Braces

Everyone wants to be born with perfect straight teeth.  Unfortunately this is not the reality for a lot of people.  Once the baby teeth fall out, they are many times replaced with teeth that are unevenly spaced, crooked or jammed.  Once this problem is recognized, it needs to be solved as soon as possible.  The good news is that braces can be used to fix and prevent future teeth imperfections giving you that perfect smile that you deserve!

What do braces involve?

There are three major components to braces.  These are the elastic, the wire and the brackets.   The brackets are either made of metal or porcelain.  Each bracket is then cemented to a single tooth.  Once the brackets are in place on each tooth, a thin piece of wire is then put in to connect the brackets.  The wire is what provides the tension between the brackets meant to straighten the teeth.  The elastic is then installed over the top of the wire around the brackets to hold everything together.  This setup enables the dentist to make changes or adjustments overtime depending on the progress of the treatment.

Aside from the major three components mentioned above, your treatment plan might also consist of other rubber bands, headgear and or other jaw changing components.  This is usually only the case when there is an underbite or overbite present.  Once the braces are out, follow up plans might involve other orthodontic gear such as a retainer for example to prevent drawbacks.

Traditional braces have always been made of metal, but inventions have been made in recent years to make braces less visible such as porcelain braces or a method known as Invisalign.  For more information on that see our page on teeth straightening.

Braces are most commonly used on teenagers who have just started developing a full mouth of adult teeth.  However, they can also be used for adults who have problems with wide spaces in between their teeth and things like overbites and underbites.  Keep in mind that braces are only for people with adult teeth.

How long do braces take to work?

In almost every case, braces will be something that will work over a long period of time- months or even years.  The exact time braces need to stay in your mouth is dependent on several things.  Different teeth respond differently to treatment and it also depends on how severe the imperfections were at the start.  Often times, your dentist won’t even know for sure at the start.  He or she will need to see how your teeth are responding as you come back in for checkups.  After a few checkups you will be given a more exact time frame.

How will braces affect my everyday life?

Braces will always require constant care and upkeep.  Food will often get caught in the components and will need to be cleaned.  Your dentist will give you tools for cleaning your braces and will show you how to use them.  Brushing your teeth effectively and regularly is an absolute must while your braces are intact.

Having braces will make eating certain foods a bit more problematic.  For example, chewing gum is usually difficult to enjoy.  Ask your orthodontist to give you ideas on which foods or snacks you might want to avoid.

It is important to know that braces will always be very uncomfortable at the start.  You will need to get accustomed to the constant pressure being put on your teeth.  You also won’t be used to the hardness and unusual shapes of the components and how they feel against the sides of your mouth when you talk or chew.  Your orthodontist will usually give you wax to aid this discomfort,  but usually after a few weeks you will get used the braces and the tightening and your mouth will feel normal again.