Posted on September 23, 2026
If you are thinking about braces, one of the first questions you may ask is, “How long do braces take?” You may also be wondering how long it takes to put braces on, how soon treatment can start after your first consultation, and how long you will need to wear them before your new smile is complete.
The answer depends on your teeth, bite, treatment goals, and the type of orthodontic care you need. While getting braces put on usually takes only about one to two hours, the complete orthodontic process takes much longer. Many patients wear braces for 12 to 36 months, depending on the amount of tooth and bite correction needed.
At Smileyville Braces by Dr. Art Wickson in Louisville, KY, we make the process as simple and affordable as possible. Braces start at $2,998, with as little as $292 down and payments of $123 per month. At SmileyVille, our price on braces is up to 60% less than other orthodontists in Louisville, so getting started may be easier on your budget than you expect.
Here is a step-by-step look at the braces timeline, from your first Smile Consult to the day your braces come off.
The first step toward braces is an orthodontic consultation. At Smileyville Braces, your FREE Smile Consult gives Dr. Wickson an opportunity to evaluate your teeth, bite, and overall alignment while learning what you hope to change about your smile.
Your evaluation may include photographs, X-rays, or digital scans that give the orthodontic team a detailed look at your teeth and how they fit together.
During this visit, you can also discuss your treatment options, estimated timeline, pricing, insurance benefits, and payment plans.
Estimated timeline: Your initial consultation itself may take approximately 30 to 60 minutes. How soon you can move forward with treatment will depend on your orthodontic needs and appointment availability.
No two smiles are exactly alike, so braces treatment should not follow a one-size-fits-all plan.
After evaluating your teeth and bite, Dr. Wickson creates a treatment plan based on your orthodontic needs. This includes deciding how teeth need to move, whether bite correction is necessary, and how long treatment is expected to take.
Your plan may address concerns such as crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites, crossbites, deep bites, or other alignment problems.
Estimated timeline: Treatment planning and scheduling may take around 1 to 2 weeks, although this varies by patient and office availability.
Not every patient needs a separate preparation phase.
Before braces are placed, your teeth and gums should be healthy enough for orthodontic treatment. If you are due for a dental cleaning or have cavities that need attention, you may be asked to see your general dentist first.
Some patients may need additional preparation depending on their teeth and treatment plan. Others may be ready to move directly to braces placement.
This is why there is no single answer to “How long does it take to get braces?” A patient who is ready immediately may move through this stage quickly, while someone who needs dental care first may need additional time.
Estimated timeline: Anywhere from no additional waiting time to roughly 3 weeks or longer, depending on your individual dental and orthodontic needs.
Once your treatment plan is ready, it is time for the appointment many patients have been waiting for.
So, how long does it take to put braces on?
The appointment typically takes around one to two hours, although your exact appointment length can vary.
During placement, your orthodontic team will prepare your teeth, attach the brackets, connect the brackets with an archwire, and secure the necessary components.
Getting braces put on is usually not painful. You may notice some pressure during the appointment, with tenderness developing later as your teeth begin responding to the braces.
Before you leave, the team will explain how to brush and floss around your braces, which foods to avoid, and what to do if you experience irritation.
Estimated timeline: About 1 to 2 hours.
Your mouth needs a little time to get used to braces.
It is common for your teeth to feel tender during the first several days. Your lips and cheeks may also need time to adjust to the brackets.
Many patients prefer softer foods during this period. Pasta, yogurt, soup, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and similar foods can be more comfortable while your mouth adjusts.
The initial tenderness generally improves as you become accustomed to your braces.
Estimated timeline: Many patients adjust within approximately 3 to 7 days, although individual experiences vary.
Getting braces placed is only the beginning. You will return to Smileyville Braces regularly so Dr. Wickson can monitor your progress and make adjustments when needed.
Many braces patients have orthodontic appointments approximately every 4 to 8 weeks, although your individual schedule may differ.
During these visits, your orthodontic team may adjust or replace wires, change elastics, check brackets, and evaluate how your teeth and bite are responding to treatment.
These appointments are also a good time to ask questions or mention any concerns.
