Braces

The duration of your braces treatment can vary depending on several factors:

1. Complexity of Treatment: If your dental and skeletal issues are more complex, such as severe overcrowding or overbite or overjet, it might take longer to achieve the desired results.
2. Age: Adults may require longer treatment times compared to children and teenagers because their jawbones are no longer growing.
3. Cooperation: Following your orthodontist’s instructions, such as wearing rubber bands or appliances, keeping good oral hygiene, and attending scheduled appointments, can impact the duration of treatment.
4. Type of Braces: Traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, Damon braces, and clear aligners each have different treatment times.

Typically, braces are worn for 1 to 3 years if treatment instructions are followed. Your orthodontist will provide a personalized estimate after evaluating your specific dental and skeletal situation. Regular check-ups during your treatment will also allow your orthodontist to monitor progress and make any necessary adjustments to ensure you achieve the best results in the shortest time possible.

Braces are orthodontic devices used to straighten teeth and correct bite issues. The treatment generally involves several steps:

1. Consultation and Examination: Your orthodontist will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth, jaws, and overall oral health. 3D, photographs, and digital scan of your teeth may be taken to assess the severity of misalignment.
2. Treatment Planning: Based on the examination, your orthodontist will create a personalized treatment plan. This plan will outline the specific dental issues that need correction and the type of braces best suited for your case.
3. Placement of Braces: Once the treatment plan is established, your braces will be placed. This involves bonding brackets to the front surface of your teeth using dental adhesive. For traditional braces, metal wires are threaded through these brackets. 
4. Adjustments: You will need periodic appointments (usually every 4-6 weeks) with your orthodontist to adjust the braces. During these visits, the wires may be tightened, changed, or adjusted to gradually move your teeth into their correct positions.
5. Monitoring Progress: Throughout the treatment period, your orthodontist will monitor the progress of your teeth movement and make necessary adjustments to the treatment plan as needed.
6. Brace Removal: Once your teeth have been successfully moved into the desired positions, your braces will be removed. This process typically involves carefully detaching the brackets and removing any remaining adhesive from your teeth.
7. Retention: After braces are removed, a retainer may be prescribed to prevent your teeth from shifting back to their original positions. Retainers can be removable or fixed behind your teeth. Wearing your retainers is imperative to keeping your teeth in their new position.

1. Initial Discomfort: When braces are first placed or after adjustments, it’s common to experience soreness and discomfort in your teeth and gums. This discomfort typically lasts for a few days as your teeth adjust to the pressure exerted by the braces.
2. Mouth Sores: The brackets and wires of braces can sometimes cause irritation to the soft tissues inside your mouth, leading to sores or ulcers. Wax provided by your orthodontist can help alleviate this by providing a protective barrier.
3. Tightening Discomfort: During periodic adjustments, your orthodontist may tighten the wires to continue shifting your teeth. This can temporarily increase discomfort for a day or two as your teeth start to move.
4. Chewing Discomfort: You might experience discomfort while chewing, especially right after getting braces or after adjustments. This discomfort typically lessens as you get used to the braces.
5. Pain Relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage discomfort during the initial stages or after adjustments. Rinsing with warm saltwater can also provide relief for sore gums.
6. Individual Variability: Pain tolerance varies among individuals, so some people may find braces more uncomfortable than others.

1. Brushing: Brush your teeth after every meal and snack, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Angle your brush towards the gum line to clean around the brackets and wires thoroughly. Brush each tooth individually, including the front, back, and chewing surfaces.
2. Flossing: Floss at least once a day using special orthodontic floss threaders or a floss threader tool. Thread the floss under the main wire of your braces and gently floss between your teeth and under the gums.
3. Interdental Brushes: Use interdental brushes to clean between brackets and wires where regular brushing and flossing might not reach effectively.
4. Rinsing: Rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash after brushing and flossing to help remove any remaining food particles and bacteria.
5. Avoid Certain Foods: Avoid sticky, chewy, or hard foods that can damage your braces or get stuck in them, such as caramel, gum, hard candies, and popcorn.
6. Use Wax: If your braces or wires are causing irritation to the inside of your lips or cheeks, apply orthodontic wax provided by your orthodontist to create a barrier between the braces and your mouth.
7. Attend Regular Check-ups: Keep up with scheduled orthodontic appointments for adjustments and check-ups. These visits are crucial for monitoring your progress and making necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.
8. Wear Appliances as Instructed: If you have additional appliances such as rubber bands or headgear, follow your orthodontist’s instructions carefully for wearing them as prescribed.
9. Protect Your Braces: Avoid habits that can damage your braces, such as chewing on pens or pencils, biting your nails, or using your teeth to open packaging.
10. Emergency Care: In case of a broken bracket or wire, contact your orthodontist for advice on what to do next. Don’t attempt to fix it yourself.

Do’s:

1. Brush thoroughly: Brush your teeth after every meal and snack, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Pay extra attention to cleaning around the brackets and wires.
2. Floss daily: Use special orthodontic floss threaders or floss threader tools to clean between your teeth and under the wires. This helps prevent plaque buildup and gum disease.
3. Use interdental brushes: These can help clean around brackets and wires where regular brushing and flossing might not reach effectively.
4. Attend regular check-ups: Keep your scheduled orthodontic appointments for adjustments and check-ups. This allows your orthodontist to monitor your progress and make necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.
5. Eat braces-friendly foods: Stick to soft foods, cut fruits and vegetables into small pieces, and avoid sticky, chewy, or hard foods that can damage your braces.
6. Wear appliances as instructed: If you have additional appliances like rubber bands or headgear, wear them according to your orthodontist’s instructions to ensure effective treatment.
7. Protect your braces: Avoid habits that can damage your braces, such as chewing on pens or pencils, biting your nails, or using your teeth to open packaging.
8. Use wax for comfort: If your braces or wires are causing irritation to the inside of your lips or cheeks, apply orthodontic wax provided by your orthodontist to create a barrier.
9. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help keep your mouth clean and reduce discomfort from braces.

Don’ts:

1. Eat hard or sticky foods: Avoid foods like hard candies, nuts, popcorn, chewing gum, and sticky candies that can break brackets or get stuck in your braces.
2. Chew on ice: Chewing on ice cubes can damage your braces and increase the risk of brackets breaking or wires bending.
3. Forget to clean your braces: Proper oral hygiene is crucial with braces. Neglecting to clean your teeth and braces can lead to plaque buildup, cavities, and gum disease.
4. Skip orthodontic appointments: Regular check-ups and adjustments are necessary to ensure your braces are working effectively and to address any issues promptly.
5. Ignore discomfort: If your braces are causing discomfort or if something feels wrong, don’t hesitate to contact your orthodontist for advice.
6. Try to fix broken braces yourself: If a bracket or wire breaks, contact your orthodontist for guidance. Attempting to fix it yourself can lead to further damage.