Ask three people how long their braces took, and you’ll hear three different timelines. One friend was done in 10 months, another wore them through two Stampede seasons, and someone else swears their Invisalign trays felt endless until the final retainer day. Orthodontics is like that. The end point looks similar — straighter teeth, a healthier bite — yet the path and pace vary, and not just by a little. As a Calgary orthodontist will tell you, the clock depends on biology, bite complexity, technique, and how closely you follow the plan.

Let’s walk through what actually determines treatment length in Calgary, what realistic ranges look like for braces and Invisalign, and the small decisions that help you finish faster without cutting corners.

What “done” means in orthodontics

People often picture “done” as the day the brackets come off or the final aligner snaps in. That’s only part of it. Orthodontic treatment has three phases. First, we make the movements. Teeth shift through bone that remodels and heals behind them. Second, we refine. Small tweaks close micro-gaps and adjust the bite for chewing comfort and joint health. Third, we hold the result. Retainers stabilize teeth while the tissues adapt. Skipping or rushing that last phase can undo months of work.

In other words, on-braces time and total treatment time are cousins, not twins. Expect the “active” phase to carry most of the calendar weight, then retention to run for life in a low-maintenance way.

The ranges Calgary patients actually see

Every practice’s sample is a bit different, but across family orthodontist clinics in the city, you’ll generally hear these ballpark figures:

Mild crowding or spacing with healthy bites: 6 to 12 months, sometimes less if you’re using Invisalign and wear trays exactly as prescribed. Moderate crowding, mild bite corrections: 12 to 18 months with braces or clear aligners. Significant crowding or rotations, bite changes involving elastics: 18 to 24 months. Complex cases, impacted teeth, surgical orthodontics, or growth modification in teens: 24 to 30 months, occasionally longer.

These aren’t promises. They’re useful anchors when you’re comparing Calgary braces options or wondering whether Invisalign Calgary timelines are comparable to metal or clear braces. In straightforward tooth alignment, Invisalign can match or beat bracket timelines. In cases with complex vertical or skeletal issues, braces may still offer more control, although modern aligners with attachments and elastics can handle much more than they could a decade ago.

What drives the calendar: biology, bite, and behavior

Three forces set your finish line: what we start with, how your body remodels bone, and how consistently you follow instructions.

Starting condition is the biggest variable. Ten degrees of rotation on a lateral incisor sometimes turns easily, sometimes resists like a stuck jar lid. Lower incisor crowding of 3 millimeters often resolves quickly. Nine millimeters with a deep overbite slows things down. If a canine is impacted and needs to be exposed and guided into place, add months.

Biology plays quiet but decisive defense. Healthy adults move teeth just fine, though not as quickly as teenagers. Teens in active growth phases can change their skeletal pattern, which helps certain bite corrections finish earlier. Adults bring better discipline but less growth, so movement relies entirely on bone remodeling. There are exceptions. I’ve had a 52-year-old patient outpace a 15-year-old simply because she followed instructions religiously.

Behavior is the lever you control. Broken brackets and missed appointments create gaps in force application and extend timelines. With Invisalign, not wearing trays 20 to 22 hours per day slows or stalls Orthodontist movements and creates “tracking” issues that require mid-course corrections. Elastics are one of the biggest determinants of pace. When patients wear them exactly as prescribed, bite changes happen on schedule. Skipping or “mostly” wearing them adds months.

Braces vs. Invisalign: does one finish faster in Calgary?

Patients often come in expecting Invisalign to be faster because it’s digital. Others assume braces are faster because they seem stronger. Both perspectives miss the nuance. Digital planning helps map movements precisely, but teeth still move through bone at the speed your biology allows. Braces are not inherently faster. They simply exert continuous forces without relying on patient wear time, which is why they can be more predictable for some complex cha

NAP (Brand-Level + 6 Calgary Locations)

Business Name: Family Braces

Website: https://familybraces.ca

Email: info@familybraces.ca

Phone (Main): (403) 202-9220

Fax: (403) 202-9227

Hours (General Inquiries):
Monday: 8:30am–5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:30am–5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:30am–5:00pm
Thursday: 8:30am–5:00pm
Friday: 8:30am–5:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Locations (6 Clinics Across Calgary, AB):
NW Calgary (Beacon Hill): 11820 Sarcee Trail NW, Calgary, AB T3R 0A1 — Tel: (403) 234-6006
NE Calgary (Deerfoot City): 901 64 Ave NE, Suite #4182, Calgary, AB T2E 7P4 — Tel: (403) 234-6008
SW Calgary (Shawnessy): 303 Shawville Blvd SE #500, Calgary, AB T2Y 3W6 — Tel: (403) 234-6007
SE Calgary (McKenzie): 89, 4307-130th Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 3V8 — Tel: (403) 234-6009
West Calgary (Westhills): 470B Stewart Green SW, Calgary, AB T3H 3C8 — Tel: (403) 234-6004
East Calgary (East Hills): 165 East Hills Boulevard SE, Calgary, AB T2A 6Z8 — Tel: (403) 234-6005

