Thomas Orthodontics Ltd
Why Braces?
Very few of us were born with perfectly aligned jaws and teeth. A combination of genetics, oral hygiene, and individual tooth developments can result in an imperfect smile and/or poor function. Many people go through their lives with daily tooth-related insecurity. Orthodontics can change this completely! After your braces come off, you’ll feel more self- confident and willing to let your smile shine.
How Orthodontic Treatment Works
Orthodontic appliances can be made of metal, ceramic or plastic. They may be removable or they may be brackets bonded to the teeth. By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces slowly move teeth to a corrected position. You can often choose brackets that are clear or metal, and you can choose the color of the ties that hold the wire in the brackets. Wires are also less noticeable than they used to be, and the latest materials move teeth faster with less discomfort to patients.
Duration Of Orthodontic Treatment
Treatment time depends on the growth of the patient’s mouth and face, and the severity of the problem. Patients grow at different rates and will respond variously to orthodontic treatment, so the time until case completion is difficult to estimate. The average treatment time is two years.
Some reasons for delayed treatment time are:
Skeletal variations. (Correcting bone growth is more time consuming)
Bone density. Patients with dense bone tend to have slower tooth movement. Some teeth are even fused to the surrounding bone, (ankylosed).
Dental mid lines not centered with face.
Systemic health issues.
Poor compliance.
Impacted teeth.
The patient’s diligent use of any prescribed rubber bands as well as proper oral hygiene is an important factor in achieving the most efficient treatment. Interceptive or early treatment procedures may take as few as six months.