Serving patients in Barrington, Swansea, Fall River & Portsmouth, RI
If you are unhappy with your smile, you are not alone. Millions of people live with misaligned teeth, crowded bites, or spacing issues that affect not just how they look — but how they feel about themselves and how well they can clean and care for their teeth. The good news is that orthodontic treatment has never been more accessible, more comfortable, or more effective than it is today.
Whether you are a teenager navigating the social landscape of middle school or an adult who has been putting off treatment for years, Jaffe Orthodontics can help you understand your options and build a treatment plan that fits your life. This page walks you through everything you need to know about comprehensive orthodontic treatment — what it involves, who it is right for, how it compares to two-phase treatment, and what to expect from start to finish.
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Comprehensive orthodontic treatment — sometimes called full orthodontic treatment — is a single, complete course of care designed to align the teeth, correct the bite, and achieve lasting orthodontic results. It is the approach most people picture when they think about braces: a continuous treatment plan carried out from start to finish, typically over eighteen to twenty-four months, that moves the teeth into their ideal positions.
Unlike two-phase orthodontic treatment, which involves an early interceptive phase during childhood followed by a second full treatment phase in the teen years, comprehensive treatment involves just one phase. It is the standard approach for most patients — particularly those who did not require early intervention as children and whose permanent teeth have fully erupted.
Comprehensive treatment is not a shortcut or a lesser version of two-phase care. For the patients it is designed for, it is exactly the right approach — efficient, effective, and capable of producing excellent results across a wide range of orthodontic concerns.
Comprehensive orthodontic treatment works by applying consistent, controlled pressure to the teeth over time, gradually moving them into their correct positions within the jaw. The process is systematic and carefully sequenced — each stage of movement builds on the last, guided by your orthodontist’s treatment plan.
Treatment typically begins with a thorough examination and a set of diagnostic records — including X-rays, photographs, and digital scans — that give the orthodontist a complete picture of your teeth, bite, jaw structure, and bone. At Jaffe Orthodontics, we use advanced 3D digital imaging and the iTero digital scanner to ensure our treatment planning is based on precise, complete information rather than estimates.
From there, your orthodontist designs a customized treatment plan specific to your teeth and your goals. Once treatment begins, you will attend regular appointments — typically every six to ten weeks — for progress checks and adjustments. These appointments are quick and allow the team to monitor how your teeth are responding and make any necessary refinements to the plan.
When active treatment is complete, you will move into the retention phase — wearing retainers to stabilize your teeth in their new positions and protect the results you have worked for.
One of the most significant advances in modern orthodontics is the range of options available. Comprehensive treatment is no longer a one-size-fits-all proposition. At Jaffe Orthodontics, we offer several treatment approaches, and we work with each patient to identify the one best suited to their specific case, lifestyle, and preferences.
Traditional metal braces remain one of the most effective and versatile orthodontic options available. Modern metal braces are significantly smaller, more comfortable, and more precise than previous generations. They are bonded directly to the teeth and use a wire and bracket system to guide tooth movement with exceptional accuracy.
Metal braces are particularly well suited to complex cases — significant crowding, severe bite issues, rotations, and vertical movement — where maximum precision and control are important. They work continuously without depending on patient compliance and are often the most time-efficient option for complex cases.
For patients who enjoy personalizing their treatment, metal braces also allow for colored elastic ties that can be changed at each appointment — a popular feature among younger patients.
Ceramic braces offer the same clinical effectiveness as traditional metal braces with a significantly less visible appearance. The brackets are made from tooth-colored or clear ceramic material that blends with the natural color of the teeth, making them far less noticeable than metal alternatives.
Ceramic braces are an excellent option for patients who want the precision of traditional braces without the visibility of metal — particularly popular with older teens and adults who are self-conscious about the appearance of orthodontic appliances. They require the same care and dietary considerations as metal braces but offer an aesthetic advantage that many patients find meaningful.
Invisalign uses a series of custom-fabricated, removable clear aligners to move the teeth gradually into their desired positions. Each aligner in the series is worn for approximately one to two weeks before being replaced by the next, with each set of aligners moving the teeth incrementally closer to the final result.
Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible when worn, making them the preferred choice for many adults and older teens. They are removable for eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing — a significant quality-of-life advantage compared to fixed appliances. However, they do require consistent wear, typically twenty to twenty-two hours per day, and their effectiveness depends on patient compliance.
