FAQ's About Braces

  
 

Why Braces?                             
For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of Orthodontics. Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This can result in tooth decay, worsen gum disease and lead to tooth loss. Other Orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints. These can lead to chronic headaches and face or neck pain.-After your braces come off, you'll feel more self-confident.
    
Does my child need Orthodontic Treatment (braces)?
These warning signs indicate that your child needs to have Orthodontic Treatment: 
• Crooked or overlapping teeth 
• Protruding teeth 
• Delayed eruption of permanent teeth 
• Mouthbreathing habit
• Thumbsucking habit 
• Difficulty in closing the lips 
• Open bite, cross bite, deep bite 
• Disharmony in jaw growth 

When is the best time to start Orthodontics ?
Your child is an individual with a special pattern of growth and dental development. There is usually a "best time" for a child to begin treatment for straightening teeth. Early diagnosis by the Orthodontist will determine the best time to begin.
  
When do I start to bring my child to an Orthodontist ?
An early examination, at age 7, enables the Orthodontist to determine the timing and type of treatment your child needs. In some children, the best results are achieved in the growing years. In other children, the initial examination by the Orthodontist may not be followed immediately by treatment. The Orthodontist may want to monitor your child with periodic examinations to check on the eruption of permanent teeth, before recommending braces.
    
What kind of braces will my child wear / Can my child get clear braces ? 
The Orthodontist will select the most appropriate type of braces to treat your child's particular problem. Braces may be fixed to the teeth or may be removable. Sometimes, your child will require both types of braces. Some permanent teeth may need to be removed in order to make space for lining up the teeth. The braces that are used are of three types namely metal braces, tooth colored / ceramic braces and lingual braces. 
  
Metal braces 
These are most commonly used; designed for patient comfort and clinical efficiency. They are -well accepted by patients.  
    
Tooth coloured / esthetic braces(ceramic, plastic)  
These esthetically appealing braces are available in translucent material, to blend with teeth, or in a clear, transparent material that allows the natural colour of the teeth to show through. But they are not for everyone. The ceramic material is very hard; harder than teeth_and cannot be used in all circumstances. They are usually more costly. The plastic braces are not as durable as metal or ceramic and require additional care. However, the Orthodontist will recommend the proper type of braces for you. 
    
Lingual Braces 
These braces are placed on the back side of the teeth, hence are not visible when the patient smiles or talks. They are esthetically most pleasing but they take time to get used to. Careful patient selection is very important as lingual braces cannot be placed for all patients. 

Invisible braces
The technology of invisible braces is used for minor tooth alignment. A series of clear removable aligners are used to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets. You wear each set of aligners for about two to six months, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move - little by little, week by week - until they have straightened to the final position your Orthodontist has prescribed.

Why Should you choose a Specialist ? 
Orthodontic treatment may lead to drastic changes in your smile and overall appearance, hence it is of the utmost importance that it should be done well. An Orthodontist has had three years of extra training especially in this subject after four regular years of Dental School. Hence he has the extra skill needed to manage tooth movement and guide facial growth.

What will be the treatment cost ? 
The actual cost of Orthodontic treatment depends on the severity of the problem. Many Orthodontic problems require only limited treatment at relatively inexpensive fees. Your Orthodontic specialist will be glad to discuss fees and payment options with you before treatment begins. 
Treatment by an Orthodontist can be less costly than the additional care required to treat dental problems arising as a result of Orthodontic problems. Please consider the money spent on Orthodontic treatment as money invested on an everlasting beautiful smile.

What are Removal Appliances  / plates ?
Unlike conventional braces, which create pressure by being attached directly to the teeth, removable appliances are used in different ways. Some are intended to influence growth of the jaws in order to effect changes in facial structure eg. Functional appliances like "Activator", "Twin Block". Some are used to retain teeth in their corrected positions (retainer). Others, are used in conjunction with fixed appliances eg. "bite planes" and "thumb guards". 
Still, removable appliances are not right for all Orthodontic problems. Timing of such therapy is also very important. An Orthodontic specialist is trained to make the treatment decisions.

How long will my child need to wear braces ?
In general, active treatment time ranges from one and a half to three years. The actual time will depend on the severity of the problem and growth of your child's face and mouth. Good oral hygiene, regular appointments and co-operation will help treatment to progress smoothly. For an adult patient most Orthodontists agree that the treatment will usually take from 10 to 20 percent longer as the adult's bone structure is denser and firmly set, so a slightly longer response time to tooth movement can be expected. 

Will I need to have any permanent teeth removed when I get braces ? 
If the teeth are very crowded, and they are protruding very far, sometimes removing teeth is an excellent choice for a patient. Typically, most Orthodontists choose to extract two upper back teeth (premolars) and two lower back teeth (premolars) to accomplish the goals of treatment. Alternative extraction approaches may be indicated depending on the nature of the case.

How important is co-operation ?  
Successful Orthodontic treatment requires good cooperation_between your child and the Orthodontist. The Orthodontist provides the expertise and braces to straighten teeth but your child must follow instructions carefully, so that the teeth can move properly and on time. 

             Always remember -->        Effort on your part = Good Result.

Is it harder to take care of your teeth when you are wearing braces ? 
Yes. It is normally more difficult to take care of the teeth because the braces are more difficult to clean around. However, it only takes 3 to 4 minutes several times per day to keep them perfectly clean.

Does it hurt when you stick (glue) the braces on or take them off  ?    
It does not hurt to place the braces on or to take them off. Special instruments are used to minimize discomfort.

Do braces harm teeth or gums ?
If you follow the instructions for the care and maintenance of the braces, keep your appointments, and brush your teeth regularly, you should not have any problems whatsoever. 

What is a retainer ?
A retainer is a simple, removable plate that is fitted to your teeth to hold them in their corrected position after the Orthodontist removes the fixed (bonded) braces that were used to straighten your crooked teeth. Initially-patients are advised to wear the retainer full time for a period of 6 months, subsequently there is a gradual phasing out with reduced wear time.

Is it true when braces are removed the teeth get crooked again ?        
There are usually some minor changes following Orthodontic treatment. These changes are normally insignificant in comparison to the original malocclusion.

Will it hurt ?                              
Discomfort has to result when we loosen a tooth for movement. This usually last for about 48 to 72 hours after braces are placed. Each succeeding adjustment will mean some minor discomfort for a day or two. 

Can Orthodontic treatment help stop thumb sucking habit ?
Habits such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip posture and mouth breathing, and functional problems, such as mandibular displacement, which is often associated with anterior or posterior crossbites, are usually treated as early as possible. Habit appliances are designed in many different ways and are used until the harmful habit has stopped. 

What are Orthodontic Headgears ?
Orthodontic headgear are a very important part of the treatment for patients with disproportional jaw growth. Headgear creates special forces that guide the growth of the face and jaws. Regular use of headgear achieves the best results. 

Is it too late for me to start Orthodontic treatment ?
There is no age limit for Orthodontics. Teeth and tissue are essentially the same in both adults and children. Orthodontists can successfully straighten teeth regardless of your age. However, certain types of problems cannot be treated with braces alone. Some may require a combination therapy of jaw surgery and braces.