Max Dental

Fixed Brackets – Braces

Using ceramic (clear) braces on the front teeth and metal brackets/bands on the back teeth, we have optimal ability to move individual teeth and their roots. These very esthetic braces are bonded (cemented) directly to the teeth, and they will minimally interfere with your functioning. The braces are combined with stainless steel wires of various thickness, and elastic thread/chains to move teeth along a prescribed path.

The braces are delicate, and they can be dislodged from the teeth if you eat hard or sticky foods (see the previous list of foods to avoid).

Elastics

• Attached to your braces, Elastics (rubber bands) are sometime used with fixed appliances. They exert the proper force that creates pressure to move teeth. In order for this force to remain constant, elastics must be worn all the time and changed every day. Any time missed in wearing your elastics will only make your treatment take longer, so remember these things:
• Make sure to wear the elastics as instructed. Remove them only when brushing your teeth, gums and braces. Then put them back on immediately.
• Always carry a few elastics with you, so if one breaks you can replace it right away. If your supply is low, call the office and we will mail you an additional supply of elastics.
• If you forget to insert your elastics one day, don’t double up the next day – just follow your regular instructions.
• If elastics are to be worn on both sides, do not use them on one side only.
• Elastics become worn out. When they lose their elasticity, they don’t provide the proper pressure on your teeth. It is very important to change them as directed, even when they are not broken.
• If your elastics break frequently, a wire or band loosens, or a hook breaks off – call our office immediately. Don’t wait until your next appointment. These problems need to be corrected as soon as possible!

How do fixed brackets (braces) straighten crooked teeth?

Braces use constant, gentle pressure, which over time move teeth into their proper position. The two main components of your braces are: the brackets that are placed on your teeth, and the main archwire that connects them. The bracket is a piece of shaped metal or ceramic that is attached to each tooth. The archwire is bent to reflect your “ideal” bite. In other words, it reflects the way we want your teeth to be positioned after treatment.

The arch wire threads through the brackets and, as the wire tries to return to its original shape, it applies pressure to move your teeth. Elastic forces are applied to your braces to assist in movement of the teeth.

Retainers

“Once your teeth are properly positioned, your braces will be removed. Impressions will be taken, and retainers will be inserted to hold your teeth in their new positions until your bone, gums, and muscles adapt to the corrected position of your teeth.

There are a number of choices for retainers, and we will decide which is best for you. Some are thin clear trays which are worn over the teeth. Another option is the use of a removable plastic retainer, incorporating thin stainless steel wire to support the teeth. Often, a “permanent” retainer is bonded behind the lower front teeth to make certain those teeth, which have a tendency to shift after the completion of orthodontic treatment, are as stabile as possible.

If the removable retainers are not worn as instructed, your teeth may move toward their original positions, and the benefits achieved in correcting your malocclusion will be lost. The lower bonded retainer can break if hard or sticky foods are chewed in the lower front area.

Because the retention requirements for each of our patients vary, Dr. Vaishali Desai will determine how long you need to wear your retainers. Some people may need retainers for an extended period of time in order to eliminate shifting of the teeth. The retention period is an important part of your overall treatment and should not be neglected!

Handle your removable retainers with care, because they are easy to lose or break. If you take your retainers out, always place them in your retainer case for safety.

Invisible or Incognito Braces

Braces are one of the safest and most effective ways to improve your smile. Children and Adults alike can benefit from the use of braces in combating several common dental conditions. These include; teeth that are misaligned (also known as malocclusion) over or, underbite, crossbite and teeth which are excessively crowded together or spaced too far apart. The benefits of braces don’t stop at the purely cosmetic, but can improve your overall dental health by reducing the amount of stress which is placed on your jaw and gums. Traditional braces are made from metal wires and brackets which are placed on the front of your upper and lower teeth. Due to this, some people who could benefit from braces are put off by having to wear such obvious and ugly equipment for extended periods. Fortunately, there’s now more options for orthodontal treatment than ever before and in cases such as this there’s now the option of lingual braces.

What are Lingual braces?

Lingual braces work in much the same way as their traditional counterparts. However there’s one important cosmetic difference; the lack of the usual metal supports on the front of your teeth. In the past braces could only be fit in a certain position; right on the front of your teeth but due to developments in dental technology this is no longer the case. The key difference with Lingual Braces is that they can be placed on the rear of your teeth, hiding the majority of the metal parts. This means that they can realign your teeth just as effectively as a traditional brace but without the aesthetic worries.

How are Lingual Braces fit?

Firstly, our specialist will need you to press your teeth into a mould in order to take an impression of them. This mould is then sent off to a specialist laboratory where each bracket in your lingual brace is custom made to fit your teeth. In order to help the brackets remain in the correct shape they are usually set in wax and kept safely inside a plastic applicator. During your follow-up visit your dentist will transfer the brackets to the back of your teeth and cement them in place. It’s usual to have several follow up visits with your dentist in order to monitor your progress.

Lingual braces have several advantages over their traditional counterparts. The main advantage is cosmetic, as Lingual braces aren’t visible from the front which makes them an excellent option for patients who wish to avoid the highly-visible traditional braces. In addition to being completely invisible, your lingual braces will strengthen and realign your teeth in the same time frame as traditional braces (which can vary from case to case but usually requires braces to be worn for a number of months). In many cases traditional braces aren’t suited to patients who play contact sports or certain wind instruments making Lingual braces the safest and most convenient option. Lingual braces can be used on patients of any age (as opposed to other types of invisible brace which have to be used early on in life) and are increasingly popular in older patients who want dental treatment without the orthodontic equipment interfering with their day to day life. Also, lingual braces can be a great alternative to patients who are sensitive to plastic and as such, can’t use any invisible braces made of it.

What’s it like living with Lingual Braces?

As not all orthodontists are trained in the use of Lingual braces there can be some issues which occur with access to treatment for follow-up visits. Wearing any kind of brace will have some affect on certain parts of your lifestyle and in addition, lingual braces usually tend to cost more than their traditional counterparts. This is due to the fact that the treatment requires specialist training, customised brackets and computer-aided design technology. Therefore it’s important to take all these factors into consideration and discuss them with your dentist before deciding to have the treatment. As lingual braces are placed on the inside surface of your teeth, they may take a while longer to adjust to than traditional braces. There can be issues with food getting trapped and catching your tongue on the brace but most patients fully adapt to having the brace within a few days. Patients with lingual braces can eat relatively normally but it’s important to avoid certain foods and snacks such as chewing gum or sticky toffee. Similarly it’s important to avoid hard foods and fizzy drinks and in some cases an excess of fruit juice can also cause damage your braces. It’s usual for your dentist to advise regular visits to the hygienist as it’s easier for food to become trapped in lingual braces, due to their position. Lingual braces may affect your speech and some patients develop a slight lisp or have problems forming certain words but this is usually temporary.

It may be necessary at some stage of the treatment to be assigned some extra dental gear to wear in the evenings or at night in order to provide extra pressure to your teeth to help them move in the right way. After the initial treatment period is finished you’re usually required to carry on using a retaining brace so your teeth won’t revert to their former position. This can either be fixed or removable and the length of time you’ll need to use this for varies greatly from case to case. Most patients wear braces for between 1 to 3 years before a positive result is achieved.

What results can I expect?

Your lingual brace will help aid your teeth to grow straight by applying small but continuous pressure to your teeth. After treatment you should see a noticeable cosmetic difference in the appearance of your teeth and any problems with crowding, gaps, overbites or underbites should be fixed.