How long does my child need to wear clear braces?

How long your child will need to wear clear braces -- either brackets or aligners -- will depend on how much her teeth need to be moved. With brackets, the average treatment for children is slightly less than the two to three years that it usually takes for adults, because children's bones are still growing. Because there is more friction on the wires connecting ceramic or plastic brackets, it may take longer to move teeth than with conventional brackets. With clear plastic aligners, the average treatment for children is less than a year. But clear plastic aligners don't necessarily work faster than brackets. Aligners usually are used on less severe problems, which is why the treatment time may be faster.