Invisalign technology has advanced significantly in recent years and can now treat a much wider range of cases than earlier generations of the system — including many moderate to complex cases that previously required braces.
Invisalign Teen is a version of the Invisalign system designed specifically with teenagers in mind. It includes compliance indicators — small blue dots on each aligner that fade with wear, helping patients and parents track whether the aligners are being worn consistently. Replacement aligners are also included for cases where aligners are lost or damaged.
Invisalign Teen is an excellent option for motivated teenagers who want the aesthetic and practical benefits of clear aligners while still achieving precise orthodontic results.
Comprehensive orthodontic treatment is appropriate for the majority of orthodontic patients — including most teenagers and adults who have all or nearly all of their permanent teeth.
Teenagers are the most common candidates for comprehensive treatment. By early adolescence, most patients have a full set of permanent teeth in place, and the combination of full eruption and active jaw growth creates ideal conditions for treatment. The teenage years are often referred to as the optimal window for orthodontic care for good reason — teeth respond well to orthodontic forces, treatment proceeds efficiently, and patients enter adulthood with a fully established, well-aligned smile.
There is also a social dimension worth acknowledging. Braces are extremely common among teenagers. Wearing them does not set a teen apart the way it might feel for an adult — quite the opposite. Many teenagers find that having braces becomes a shared experience that connects them with their peers rather than isolating them. The conversations, shared tips, and mutual support that come from going through treatment alongside classmates can make the process feel far more normal and even enjoyable.
Adults are an increasingly large and important part of orthodontic practice. The idea that orthodontic treatment is only for teenagers has become outdated — a significant and growing proportion of orthodontic patients today are adults, and the technology has fully kept pace. Invisalign and ceramic braces in particular have made treatment far more compatible with professional and social life for adult patients. Treatment timelines for adults are sometimes modestly longer than for teenagers with comparable cases, but results are excellent across all ages.
Comprehensive treatment is appropriate when all permanent teeth are in and no interceptive work was needed in childhood — or when any early treatment has already been completed and it is time for the full finishing phase. If there are questions about whether comprehensive treatment or two-phase treatment is more appropriate for your child, Dr. Jaffe will evaluate the full picture and advise accordingly.
The key distinction between comprehensive and two-phase orthodontic treatment comes down to timing and the presence of developing structures.
Two-phase treatment is recommended for children — typically beginning between ages six and ten — when early intervention can take advantage of jaw growth to correct structural problems, create space, or guide development in ways that would not be possible after growth is complete. Phase 1 involves a targeted early intervention, followed by a monitoring period, followed by Phase 2 — a full course of comprehensive treatment once all permanent teeth have erupted.
Comprehensive treatment is a single-phase approach that is appropriate when the teeth and jaw have developed to the point where a complete course of treatment can achieve excellent results without the need for prior early intervention.
Not every child needs two-phase treatment. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic evaluation by age seven — not because every child will need treatment at that age, but because an evaluation allows the orthodontist to identify whether early intervention would be genuinely beneficial or whether monitoring and later comprehensive treatment is the better path. Dr. Jaffe provides honest, thorough evaluations and will recommend the approach that is truly best for each individual patient — not the most complex or expensive one.
One approach is not inherently superior to the other. What matters is matching the right approach to the right patient at the right time, which is exactly what Dr. Jaffe’s evaluations are designed to determine.
Most patients complete comprehensive orthodontic treatment within eighteen to twenty-four months, though the exact duration varies based on a number of factors.
Case complexity is the most significant variable. The amount of movement required, the nature of any bite issues, and whether any teeth are significantly rotated or displaced all affect treatment time. A patient with mild crowding and a well-aligned bite will typically move through treatment faster than a patient with severe crowding, a significant overbite, and a midline discrepancy.
Treatment method also plays a role. Metal braces generally provide the most direct control over complex movements and may be the most efficient option for challenging cases. Clear aligners are highly effective but require consistent wear to stay on schedule — a patient who wears their aligners twenty-two hours per day will progress faster than one who is less consistent.
Patient compliance matters significantly for aligner patients. Wearing aligners as directed, attending appointments consistently, and following all care instructions all contribute to treatment staying on schedule and finishing as planned.
