A Your brace is made up of
small brackets glued to your teeth. The
brackets are handles used to hold your teeth
and straighten them; the archwire, which runs
through the brackets moves the teeth. We
start with the most gentle archwire and gradually
move up through five sizes. The archwire
is held in place by tiny elastic bands, which
come in different colours.
Q Will it hurt?
A It is usual for the teeth to
be uncomfortable for the first few days after the
brace is first fitted - stay with a soft diet and
if necessary take one or two tablets of paracetamol
or ibuprofen.
Q What if bits break off?
A If one bracket comes off then
leave it until your next scheduled visit. If
several break off then phone for an appointment
to have the brace repaired.
Often as the teeth move the archwire sticks out
at the back. If this scratches your cheek
come in to have the end cut off (ask reception
for a packet of wax in case this happens).
Q How do I clean my teeth?
A Since the brace is fixed you
cannot remove it for brushing. It is extremely important
to spend extra time brushing all around the brace
and especially the gums. If the dirt builds
up then your gums will bleed a lot (gingivitis)
and your teeth will decay. Special brushes
and fluoride mouthwashes for daily use can usually
be obtained from the receptionist of your dental
surgery
Q Will there be marks on my teeth when the brace
comes off?
A Poor cleaning and too many
fizzy drinks can cause permanent decay marks. The
importance of thorough brushing and the use of
a fluoride mouthwash cannot be emphasised enough.
Q What about sports?
A Contact sports such as rugby
present a problem since it is difficult to make
a gum shield that will fit over the brace. A
reasonable solution is to buy a cheap gumshield
from a sports shop which can be softened in hot
water and moulded over the brace.
Q How long before the brace is removed?
A It usually takes about 18 months,
occasionally longer, to straighten your teeth. "Traintrack" braces
are very good at straightening teeth so that they
look better in months. It is important to
remember, however, that if the brace is removed
too quickly before the teeth have settled into
their new positions, then the teeth tend to go
crooked again.
Q So how are the teeth kept straight after the
fixed brace is removed?
A Usually we make a removable
brace called a retainer to wear at nights for at
least 12 months. Sometimes a wire is fixed
to the insides of the teeth to hold them straight.
The process
Case 1
Before
With fixed appliance
After
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