FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Orthodontics is the speciality of dentistry concerned with the
diagnosis, management and treatment of irregularities and abnormalities of the teeth,
face and jaws.
Treatment is by the use of braces to improve the position of teeth, and in a growing
patient, the modification of growth of the jaws, helping to correct discrepancies
in the jaw size and improve a patient's facial appearance.
Improved function of the teeth
Prevention of trauma to prominent teeth
Improved
dental health and increased resistance to dental disease.
Increased self-confidence
Some problems are obvious, but others can only be spotted by a
dental professional. One reason to keep your regular dental checkups is so that
your dentist can identify a developing problem and refer you for an orthodontic
consultation. Approximately 1/3 of 12 year old children will need orthodontic treatment.
Everyone grows at different rates, but at around age 9 years, an
assessment can be made as to the best time at which to start treatment and sometimes
an early diagnosis leads to early treatment which helps reduce treatment times in
the future. This is especially important if a discrepancy in jaw development requires
correction.
The majority of orthodontic treatment with fixed braces is carried out during the
teenage years.
No. More and more adults are requesting orthodontic treatment,
either because they missed out as children, or have seen at first hand what can
be done as they follow their own children’s orthodontic treatment!
Approximately 80% of patients need to have teeth removed because
of overcrowding or to create space to reduce prominent teeth and your own dentist
would normally do this.
Usually a fixed brace is adjusted on average, every 8 weeks, with
a range of 6 - 10 weeks depending on what is happening with your brace.
Having a brace fitted does not need any injections or drilling,
and the main sensation is of occasional pressure as the parts of the brace are glued
onto the teeth. It takes about a week to get used to the brace and occasionally
some patients need to take a couple of painkillers after 24 hours when the brace
starts to work.
Paracetamol is probably the best, but make sure that you follow
the manufacturer’s instructions. Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs
can be taken by those with no contra-indications. If the brace is rubbing,
use the wax that was demonstrated when you had the brace fitted.
All the materials used in braces have been chosen so that they
do not interact with the teeth or gums. The glues used often release fluoride to
help protect the enamel from the most common cause of damage to the teeth - POOR
TOOTHBRUSHING.
Brush after each meal and before bedtime - that’s at least 4 times
a day, and you should take your toothbrush to school. It takes about 5 minutes to
clean your brace.
Various toothbrushes are shown to you when the brace is fitted, together with recommendations
for fluoride mouthwash and fluoride toothpaste. We keep the recommended stock of
products at reception.
Fixed braces don’t affect speech, but removable braces and retainers
that have a plastic palate will cause slight speech problems for 1-2 days.
Most wind instrument players can adapt to play with the brace,
and the more accomplished you are, the easier it will be. Some brass instrument
players may find that pressure from the mouthpiece can be uncomfortable the more
the instrument is pushed against the lips.
Yes. Removable braces should be taken out for contact sports and
swimming and placed in a protective brace box. For fixed braces, gum shields will
inevitably be a compromise because the teeth are moving, and any gum shield that
fits over a brace will have to be slightly bigger than normal. Gum shields from
sports shops that can be adapted in hot water are usually sufficient, alternatively,
we stock a silicone based gum shield designed specifically for fixed braces.
Fixed braces - Normal “wear and tear” may result in occasional
breakages to the wires and brackets of the brace, and sometimes a wire may start
to stick out at the back.
If this is causing you pain and discomfort, please Contact us as soon as possible
for advice.
Constant breakages due to careless actions will always result in longer treatment
times.
Removable braces - please bring the brace with you as we will try
and repair it in our laboratory. There may be a charge to replace a broken brace
that is beyond repair. If you lose your brace please let us know as soon as possible,
and if a replacement is needed, there will be a charge.
Most treatments with a fixed brace are completed in 18 months,
plus a further 12 months with retainers.
Retainers help to stabilize the teeth after they have been moved by an orthodontic
brace. They can be removable or fixed, depending on what the orthodontist feels
is appropriate. Removable retainers are usually worn full time for 6 months, then
night time for 6 months. Fixed retainers are usually permanent for life.
Yes. Relapse is when the teeth start to return to their original
positions, especially if teeth were rotated, spaced or severely overcrowded. The
commonest cause of relapse is failure to wear the retainers.
Some patients (about 3/4) continue to grow in their late teens, and this can affect
the position of the teeth, especially the lower incisors. These patients may well
need to continue wearing their retainers during their early 20‘s.
Yes. For the child’s first visit we need a parent (or legal guardian) to accompany
a child under 16 in order to consent for examination/treatment. A parent
may be needed on further occasions only if the child was not ready to start treatment,
or if we are experiencing problems during treatment, such as poor cooperation with
instructions or toothbrushing.
Parents are welcome in the surgery if they wish, although it is
not necessary for children to be accompanied at every visit. Orthodontics is a “non-invasive”
speciality, with no drilling or injections needed, and as such can be an ideal opportunity
for children to get used to the idea of being in the dentists chair by themselves.
Yes. You should see your dentist for your normal dental checkups
whilst you are having your orthodontic treatment.
90% of our patients are of school age, and in order to run an efficient
and effective service, the majority of appointment times will fall inside school
hours. Schools have a legal obligation to allow pupils time off for medical and
dental appointments and we are more than happy to supply written confirmation of
appointment times if requested. We can usually schedule appointments to coincide
with a different lesson each time. We are sensitive to the needs of patients sitting
their GCSE and A-level exams, and will try to be flexible in these situations.
The general rule is that if you are late for your appointment,
then in fairness to other patients who are on time, we will give you the option
of re-booking or waiting until a suitable time becomes available. Where longer appointments
are concerned, for example, new patient consultations, fitting or removing fixed
braces, then it is unlikely that a suitable time will be available that day, and
rebooking will be necessary. Please take into account that road traffic in the city
is very heavy, especially in the morning and journey times will be correspondingly
longer.
NHS treatment is free, and our contract with the PCT allows us
to treat patients on the NHS up to and including 17 years of age. We are allowed
however to charge a fee for replacing a lost or irreparable brace.
We will always offer appointments to see patients who are in pain within 24
hours. True emergencies are very rare during orthodontic treatment,
and most problems can be dealt with by using painkillers, or even cutting a wire
with scissors. If in doubt, please contact us for advice during normal office hours,
or NHS Direct outside normal hours.