Other appliances may be recommended instead of, or in addition to, braces. Rough or irregular teeth may be adjusted down, reshaped, and bonded or capped. Surgery may be required on rare occasions. Meticulous oral hygiene is vital during orthodontic treatment. Plaque accumulates on orthodontic appliances and may permanently mark teeth or cause tooth decay .
Malocclusion is easier, quicker, and less expensive to treat when it is corrected early.
Treatment is most successful in children and adolescents because their teeth and bones are still developing. Treatment usually lasts 6 months to 2 or more years. Treatment of orthodontic disorders in adults is often successful but may require prolonged treatment. This is a picture of normal teeth with a slight overbite. Some bone has been cut away to reveal the roots of the teeth.