I've always wondered if age plays a big role in how quickly teeth shift. My cousin got braces at 13 and was done in barely over a year, while my coworker started treatment in her late twenties and it felt like forever before she saw real progress. Maybe younger bones are just more cooperative or something? Or could it be more about genetics than age? Either way, patience definitely seems key...though easier said than done when you're craving popcorn at every movie night.
"Maybe younger bones are just more cooperative or something? Or could it be more about genetics than age?"
Honestly, I used to think age was the biggest factor too, but after chatting with my ortho (probably way too much, lol), it seems like it's a combo of things—genetics, bone density, even how consistently you wear those pesky elastics. My friend got braces at 30 and breezed through in under two years, while my teenage nephew's been stuck in metal-mouth limbo foreverrr. And yeah...the popcorn struggle is real. Hang in there!
I've noticed the same pattern with patients—age definitely isn't the only factor. Genetics play a significant role, and bone density can really vary between individuals, regardless of age. Consistency with elastics and following instructions closely does help speed things along, but sometimes biology just has its own timetable. Had a patient in her mid-40s who finished treatment surprisingly quickly, while another much younger patient took considerably longer due to stubborn bone movement. It's tough when progress feels slow, but hang in there; you're moving forward even if it doesn't always feel like it. Out of curiosity, has your orthodontist mentioned any additional treatments or procedures that might help speed things up, like temporary anchorage devices (TADs) or other appliances?
My kid's been super consistent with elastics and everything, and honestly, sometimes I wonder if all these extra appliances really speed things up much. We tried a bite corrector appliance briefly—it was uncomfortable and didn't seem to make a huge difference. Biology does what it wants...
I totally get what you're saying about biology having its own timeline. My orthodontist had me try a bite corrector appliance too, and honestly, I couldn't stand it. It felt bulky, awkward, and I swear it didn't seem to do much more than elastics alone. After about two months, I asked if we could ditch it and just stick with elastics, and surprisingly, my ortho agreed. He said sometimes simpler is better, and that compliance with elastics can be just as effective as those fancy appliances.
But here's something I've wondered about: is it possible that some of these appliances are more about convenience or consistency rather than speeding things up significantly? Like, maybe they're designed to reduce the need for patient cooperation (since elastics rely heavily on us remembering to wear them), rather than dramatically shortening treatment time? I mean, elastics worked fine for me once I got serious about wearing them consistently, but I know some people struggle with that.
Also, I think genetics and biology play a huge part in how quickly teeth move. My cousin had braces for barely a year, and her underbite corrected super fast. Meanwhile, I'm going on two years now, and progress feels like it's crawling along. Same ortho, similar appliances, totally different outcomes. Makes me wonder how much control we really have over the speed of treatment, even with all these extra gadgets.
Has anyone else noticed a big difference after switching appliances or dropping one altogether? I'm curious if others have had similar experiences or if it's just me being impatient...
