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Orthodontics Common
Questions: Q:
How long is treatment? In
most cases it takes 18–24 months to complete all tooth movements. During this
time visits to adjust appliances are required every 4–8 weeks. After this you
will need to wear retainer braces to keep your teeth straight. Q:
Does it hurt? Teeth
are moved with braces which apply gentle pressure to them. Some discomfort might
occur at first, but will go away after a few days. You may need mild painkillers
and particularly soft food for up to a week. Q:
Will I need teeth out? Sometimes
it is necessary to have some teeth extracted by your dentist. These are
carefully chosen so that it is not noticeable afterwards, and provided treatment
is completed as planned, no gaps should remain. You will need to pay your
dentist’s usual fees for these. Q:
Do appliances damage teeth? No,
but if they are not kept very clean plaque trapped around the brace can cause
marks and decay. Tooth cleaning has to be of a high standard before treatment,
and if not maintained, treatment will have to be stopped even if teeth are still
out of position and gaps remain. We recommend the use of a daily fluoride rinse
throughout treatment. Q:
How much is it?
For private treatment investment see
our price list. Q:
Can adults have treatment? Yes. It can be done at any age, tooth movement may be slower and the scope of treatment more limited. Q:
Do I have to wear braces? No.
We will discuss the problems with your teeth and the type of treatment we can
offer, and what to expect if nothing is done. After that, it is up to the
patient and family to decide. Q:
Can I have appointments after school? There
are limited appointments available after school, though if you insist on these
times, gaps between appointments may be longer and the braces may be on for
longer. To increase availability of these appointments, any longer appointments
required MUST be booked within school hours. Q:
Can I have less noticeable We
can provide tooth coloured braces and elastics for private treatments. Q:
Routine dental care? We
will only provide orthodontic treatment. It is very important that you continue
to go to your own dentist for regular check-ups during treatment, and for any
extractions required. Q Yes you can, but any removable braces should be taken out while playing. If you have a fixed brace, a mouthguard should be worn which covers both upper and lower braces. We have these available to buy from reception Q:
Can I sing or play a wind instrument? With
a little practice you will be able to carry on as normal. Don’t arrange a
fitting of braces near an important exam or performance. Q:
Can I have colours? Standard
braces have coloured elastics to hold the wire in place. You will be able to
choose one, two or multiple colours. Choose silver to blend in with your brace,
or perhaps your team’s colours or vivid bright ones? Q:
What if I break my brace? Please
contact the practice as soon as possible. Q:
What are retainers? These
are worn to hold the teeth in place once your braces are removed. Most are clear
removable ones. Sometimes we use a fixed retainer stuck to the inside of your
teeth. Your teeth can move throughout your life so you will need to wear them
for as long as you want to be fairly sure your teeth stay in place! Q:
Who pays for long-term retention? NHS
and private treatment covers retention for up to 12 months. Any visits, repairs
or replacements after this are at current private prices. Q:
What happens when I have my fixed brace put on? We
arrange two appointments within a few days. At the first appointment, small
elastic separators are slipped between your back teeth. At the second
appointment these are removed and metal bands placed around these back teeth and
brackets stuck on your front teeth. A fine wire is then placed in using elastics
– coloured if you wish! This takes around 20-30 minutes. Q:
Are there any possible risks? The main risk is marks or damage to the teeth. This will not happen if you keep them clean and are sensible about what you eat and drink, particularly between meals. Tooth roots get slightly shorter during treatment, but this is not normally a problem.
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