How Long Does Orthodontic Treatment Take in Kissimmee, FL?

‍

What Affects Your Treatment Time?

One of the first questions patients and parents ask at Kendrick Orthodontics is:

“How long will treatment take?”

Many comprehensive orthodontic treatments take approximately 12 to 24 months. Limited alignment may require less time, while complex tooth movement or bite correction may take longer.

These are general ranges. Your personal timeline depends on your teeth, bite, treatment goals, appliance, and how your mouth responds to treatment.

At Kendrick Orthodontics in Kissimmee, Dr. James Kendrick develops every treatment plan around the individual patient.

Dr. Kendrick is a board-certified orthodontist with more than 45 years of experience and more than 30,000 patients treated. He completed a three-year specialty residency in orthodontics and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a member of the American Association of Orthodontists.

His goal is clear: complete treatment efficiently while protecting the teeth, gums, roots, bite, and long-term stability of the result.

Average Orthodontic Treatment Times

Every patient is different, but these general estimates provide a useful starting point:

• Limited alignment or spacing: sometimes less than 12 months
• Comprehensive braces or Invisalign treatment: often approximately 12 to 24 months
• Complex tooth movement or bite correction: sometimes longer than 24 months
• Early Phase 1 treatment for children: often approximately 6 to 18 months

Two patients can have front teeth that look similar and still need very different treatment.

One may have mild crowding and a stable bite. Another may have an impacted tooth, a narrow arch, or a bite problem involving the jaws.

The complete diagnosis—not simply the appearance of the front teeth—determines the treatment plan and estimated timeline.

What Determines Orthodontic Treatment Time?

Complexity of the Orthodontic Problem

Moving a few mildly crowded teeth is different from correcting a complex bite.

Treatment may require more time when it involves:

• Significant crowding or spacing
• Severely rotated teeth
• Impacted or unerupted teeth
• Missing teeth
• Complex bite correction
• Jaw-growth concerns
• Relapse after previous orthodontic treatment

Dr. Kendrick evaluates how the upper and lower teeth fit together, how far each tooth must move, and what is needed to create a stable result.

Amount and Type of Tooth Movement

Some teeth need to move only a short distance. Others require rotation, vertical movement, root control, or substantial repositioning.

Teeth move through the surrounding bone in response to carefully controlled pressure. Increasing the force does not automatically produce a faster or better result.

Orthodontics is more like carefully guiding traffic than stepping harder on a gas pedal.

Age and Growth

Children and teenagers are still growing, which may give Dr. Kendrick an opportunity to guide developing teeth or jaws at a useful stage.

Adults can also achieve excellent orthodontic results. Their treatment may require additional planning around gum and bone health, missing teeth, crowns, implants, or previous dental work.

Age alone does not determine treatment time. The diagnosis, dental health, required movement, and biological response matter more.

Braces or Invisalign

Braces and Invisalign can both provide efficient treatment when selected for the right patient.

Braces remain attached to the teeth and work continuously. They give Dr. Kendrick direct control over tooth position and may be especially useful for certain complex movements.

Invisalign uses removable clear aligners. Most patients wear them approximately 20 to 22 hours per day and change sets according to Dr. Kendrick’s instructions.

Neither option is automatically faster. The best appliance is the one that provides the control needed for the patient’s diagnosis.

Patient Cooperation

Patients play an important role in keeping treatment on schedule.

Progress depends on:

• Wearing aligners as instructed
• Using prescribed elastics consistently
• Protecting brackets and wires
• Maintaining good oral hygiene
• Attending progress appointments
• Reporting damaged or lost appliances promptly

Braces work continuously, but they are not cooperation-free. Elastics sitting in a bathroom drawer cannot correct a bite, and aligners resting in their case cannot move teeth.

Biological Response

Teeth do not move at exactly the same rate in every patient.

Bone density, gum health, certain health conditions, smoking, and some medications can influence orthodontic planning and biological response.

Tell Dr. Kendrick about changes in your health, medications, or dental care so they can be considered during treatment.

How Long Do Braces Take?

Many comprehensive braces treatments take approximately 12 to 24 months. Limited corrections may require less time, while complex cases may take longer.

The estimated timeline depends on:

• The number of teeth being moved
• The complexity of the bite
• Whether additional appliances are needed
• Growth and dental development
• How the teeth respond
• Appliance care
• Appointment attendance

Modern and customized braces support precise planning and bracket placement. Dr. Kendrick selects the bracket system and treatment approach based on the individual case.

Progress visits allow him to evaluate tooth movement, monitor the bite, and advance treatment to its next stage.

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

Invisalign treatment time also varies by patient.

A limited alignment concern may require fewer aligners. Treatment involving significant movement or bite correction may need a longer series, attachments, elastics, or refinement aligners.

Consistent wear is essential. Aligners must remain in place for approximately 20 to 22 hours per day unless Dr. Kendrick provides different instructions.

They are removed for meals, brushing, and flossing, then placed back over clean teeth.

