How Much Time Off Do Braces Appointments Take?
Add your journey time to see the hours a course of braces or aligners takes you away from work or school, visit by visit.
Add up the time
Typical appointment lengths, not a schedule. Your practice will tell you how long your visits take. Not sure of your journey? Use the travel planner.With a 30-minute journey each way
A course of fixed braces typically means 13 to 25 visits. With 30 minutes each way, that is 18.6 hours to 43.6 hours away in total, or roughly 85 min to 1.7 hours per visit door to door.
| Stage | Visits | Time away in total |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | 1 | 1.5 hours to 2 hours |
| Records (scan, photographs, X-rays) | 0 to 1 | 0 min to 2 hours |
| Fitting | 1 | 2 hours to 2.5 hours |
| Adjustments | 7 to 17 | 9.3 hours to 29.8 hours |
| Removal and retainers | 1 | 2 hours |
| Retainer checks in the first year | 3 to 4 | 3.8 hours to 5.3 hours |
| Whole course | 13 to 25 | 18.6 hours to 43.6 hours |
Making it easier
Ask for the first or last appointment of the day, or for a time outside school hours if the practice opens then.
Book several adjustment appointments ahead so they can be planned around work or term dates.
Ask whether a progress check can be done remotely or with a photo, and how many visits a plan for your case really needs.
For school, a short note from the practice listing the appointment dates is usually enough.
If the journey is long, ask whether visits can be spaced out or grouped, and whether a nearer practice would do.
Appointments and time off: questions
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