How long will I need to wear braces?

Most patients wear braces somewhere between twelve and twenty-four months. Your timeline depends on how much movement is needed, your age, and how closely you follow instructions such as wearing elastics. Our Las Cruces doctors will give you a specific estimate at your free consultation.

Braces are not painful to place. Most patients feel tenderness for a few days after placement and after each adjustment as the teeth begin to move. Soft foods and over-the-counter pain relief handle it well, and the sensation fades as you adjust.

Can adults get braces in Las Cruces?

Yes. Healthy teeth and gums move at any age, and a meaningful share of our patients are adults. Clear ceramic brackets are a popular choice for adults who want fixed treatment that is less noticeable.

What foods should I avoid with braces?

Avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods that can break a bracket or bend a wire. That includes popcorn, nuts, hard candy, ice, caramel, and chewing gum. Cut firm foods like apples and carrots into smaller pieces rather than biting into them directly.

How often will I need appointments during treatment?

Most patients visit our Las Cruces office every six to ten weeks for an adjustment. These appointments are short, and we will change the wire, check your progress, and make any needed changes to keep treatment on schedule.

Braces Las Cruces, NM | Farnsworth Family Orthodontics

Braces in Las Cruces

Straighten Your Smile with Braces in Las Cruces, NM

Braces are still the workhorse of orthodontics, and for good reason. At Farnsworth Family Orthodontics on Missouri Avenue, we use modern brackets and wires that are smaller, smoother, and more comfortable than what you may remember from years ago. Las Cruces braces work for elementary schoolers, high schoolers, and adults alike, and they can correct issues that other treatments simply cannot reach.

If you are weighing your choices, start with a free evaluation. Our doctors will tell you honestly whether braces are the better fit for your case or whether Invisalign clear aligners would get you there just as well.

How Braces Work

Each bracket is bonded to the front of a tooth and connected to the others by an archwire. That wire wants to return to its original shape, and as it does, it applies light and continuous force to the teeth. Bone responds to that pressure by remodeling around the tooth, which is what allows a tooth to move through the jaw and hold its new position.

You will see us roughly every six to ten weeks for an adjustment. At those visits we change the wire, tighten or reposition components, and check that everything is tracking against the treatment plan. Because braces are fixed in place, they are working every hour of every day without depending on you to remember anything.

Types of Braces We Offer

Metal Braces

Stainless steel brackets are the most common option we place, and they are the most efficient for complex movements. They are durable, they handle the demands of an active teenager, and colored elastic ties let younger patients have some fun with them. Learn more about our metal braces and what to expect.

Clear Ceramic Braces

Ceramic brackets are tooth-colored and blend into your smile, which makes them a popular choice for adults and older teens who want fixed treatment without the visibility of metal. They work on the same principle and deliver the same results, though they are slightly more fragile and require a bit more care with staining foods. Our clear braces page covers the tradeoffs in detail.

What Braces Can Correct

Crowding: teeth overlapping or twisted because the arch does not have room for them
Spacing: visible gaps between teeth
Overbite: upper front teeth extending too far past the lower
Underbite: lower teeth sitting in front of the upper teeth
Crossbite: upper and lower teeth meeting on the wrong side of each other
Open bite: front teeth that do not touch when the back teeth are closed
Rotations and impacted teeth that aligners often cannot resolve on their own

Beyond appearance, a corrected bite distributes chewing force evenly, reduces uneven enamel wear, and makes teeth easier to keep clean. Crowded and overlapping teeth trap plaque in places a toothbrush cannot reach.

Living with Braces

The first week is the biggest adjustment. Your teeth will feel tender as they begin moving, and your cheeks and lips need a few days to get used to the brackets. That settles quickly, and our team sends you home with wax and clear instructions. Our guide to your first week in braces covers what to expect day by day, and we have practical tips for managing discomfort as well.

Hygiene matters more during treatment than at any other time. Brackets create new places for plaque to collect, and patients who brush and floss carefully finish with healthier enamel than those who do not. We will show you the technique in person, and our walkthrough on brushing and flossing with braces is a good refresher.

You will need to skip a few foods. Anything hard, sticky, or chewy can pop a bracket or bend a wire, so popcorn, hard candy, ice, and caramel come off the menu until treatment ends. If you play sports, wear a mouthguard, and if something breaks, we handle orthodontic emergencies promptly.

After Your Braces Come Off

Retainers are not optional. Teeth have a memory and will drift back toward their old positions if nothing holds them, and that drift is the single most common reason people end up needing treatment twice. We will fit you with a retainer the day your braces come off and explain exactly how to wear it. Our guide to retainers covers the rest.

Get Started with Braces in Las Cruces

Your consultation is free, and there is no obligation attached to it. We will examine your teeth and bite, take digital records, and give you a straight answer about what treatment would involve. Visit our Las Cruces office at 2701 Missouri Ave., Ste. D, call 575-522-1500, or book your free consultation online.

Las Cruces Braces