Missing appointments can delay progress, so keeping your scheduled visits is one of the easiest ways to help your treatment stay on track.
Estimated timeline: About every 4 to 8 weeks throughout treatment.
Now for the biggest question: How long do braces take overall?
Many patients wear braces for approximately 12 to 36 months. Your individual treatment could be shorter or longer depending on the type and severity of your orthodontic concerns.
Someone who needs relatively simple tooth alignment may have a shorter timeline than a patient who needs significant crowding and bite correction.
Your treatment time can also be affected by how your teeth respond to movement and how closely you follow your orthodontist’s instructions.
Wearing elastics as directed, keeping appointments, maintaining good oral hygiene, and avoiding foods that break brackets can all help prevent unnecessary delays.
Estimated timeline: About 12 to 36 months for many patients.
It is understandable to want your braces off as soon as possible, but orthodontic treatment is not something you want to rush. Teeth need time to move safely into their planned positions.
What you can do is help prevent avoidable delays.
Keep your orthodontic appointments, follow Dr. Wickson’s instructions, wear prescribed elastics, and take good care of your brackets and wires. A broken bracket or repeatedly missed appointment can interfere with planned tooth movement.
Your treatment timeline is designed around your smile, so comparing your progress to a friend or family member is not always helpful.
After months of watching your smile change, braces removal day finally arrives.
Once Dr. Wickson determines that your teeth and bite have reached their planned positions, the brackets and wires can be removed.
Your orthodontic team gently removes the braces and cleans away the bonding material that held the brackets to your teeth. You finally get to see and feel your new smile without brackets and wires.
Estimated timeline: About 30 to 60 minutes, although additional time may be needed for records, scans, or retainer planning.
Braces removal does not mean orthodontic care is completely finished. The next stage is retention.
Your teeth have a natural tendency to move after braces. A retainer helps hold them in their corrected positions while the tissues around your teeth adjust.
Your exact retainer schedule will be based on Dr. Wickson’s recommendations. Some patients may initially be instructed to wear a removable retainer for much of the day before eventually transitioning to nighttime wear.
Long-term retainer use helps protect the time and money you invested in orthodontic treatment.
Estimated timeline: Retention is a long-term commitment, with the exact wear schedule determined by your orthodontist.
Putting all of these stages together gives you a clearer picture of the process:
These are general estimates rather than guarantees. Your personal timeline will depend on your smile and treatment plan.
Treatment time matters, but cost is often just as important when families are deciding whether to begin braces.
At Smileyville Braces, braces start at just $2,998.
Patients may be able to begin with as little as $292 down and payments of $123 per month. Flexible orthodontic pricing options are also available.
At SmileyVille, our price on braces is up to 60% less than other orthodontists in Louisville.
After all, you deserve a great smile at a price that makes you smile.
During your FREE Smile Consult, our team can explain your recommended treatment, estimated timeline, and available payment options before you decide how you want to proceed.
Many patients wear braces for approximately 12 to 36 months. Your treatment time depends on the severity of your alignment and bite concerns, how your teeth respond, and whether you follow your orthodontist’s instructions.
Braces placement typically takes around one to two hours. Your exact appointment time may vary based on your treatment plan.
Some patients can get started relatively quickly, while others may need dental care or additional preparation first. Treatment planning may take around one to two weeks, with preparatory care potentially adding more time.
Many patients have progress or adjustment appointments approximately every four to eight weeks. Dr. Wickson will give you a schedule based on your individual treatment.
Complex orthodontic problems naturally require more time. Missed appointments, broken brackets, poor elastic wear, and other interruptions may also delay treatment.
So, how long do braces take? The appointment to put them on may only take one to two hours, while complete treatment often lasts 12 to 36 months. Along the way, you will typically return for adjustments every four to eight weeks as your teeth gradually move toward their planned positions.
Your timeline may be different, and that is exactly why a personalized orthodontic evaluation matters.
Schedule your FREE Smile Consult with Dr. Art Wickson at Smileyville Braces, 4825 S. 3rd St., Louisville, KY 40214 to find out what your own braces timeline could look like.
