointments) may take 24 to 30 months. An individualised assessment is the only reliable way to estimate your teenager's timeline.
Generally, yes. Adult teeth tend to move a little more slowly because the jawbone is denser and more fully mineralised than in growing patients. Adults also do not have the advantage of jaw growth to assist correction. A realistic adult treatment time is 18 to 30 months for most cases, though simpler cases can be shorter. That said, adults often comply better with treatment instructions — wearing elastics consistently, keeping appointments — which helps keep treatment on track.
There are a few things within your control. Wearing your elastics exactly as instructed is probably the single biggest factor patients can influence. Elastics are used to correct how your upper and lower teeth fit together — skipping them slows things down measurably. Keeping your teeth clean reduces the risk of complications like decalcification that can interrupt treatment. Attending all scheduled appointments on time also matters, since missed adjustment visits add weeks to your total time.
Retention is lifelong. Teeth have a natural tendency to drift back toward their original position after orthodontic treatment — a phenomenon called relapse. Most patients wear retainers full-time for the first few months after braces come off, then transition to night-time wear. We typically prescribe both a fixed retainer bonded behind the front teeth and a removable retainer for additional security. If you stop wearing your retainer, your teeth will likely shift.
It is not uncommon for treatment to run slightly longer than the initial estimate. Teeth move at their own pace, and predicting that precisely is difficult — particularly for complex cases. If treatment is extending significantly, we will explain why. Common reasons include slower-than-expected tooth movement, a need to fine-tune the bite, or the identification of additional issues during treatment. We do not remove braces until the result is genuinely good — rushing the finish line to meet an arbitrary timeline is not in your interest.
Have a question about your situation?
Book a consultation with our specialist orthodontists. We will assess your case and give you honest, straightforward answers.