Military and Braces? How soon Can I go to my ortho and have them removed?

Question

I’m in the process of going into the Army. I have braces and they need to come off. How soon Can I go to my ortho and have them removed? Will they give me a retainer even though I’m terminating the plan? If I have them removed and finish basic training could I get them back? Should I get Invisalign? How long before my teeth shift to the old position will it take less than 30 weeks?

Tarsys Loayza, DDS, MSc · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question. 
First you have to get an appointment with your orthodontist and discuss the whole situation. You should get retainers so  you can continue where you left off later, the retainer maintains it while encouraging better oral hygiene long after its use goes away.

Curtis B. Bedont, DMD · Answer

Thank you for your decision to serve our country!  Yes it is true that you have to discontinue braces in order to go into the military.  I would recommend discussing this with your orthodontist to figure out the best time to have the braces removed before heading off to basic training.  I would hope that you would be given retainers to wear to keep the position of your teeth as they currently are.  Otherwise, your teeth will shift back towards the position they started out.  Yes, you can have the braces put back on following basic training.  There would likely be an additional fee to do this, because of the costs associated with putting new braces on.  Invisalign may be an option for you as well following basic training, but I would suspect there would be a significant cost difference over continuing with braces.  These are all things you should ask and discuss with your current orthodontist.  
Good luck to you in Basic Training!

Quynh-Thuyen Tan, DDS, MS · Answer

Hi,
You will have to contact your orthodontist to discuss these matters because every office has their own policies.
Eventhough your treatment is not finished, if you've had significant progress, I would suggest getting retainers so that whatever progress has been done will not relapse, and you can continue where you left off later.  Teeth can shift very quickly, especially in the period right after getting braces off. I suggest that you discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Military and Braces? How soon Can I go to my ortho and have them removed?

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Military and Braces? How soon Can I go to my ortho and have them removed?

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