Why have braces?
The purpose of orthodontic treatment is to make the best of your teeth. This includes straightening your teeth so you’re able to care for your teeth and gums more easily, and improving your bite so you can eat more comfortably. And your smile will benefit, too. Treatment almost always involves using braces to straighten crooked, crowded, or protruding teeth, close gaps between teeth, and correct the bite so the top and bottom teeth meet when the mouth is closed. You’ll need to have healthy teeth and gums before you can have a brace fitted. This is because you must be able to keep your teeth and your brace very clean while you’re wearing it to avoid getting tooth decay or gum disease. Treatment usually lasts from 18 months to 2 years, and visits to the orthodontist are needed every 6 to 8 weeks.
What’s the best age to have braces?
The ideal age to have braces is usually around 12 or 13, while a child’s mouth and jaws are still growing. The opportunity for improvement in an adult is more limited and treatment is likely to take longer.
How do you get braces fitted?
Many children don’t require a brace, but those who do need to be referred to an orthodontist by their dentist. By law, only registered specialists can call themselves specialist orthodontists. Other dentists may have done extra training so they can also do orthodontic treatment. Some orthodontists work with orthodontic therapists who can adjust braces under the orthodontist’s supervision.
What is it like to wear braces?
Most braces are made of metal, but some are made of ceramic or plastic. They are designed to be comfortable, but they may rub your mouth or make it feel sore. Also, your teeth may feel tender or sore as they start to move. These issues don’t usually last long (a few days at most). They may happen at the start of your treatment or when your brace has been adjusted.
Your braces may feel large in your mouth at first, but it is important to remember that your mouth will adapt and get used to them. They are there to guide your teeth into a new and proper position, but they will only do this if you keep wearing them.
How long will the treatment take?
This depends on how out-of-position your teeth are. It may take anything from a few months to two-and-a-half years. Most people can be treated in one to two years.
Is orthodontic work permanent?
It’s always possible that teeth might move. Orthodontic treatment aims to move the teeth into a stable position. This is complicated and needs a specialist understanding of where teeth can be moved to, and how.
The new position of your teeth should be a stable one. However, you should wear your braces for as long as your orthodontist advises. This will help stop your teeth from moving back to where they were. Even if they do this only slightly, you may be disappointed with the result.
You’ll also need to wear a ‘retainer’ regularly for some time after your treatment has finished. This stops your teeth from moving back to the position they were in before the treatment. We don’t want all the hard work you’ve put in up to this point going to waste!
Need more advice?
If you need free and impartial advice about your oral health, contact our Dental Helpline by email or call 0335-8706212. Our Dental Helpline is completely confidential. Contact our experts by telephone, email, or online inquiry,
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