The actual procedure of fitting the braces is painless. Before placing the braces, I use a retractor to get good vision and direct access to the teeth. It also helps keep the teeth dry which is important for the braces to attach onto the tooth surface. After the braces are fitted, it will feel tight and strange. After a couple of hours, your teeth will begin to ache. The process of tooth movement has begun!
I will usually recommend over the counter painkillers like paracetamol to help.
Everybody’s treatment is unique and dependant on what the treatment aims and objectives are. On average, treatment time lasts 19.9 months (Tsichlaki et al, 2016). Sounds like a pretty specific number but this was based on a systematic review, which is regarded as the highest form of evidence available to us.
As part of your treatment plan, we will discuss whether you need 1 ) Teeth to be extracted 2) Type of brace required 3) Type of retainers you need after treatment 4) Treatment duration
Your lips drape over your teeth…so if I place a brace on the front of your teeth, then the lips will feel slightly ahead. In my experience, patients do not notice their lips sticking out any more than normal – It’s just a matter of getting used to the brace!
Once we place the brace, I will provide you with instructions on how to look after the appliance and how to clean your teeth effectively. Naturally, food and bacteria can trap quite easily between the brackets and wires. If you don’t clean well then food and bacteria will continue to build up leading to bad breath.
During your appointments, I will assess your oral hygiene and ensure you are following my advice.
As mentioned above, having braces can increase the build up of bacteria which can lead to bad breath. More worryingly, this bacteria can release chemicals which can damage the enamel off the teeth directly underneath the bracket. This can lead to decay or white marks on the teeth, known as ‘White Spot Lesions.’
As an orthodontist, I have to ensure this doesn’t happen. If I find the oral hygiene is consistently poor then we will have to remove the braces to prevent damage to your teeth.
This is a controversial area within orthodontics and always a hot debate. Orthodontists do not just look at teeth but also the facial profile – sometimes a term known as ‘face driven orthodontics’ is used. As mentioned above, the lips drape over the teeth and if the teeth retract and move back, then the lips will move back as well. If this happens, it gives a ‘dished in’ or retrusive appearance which is something that occurs as we age. So if you are in your teens, 20’s or 30’s…actually any age, that’s not a look you want to go for!
Therefore, as part of my treatment I aim to avoid damaging the facial profile.