During your consultation at Jaffe Orthodontics, Dr. Jaffe will provide a personalized timeline estimate based on your specific records. We do not give generic timelines — we look at your actual teeth, your bite, and your bone structure and give you a realistic, honest picture of what your treatment will involve.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic evaluation by age seven. This does not mean treatment at seven — it means an assessment so that development can be monitored and any issues that benefit from early attention can be identified. Most children evaluated at seven will not begin treatment for several more years.
Most patients experience some temporary soreness in the first few days after braces are placed or a new set of aligners is started. This is a normal response to the initial tooth movement and typically resolves within a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers and soft foods during that adjustment period make it very manageable. Ongoing treatment is generally not painful — occasional mild tenderness after adjustments is common but short-lived.
bsolutely. Adults of all ages can achieve excellent orthodontic results with comprehensive treatment. Invisalign and ceramic braces are particularly popular with adult patients because of their discreet appearance. Treatment timelines for adults are sometimes modestly longer than for comparable teen cases, but the outcomes are fully comparable.
Good oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment is essential. For patients in braces, brushing after every meal and flossing daily — using a floss threader or interdental brush to clean around wires and brackets — is critical. For aligner patients, aligners should be removed for all eating and drinking (except water), and teeth should be brushed before reinserting aligners. Dr. Jaffe’s team will walk you through all the specifics at the start of your treatment and provide guidance throughout.
When active treatment is complete, you will begin the retention phase — wearing retainers to hold your teeth in their new positions. Teeth have a natural tendency to shift over time, and retainers are the only way to reliably protect your results. Most patients wear retainers full-time initially and transition to nighttime wear. Long-term retainer wear — indefinitely — is the most reliable way to maintain a straight smile for life.
Many dental insurance plans include an orthodontic benefit. Coverage varies by plan, and not all plans cover adult orthodontics. Our team at Jaffe Orthodontics is happy to help you review your specific coverage and understand your benefits before you make any decisions. We also offer flexible financing options to help make treatment accessible regardless of insurance status. Learn more on our financial and insurance information page.
Your first visit to Jaffe Orthodontics is a consultation, not a commitment. Dr. Jaffe will conduct a thorough examination, review any necessary records, and talk through what he finds — including whether comprehensive treatment is appropriate, what options would work best for your situation, and what a realistic treatment timeline would look like. You will leave with clear information and no pressure. Learn more about what to expect at your first visit.
Dr. Jaffe is a board-certified orthodontist serving patients in Barrington, Portsmouth, Bristol, and Swansea — and families throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Board certification by the American Board of Orthodontics represents a level of clinical excellence and commitment to the specialty that goes beyond licensing requirements, and it is a distinction that relatively few orthodontists achieve.
At Jaffe Orthodontics, every treatment plan is built around the individual patient. We use advanced diagnostic technology — including i-CAT 3D imaging and the iTero digital scanner — to ensure our planning is based on the most complete and accurate picture of your teeth and jaw available. We offer a full range of treatment options, from traditional metal braces to Invisalign, and our team takes the time to explain your options clearly and honestly so you can make a confident, informed decision.
We believe that orthodontic treatment is an investment in your health, your confidence, and your quality of life — and we treat it that way.
If you are ready to explore comprehensive orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, the best next step is a consultation. Dr. Jaffe and our team will evaluate your specific situation, walk you through your options, and give you a clear, honest picture of what treatment would involve and what results you can expect.
A consultation is low pressure and informative. You leave knowing exactly where you stand — and that is always a good thing, whatever the recommendation turns out to be.
We have three convenient locations serving Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts:
Contact us online to request your consultation, or visit our new patient information page to learn what to expect at your first appointment. Our team is ready to help you take the first step toward a healthier, more confident smile.
Get Expert Orthodontic Care | Jaffe Orthodontics — Barrington & Portsmouth, Rhode Island and Swansea, Massachusetts — Serving patients of all ages throughout RI and southeastern MA
This page is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or dental advice. Individual treatment recommendations vary based on clinical evaluation. Please consult a licensed orthodontic specialist to determine the most appropriate course of care for your specific situation.
Thank you for choosing Dr. Jordan Jaffe as your local Barrington, Portsmouth, Bristol, Middletown, RI and Swansea, MA orthodontist. At Jaffe Orthodontics, we work hard to accommodate your schedule and make an appointment that works best for you. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation for our clear braces, Invisalign, Invisalign Teen treatment and more please fill out the form below. Once you submit our form, a member of our Barrington and Portsmouth orthodontics staff will contact you as soon as possible.