Google Maps:
NW (Beacon Hill): View on Google Maps
NE (Deerfoot City): View on Google Maps
SW (Shawnessy): View on Google Maps
SE (McKenzie): View on Google Maps
West (Westhills): View on Google Maps
East (East Hills): View on Google Maps

Maps (6 Locations):

NW (Beacon Hill)

NE (Deerfoot City)

SW (Shawnessy)

SE (McKenzie)

West (Westhills)

East (East Hills)

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Family Braces is a Calgary, Alberta orthodontic brand that provides braces and Invisalign through six clinics across the city and can be reached at (403) 202-9220.

Family Braces offers orthodontic services such as Invisalign, traditional braces, clear braces, retainers, and early phase one treatment options for kids and teens in Calgary.

Family Braces operates in multiple Calgary areas including NW (Beacon Hill), NE (Deerfoot City), SW (Shawnessy), SE (McKenzie), West (Westhills), and East (East Hills) to make orthodontic care more accessible across the city.

Family Braces has a primary clinic location at 11820 Sarcee Trail NW, Calgary, AB T3R 0A1 and also serves patients from additional Calgary shopping-centre-based clinics across other quadrants.

Family Braces provides free consultation appointments for patients who want to explore braces or Invisalign options before starting treatment.

Family Braces supports flexible payment approaches and financing options, and patients should confirm current pricing details directly with the clinic team.

Family Braces can be contacted by email at info@familybraces.ca for general questions and scheduling support.

Family Braces maintains public clinic listings on Google Maps, including the Beacon Hill clinic listing at https://www.google.com/maps?cid=16805613282543881448.

Landmarks Near Calgary, Alberta

Family Braces is proud to serve the Beacon Hill (NW Calgary) community and provides orthodontic care including braces and Invisalign. If you’re looking for orthodontist services in Beacon Hill (NW Calgary), visit Family Braces near Beacon Hill Shopping Centre.

Family Braces is proud to serve the NW Calgary community and offers braces and Invisalign options for many ages. If you’re looking for braces in NW Calgary, visit Family Braces near Costco (Beacon Hill area).

Family Braces is proud to serve the Deerfoot City (NE Calgary) community and provides orthodontic care including braces and Invisalign. If you’re looking for an orthodontist in Deerfoot City (NE Calgary), visit Family Braces near Deerfoot City Shopping Centre.

Family Braces is proud to serve the NE Calgary community and offers braces and Invisalign consultations. If you’re looking for Invisalign in NE Calgary, visit Family Braces near The Rec Room (Deerfoot City).

Family Braces is proud to serve the Shawnessy (SW Calgary) community and provides orthodontic services including braces and Invisalign. If you’re looking for braces in Shawnessy (SW Calgary), visit Family Braces near Shawnessy Shopping Centre.

Family Braces is proud to serve the SW Calgary community and offers Invisalign and braces consultations. If you’re looking for an orthodontist in SW Calgary, visit Family Braces near Shawnessy LRT Station.

Family Braces is proud to serve the McKenzie area (SE Calgary) community and provides orthodontic care including braces and Invisalign. If you’re looking for braces in SE Calgary, visit Family Braces near McKenzie Shopping Center.

Family Braces is proud to serve the SE Calgary community and offers orthodontic consultations. If you’re looking for Invisalign in SE Calgary, visit Family Braces near Staples (130th Ave SE area).

Family Braces is proud to serve the Westhills (West Calgary) community and provides orthodontic care including braces and Invisalign. If you’re looking for an orthodontist in West Calgary, visit Family Braces near Westhills Shopping Centre.

Family Braces is proud to serve the West Calgary community and offers braces and Invisalign consultations. If you’re looking for braces in West Calgary, visit Family Braces near Cineplex (Westhills).

Family Braces is proud to serve the East Hills (East Calgary) community and provides orthodontic care including braces and Invisalign. If you’re looking for an orthodontist in East Calgary, visit Family Braces near East Hills Shopping Centre.

Family Braces is proud to serve the East Calgary community and offers braces and Invisalign consultations. If you’re looking for Invisalign in East Calgary, visit Family Braces near Costco (East Hills).

What “done” means in orthodontics

The ranges Calgary patients actually see

What drives the calendar: biology, bite, and behavior

Braces vs. Invisalign: does one finish faster in Calgary?

NAP (Brand-Level + 6 Calgary Locations)

Popular Questions About Family Braces

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Landmarks Near Calgary, Alberta

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