How often should braces be replaced?
Disease description:
I had dental restoration and orthodontic treatment last month, and since then I've been wearing braces. It's been a month now. I'd like to ask how often braces usually need to be replaced, and what should I pay attention to?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Guo Huijie
The frequency of orthodontic appliance replacement varies and depends on the type of braces a patient wears, the progress of their teeth alignment, and individual oral hygiene habits.
1. Traditional metal braces: Patients typically need to return for check-ups and adjustments every 4 to 10 weeks. The wires are generally replaced every 6 to 8 weeks.
2. Clear aligners: For systems such as Invisalign, the replacement cycle is shorter—patients usually change to a new set of aligners every 1 to 2 weeks on their own.
Patients should follow their dentist's instructions and attend regular check-up appointments to ensure the orthodontic treatment progresses as planned. While wearing braces, patients should pay special attention to oral hygiene, avoiding food debris buildup that could lead to oral health problems. They should also avoid eating overly hard or sticky foods to prevent damage to the appliances or interference with treatment effectiveness.
