At a glance
- Your orthodontic journey begins with a comprehensive assessment involving a clinical examination, digital X-rays, photographs, and either a physical impression or digital scan of your teeth.
- Once you have decided on your treatment approach, the fitting appointment typically takes between one and two hours, depending on whether you are receiving braces or beginning aligner treatment.
- Throughout active treatment, you will attend regular review visits, generally every four to eight weeks depending on your appliance type.
- As your teeth approach their final planned positions, treatment enters a detailing phase where finer adjustments are made to achieve precise alignment and a well-balanced bite.
- Once active treatment is complete, braces are removed or the final aligner tray is worn, and a retainer is fitted to maintain your new tooth positions.
The Initial Consultation and Diagnosis
Your orthodontic journey begins with a comprehensive assessment involving a clinical examination, digital X-rays, photographs, and either a physical impression or digital scan of your teeth. This diagnostic information allows us to assess the severity of crowding, spacing, or bite discrepancy, and to plan an appropriate treatment approach tailored to your needs.
During this visit, we discuss the appliance options suitable for your case, provide an estimated treatment timeline, and answer any questions about the process, cost, and expected outcomes. This is also an opportunity to address any underlying dental issues, such as decay or gum disease, that should ideally be resolved before orthodontic treatment begins.
Appliance Fitting
Once you have decided on your treatment approach, the fitting appointment typically takes between one and two hours, depending on whether you are receiving braces or beginning aligner treatment. For fixed braces, this involves cleaning and drying each tooth before bonding the brackets and threading the initial archwire.
For aligner treatment, this stage involves reviewing your custom-made trays, checking the fit, and confirming your understanding of the wear schedule and care instructions. You will be given clear guidance on what to expect over the following days, including likely mild discomfort as your teeth begin adjusting to the new forces.
Monthly Review Appointments
Throughout active treatment, you will attend regular review visits, generally every four to eight weeks depending on your appliance type. For fixed braces, these appointments involve adjusting or replacing the archwire, checking bracket integrity, and sometimes adding small elastics to fine-tune specific movements. For aligners, visits typically involve progress checks, new scans if required, and collection of your next set of trays.
These regular check-ins are essential for keeping treatment on track, catching any issues such as loose brackets or slow progress early, and making adjustments to the plan if needed. Missing appointments can meaningfully extend your overall treatment time, so consistent attendance is one of the most important factors in achieving your expected timeline.
Finishing and Detailing
As your teeth approach their final planned positions, treatment enters a detailing phase where finer adjustments are made to achieve precise alignment and a well-balanced bite. This stage may involve finishing wires for fixed braces or a final set of refinement aligners, and typically takes a few additional weeks to a couple of months.
Your orthodontist will take new records towards the end of this phase to confirm the results match the original treatment goals before proceeding to appliance removal or completion of the aligner series.
Retention Phase
Once active treatment is complete, braces are removed or the final aligner tray is worn, and a retainer is fitted to maintain your new tooth positions. This is a critical final stage, since teeth have a natural tendency to shift back towards their original position if not held in place during the initial settling period.
You will typically be given both a removable retainer for nightly wear and, in many cases, a fixed retainer wire bonded behind your front teeth for long-term stability. Periodic follow-up visits during the first year after treatment help ensure your results remain stable over time.
Questions patients ask us
- How long is a typical orthodontic treatment from start to finish?
- Most patients complete active treatment within twelve to twenty-four months, though mild cases may take less time and complex cases can take longer. Your orthodontist will give a personalised estimate after your initial diagnostic assessment based on the specific movements required.
- What happens if I miss a scheduled review appointment?
- Missing appointments can delay progress, as adjustments and monitoring are timed to keep your treatment on track. If you need to reschedule, contact our clinic as soon as possible so we can find the next available slot and minimise any impact on your overall timeline.
- Do all patients need a fixed retainer after treatment?
- Many patients benefit from a fixed retainer, particularly behind the lower front teeth where relapse is common, combined with a removable retainer for the upper arch. Your orthodontist will recommend the retention approach best suited to your specific case and bite stability.
- Can my treatment timeline change once it has started?
- Yes, treatment timelines are estimates based on initial diagnostics, and actual progress can vary depending on how well teeth respond to applied forces, compliance with aligner wear, and attendance at review appointments. Your orthodontist will keep you informed if any adjustments to the expected timeline are needed.
Sources and further reading
Guidance from professional and public health bodies. Clinical decisions here are made on your own examination and radiographs.
- 1.Orthodontic treatment and retention — patient resources — American Association of Orthodontists
- 2.Patient information leaflets on appliances and retention — British Orthodontic Society
- 3.Oral health — fact sheet and global status report — World Health Organization
- 4.Policy statements and oral health definitions — FDI World Dental Federation
- 5.Dental health — conditions, treatments and patient guidance — NHS (UK)
- 6.Systematic reviews of oral and dental interventions — Cochrane Oral Health
- 7.Regulatory framework and dental education standards in India — Dental Council of India
When to see us
Get examined without waiting if any of the following applies to you:
- A broken bracket, poking wire or appliance causing ulceration
- A tooth that becomes painful, loose or discoloured during treatment
- Jaw joint pain, locking or a bite that has changed suddenly
Get a written plan and cost before you commit
If this is what you are dealing with, the next step is a consultation with radiographs — orthodontics cases are seen by the specialist who handles that field. You get a written plan and staged cost before anything begins.
reception@dramitsharmahospital.comThis article is general education and does not replace an in-person examination, radiographs or a diagnosis by a qualified dentist.
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