Why does orthodontic treatment sometimes take longer than anticipated?
Estimates of treatment time can only be that – estimates. Patients grow at different rates and will respond in their own ways to orthodontic treatment. The orthodontist has specific treatment goals in mind, and will usually continue treatment until these goals are achieved. Patient cooperation, however, is the single best predictor of staying on time with treatment. Patients who cooperate by practicing good oral hygiene and by wearing rubber bands, headgear or other needed appliances as directed, while taking care not to damage appliances, will most often be rewarded by on-time and excellent treatment results.
Patients grow at different rates and speed of the biological process that allows teeth to move can vary between patients. Slower than normal tooth growth, multiple problems often occurring together as in a “syndrome” and poor patient cooperation are the two things that lengthen treatment the most and both are out of the direct control of the orthodontist.
