If you wear braces to straighten your teeth, you will need to have your condition diagnosed and analyzed prior to formal orthodontic treatment to develop a preliminary orthodontic plan. X-rays of the teeth in the mouth will be taken to more accurately develop an orthodontic plan, and after the x-rays are taken, you can begin making models of the patient’s teeth. In order to make more space for the teeth and to facilitate a better alignment, some patients need to have individual teeth removed, but some patients do not need to have teeth extracted. After the braces are put on, the orthodontic treatment will begin, and the patient will need to follow the doctor’s instructions and make regular follow-up visits to check and adjust the oral condition. The whole process of orthodontics takes about 1-3 years, after which the braces will be removed and a retainer will be worn for a period of time to prevent rebound.