About Braces

The benefit of having a nice smile is obvious. It can enhance confidence and self-esteem. Once you have invested in your smile, you can wear it for the rest of your life !

Braces straighten teeth without cutting the enamel and causing irreversible damage to the tooth structure. Many forward thinking dentists are advising orthodontic treatment over multiple crowns and veneers just for that reason.The benefit of preserving the health of the teeth far outweighs the longer timescale involved to achieve a cosmetic result.

The concept of “Braces” has moved on! It is acceptable for adults to wear braces. Modern braces can be very discrete… Tooth-coloured braces don’t stand out. Invisible braces can be kept a secret. People are so delighted with their invisible braces that they tell all their friends!! In most cases, wearing braces is the sensible way to straighten teeth.

An informed patient is our best patient. That’s why we make sure you know everything you should about your options and how the treatment will progress. From your very first visit, we’ll work with you to explain everything from the apparent problem all the way to maintaining the finished results

Your First Visit

What should you expect when you first visit an orthodontist? You should be told what the problem appears to be; what tests are necessary to properly diagnose the problem and formulate a treatment plan, and whether now is the right time to begin therapy or, whether it’s best to wait until a future date.

Once a patient is informed that orthodontic therapy is recommended, he or she should be told why it is in their best interest to undergo such treatment. Common reasons include:

Cosmetics (crooked teeth, overbite, etc.)

To facilitate other dental work (to properly position teeth for future capping, bridges or implants)

To correct a jaw discrepancy or skeletal disharmony (bite is off)

To help a patient maintain their periodontal status (health of the supporting gums and bone)

The Diagnosis

The next step is gathering necessary information by obtaining diagnostic records. They usually consist of :

X-rays of the teeth to determine how sound they are and whether the bony support for them is adequate

A film of the skull to see the relationship of the teeth to the jaws and the jaws to one another

Photographs of the face to assess one’s profile and the effect that any proposed tooth or jaw movement may have

A clinical exam to check for cavities and gum disease, and

A review of the patient’s medical history as there are many underlying physical problems that can impact on the success or failure of orthodontic therapy

The Diagnosis

A consultation between the doctor or one of the office staff and the patient will then follow. At the consultation you should be explained the actual problem – in a language you can understand. You should be told why correction is advised and how it is to be achieved. You should also be informed of all reasonable alternative methods of resolving your particular problem.

As no form of medical treatment is without some risks, limitations, or compromises, you should be made aware of those that pertain to your specific situation. Next, you should be told what result you can expect from undergoing orthodontic therapy, and finally, what will occur if no treatment is undertaken.

At this time the fee for the services to be rendered should be discussed in full and suitable financial arrangements should be made to the satisfaction of both you and your doctor. Make sure that you have had the chance to ask and have answered all your questions regarding the proposed treatment plan, how long your treatment should take, and the financial responsibilities you are assuming.

Treatment

It is now time to begin treatment. The appliances or braces will be specifically tailored to your particular problem. You may require removable and/or permanent appliances. Once they are attached to your teeth, make sure you have been given careful instructions on how to care for them. Check to be sure that your doctor will either be available or has made provisions for coverage if an emergency (breakage) arises.

You need to be told that you have certain responsibilities to meet in order to achieve the best results possible. Some of these are:

Maintaining good oral hygiene

Wearing rubber bands or a headgear as instructed

Keeping your regularly scheduled appointments

Continuing to see your general dentist at least twice a year unless your orthodontist recommends otherwise.

Retention Care

At the completion of active treatment, you will undergo a period of retention care. This phase of treatment is necessary to evaluate and help maintain the results achieved. An appropriate retainer will be fabricated to maximize the stability of the finished result. Remember, nothing lasts forever and some movement of your teeth during the years is normal and to be expected.

Conclusion

Orthodontic therapy carries many benefits. Evaluating these can only be done if you have been given sufficient information on which to base your decision to undergo care. You have a right to know. To be educated is to be able to choose wisely. We look forward to helping you take advantage of all those rights.