How long will braces take to fix this high canine tooth? (Photo)

Question

Hey! I’ve had this high canine tooth and crooked bottom teeth for a long time now, and i am considering getting braces. It affects the way i look when i smile and I’m hoping braces would fix it withing a year. How long will braces take to fully fix my teeth?

Brad Lockhart, DDS · Answer

Braces alone (without extracting healthy teeth) will NOT resolve your problem. The reason your canine is growing in so high is because there is no room in the dental arch for it to erupt. The reason there is no room is because your upper dental arch did not develop to its full potential. Extracting teeth is the way a lot of doctors will fix your problem. It will take 18-24 months after extracting teeth to then straighten the with braces. The downside to this treatment (besides losing four healthy teeth) is that you will be stuck with more space than you really need and your teeth will then have to be retracted and probably tipped back to close the excess space. This will cause your face to look long and narrow. It could also adversely affect your airway, make your smile very narrow and make your upper lip very small. A better way to treat your problem would be to use a simple, comfortable, removable appliance to enlarge your dental arch to create sufficient space to accommodate your canine tooth. Braces would then be worn to straighten your teeth. Since you won't have extra space to close, the braces should not take more than about 12 months to finish.Good luck!

Hasan Othman, DDS, MS, PhD · Answer

It's hard to give an accurate treatment time looking at pictures ,  It's better to get a consultation with an orthodontist in your area.

How long will braces take to fix this high canine tooth? (Photo)

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How long will braces take to fix this high canine tooth? (Photo)

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Braces

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.