Invisalign can be highly efficient for an appropriate patient. Braces may provide better control for other cases. Dr. Kendrick recommends the option that best matches the necessary tooth movements and bite correction.

How Long Does Phase 1 Treatment Take?

Phase 1 treatment is early orthodontic care provided to selected children who still have a mixture of primary and permanent teeth.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic evaluation by age seven. This does not mean every seven-year-old needs braces.

An early evaluation allows Dr. Kendrick to identify developing problems and determine the most useful time to address them.

Phase 1 treatment may be recommended for:

• A crossbite or underbite
• A narrow upper jaw
• Significant crowding
• Limited space for permanent teeth
• Harmful oral habits
• Developing jaw or bite concerns

When Phase 1 is needed, treatment often lasts approximately 6 to 18 months, depending on its purpose.

Afterward, the child may enter an observation period while permanent teeth continue erupting. Some children later need comprehensive braces or aligners, while others require less additional correction.

Early treatment is not about putting every child in braces sooner. It is about addressing a developing problem at the stage when treatment can provide the greatest benefit.

Can Orthodontic Treatment Be Completed Faster?

Digital scans, customized braces, accurate bracket placement, and careful planning can make treatment more organized and reduce avoidable corrections.

Healthy tooth movement still follows biological limits.

Dr. Kendrick focuses on efficient treatment without sacrificing the health of the teeth, gums, roots, or bite. The most reliable way to avoid unnecessary delays is to choose the right treatment, follow instructions, and address appliance problems promptly.

How to Keep Treatment on Schedule

Follow Wear Instructions

Wear Invisalign and elastics exactly as directed. Do not change the aligner schedule without speaking with Kendrick Orthodontics.

Keep spare elastics in a backpack, purse, or another convenient location so they are available when needed.

Protect Your Braces

Avoid chewing ice and foods that can damage brackets or wires. Cut harder foods into smaller pieces instead of biting directly into them.

Wear an appropriate mouthguard for sports when instructed.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Brush carefully, floss with the recommended tools, and continue regular dental examinations and cleanings.

Healthy teeth and gums allow orthodontic treatment to progress safely. If tooth decay or significant gum inflammation develops, treatment may need to slow while the problem is addressed.

Keep Your Appointments

Progress visits allow Dr. Kendrick to evaluate movement, monitor the bite, and make the changes needed for the next stage of treatment.

If you must miss an appointment, reschedule promptly.

Report Problems Early

Contact Kendrick Orthodontics if you break a bracket, lose an aligner, or notice an appliance problem.

A quick repair is much easier than explaining to one tooth why it has been taking an unscheduled vacation.

What Happens After Active Treatment?

When braces are removed or the final Invisalign aligner is completed, the active tooth-moving phase ends—but protecting the result begins.

Retainers hold the teeth in their corrected positions while the surrounding bone and tissues stabilize.

Dr. Kendrick recommends the appropriate retainer and wearing schedule based on the patient’s treatment. Long-term retainer wear is important because tooth positions can continue changing throughout life.

A retainer is not simply a souvenir from orthodontic treatment. It is an essential part of maintaining the result.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon will I notice a difference?

Some patients notice small changes early in treatment. The bite and tooth roots may still require important movement after the front teeth begin looking straighter.

Can orthodontic treatment take less than a year?

Yes, certain limited corrections can be completed in less than a year. Dr. Kendrick evaluates the complete bite before determining whether a shorter treatment plan is appropriate.

Do adults take longer than teenagers?

Not necessarily. Diagnosis, dental health, required movement, and patient cooperation usually matter more than age alone.

Does missing an appointment extend treatment?

Repeated missed appointments can delay adjustments, new aligners, and evaluation of progress. Rescheduling promptly helps keep treatment moving.

What happens if I break a bracket or lose an aligner?

Contact Kendrick Orthodontics promptly. The team will explain whether you need an immediate visit or another step to protect your progress.

Are braces always slower than Invisalign?

No. Either option may be more efficient for a particular patient depending on the required tooth movements, bite, and cooperation.

Can Dr. Kendrick give me an exact completion date?

Dr. Kendrick provides an estimated timeline after evaluating your teeth and bite. He monitors progress throughout treatment and keeps you informed if the expected timeline changes.

Do I need a referral?

No referral is required to schedule an orthodontic consultation with Kendrick Orthodontics.

Is the first consultation free?

Yes. Kendrick Orthodontics offers a free initial orthodontic consultation.

Get Your Personalized Treatment Timeline

General treatment ranges are helpful, but only an orthodontic evaluation can show what your smile and bite require.

Dr. Kendrick will examine your teeth, explain the recommended options, and provide an estimated timeline based on your individual needs.

Schedule a free consultation with Dr. James Kendrick at Kendrick Orthodontics in Kissimmee, Florida. We welcome children, teens, and adults from Kissimmee, Celebration, St. Cloud, Poinciana, Hunter’s Creek, and other Central Florida communities.

Call (407) 870-9848 to schedule your visit.

Questions about treatment, cost, or timing? We’ll make it simple.