Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontics is the science and art of creating a healthy, beautiful smile.
Most people know that orthodontic treatment can give you a stunning smile. What is less well-known is what that smile shows: healthy, properly-functioning teeth. Although orthodontics is often viewed as a cosmetic treatment, it is actually an important part of long term health care.
Whether you have been referred to us by your dentist or are considering having orthodontic treatment independently, you will find answers to some common questions on this page.
You can download a leaflet about orthodontics by clicking here.
If you have a question that is not answered below, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Why is orthodontic treatment important?
Why might I need orthodontic treatment?
What is involved in orthodontic treatment?
Is orthodontic treatment painful?
How will a brace affect me?
What are the risks of orthodontic treatment?
Is orthodontic treatment possible for everyone?
When should orthodontic treatment start?
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
How successful is orthodontic treatment?
Is orthondontic treatment permanent?
How often will I need to see the Orthodontist?
Must I still see my dentist?
Who is eligible for NHS treatment?
Who is eligible for private treatment?
Why is orthodontic treatment important?
Orthodontic problems such as protruding teeth, gaps between teeth and jaw misalignment are often visible to the casual observer. However, what most people don’t realise that that these problems are not just aesthetic – leaving them untreated can lead to long-term health issues like abnormal tooth wear, gum disease, jaw joint problems and even digestive difficulties.
Of course, the confidence that a beautiful smile can bring should not be undervalued. Our patients consistently point out improved self-esteem as a major benefit of their orthodontic treatment. And don’t forget; the results of orthodontic treatment last a lifetime.
Why might I need orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontic treatment is primarily intended to improve the operation of the teeth, making eating easier and preventing the development of problems that could have occurred if the teeth were left in position. In serious cases, such as those meeting NHS guidelines, the improvement in function can be dramatic.
From a practical point of view, the improved appearance of the smile is just a bonus, but to our patients it is often one of the most highly valued outcomes of treatment.
Each of the orthodontic problems outlined below can occur alone, but in many cases more than one problem occurs simultaneously. It takes time and expertise to work out a treatment plan that will bring the best results with minimum inconvenience.
Ultimately, orthodontic treatment in combination with good dental hygiene results in healthier and more beautiful smile.
Orthodontic problems and their effects
Overbite
- Top teeth are positioned too far in front of lower teeth
- Can affect ability to eat by making it more difficult to bite into foods
Underbite
- Top teeth are positioned behind lower teeth
- Can affect ability to eat by making it more difficult bite into foods
Crossbite
- Top and bottom teeth are horizontally misaligned
- Can affect ability to eat by making it harder to chew foods and can cause uneven tooth surface wear
Deepbite
- Top teeth are too close to lower gums when biting down
Openbite
- Top and bottom teeth do not meet properly when biting
- Can lead to tongue protrusion and speech impediments as well as affecting ability to eat by making it harder to bite into foods
Crowding
- Teeth are too close together
- Brushing and flossing are more difficult, can lead to tooth decay and gum disease
Spacing
- Gaps between teeth, either through development or tooth loss
- Can affect ability to eat by making it harder to bite and/or chew foods and can cause speech impediments
Impacted teeth
- Adult teeth that emerge in the wrong position or not at all
Midline alignment
- Centrelines of top and bottom teeth do not match
Protruding teeth
- Top and/or bottom teeth protrude forwards at an angle
- Teeth can become more prone to chipping and can affect ability to eat by making it harder to bite into foods.
What is involved in orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontic treatment is comprised of two stages; the active treatment phase and the retention phase. Active treatment is achieved by fitting braces that gradually correct the position of the teeth and ends when the braces have been removed. There are different types of brace, the most common of which are removable braces and fixed braces. The retention phase starts after the active phase is complete and usually requires that you wear a removable retainer to keep the teeth in their new positions. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove one or more teeth before orthodontic treatment can start. If so, the extraction(s) will be done by your dentist or at the hospital.
You can find out more about different types of braces and retainers in the About Braces section.
We offer a choice of treatment options, depending on each patient’s particular case, including discrete braces and invisible ClearStep™ aligners for private patients.
Is orthodontic treatment painful?
Having a brace fitted is not painful but your teeth and gums are likely to be sore for 3-5 days each time the brace is adjusted.
If you have removable brace, you will find speech and swallowing saliva more difficult at first. If you have a fixed brace you will need to spend longer cleaning your teeth and avoid chewy, sticky and hard foods that might damage the brace. You will still be able to play sports but for any contact sport or exercise where you may impact your head (including cycling, skateboarding, etc.) you should wear a protective mouthguard. If you have a fixed brace and play a wind instrument, particularly the flute or a brass instrument, it may be more difficult. You will need to discuss this with your music teacher.
What are the risks of orthodontic treatment?
There are always risks associated with any medical treatment. The risks of orthodontic treatment that follow are not common but do occur, so you should be aware of them. We take every care to minimise these risks but unforeseen events and some individual responses to treatment are impossible to predict.
Decalcification: Braces will not normally damage your teeth but failure to keep your teeth and brace clean will lead to permanent scarring of your teeth and may cause your gums to become very swollen. In extreme cases, unsatisfactory oral hygiene may force us to discontinue your treatment.
Devitalisation: In rare cases, the nerve of a tooth may die during treatment. This is more likely if you have previously knocked or damaged a tooth, so you should inform us if this applies to you at your first appointment. The death of a nerve does not necessarily mean you will loose the tooth; your dentist may be able to save it using root canal therapy. If a tooth changes colour or becomes particularly painful you should inform us immediately.
Root resorption: Orthodontic braces always cause minor changes to the roots of your teeth such as shortening or blunting. These are not normally a problem but can occasionally be more serious. It is sometimes possible to tell if you are at risk, but not always. If extensive root resorption occurs, it may be necessary to slow down treatment or discontinue it altogether. In rare cases of extreme root resorption, it is possible for the tooth to be lost.
Is orthodontic treatment possible for everyone?
Modern orthodontic treatments are suitable for everyone – children, adolescents and adults. Age is not usually a limiting factor; the condition of the teeth and gums is much more important. If you would like more information about orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child please do not hesitate to contact us.
When should orthodontic treatment start?
An orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age but there is usually an optimal time period that will give the best result in the least amount of time.
Ideally, an initial examination should take place before a child reaches seven(?) years of age. By this time, the first adult molars emerge, establishing the back bite. Treatment may not be necessary immediately or at all but early detection of problems allows us to provide more effective treatment. We work together with your dentist to monitor growth and in order to start treatment at the best time.
A timely first exam can help us to prevent later problems by giving us the chance to:
-
Create room for crowded, erupting teeth
-
Create facial symmetry through influencing jaw growth
-
Reduce the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
-
Preserve space for unerupted teeth
-
Reduce the need for tooth removal
-
Reduce treatment time with braces
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
It will depend on your particular case. Treatment usually takes 6-24 months. Retainers are then worn to keep the teeth in place.
How successful is orthodontic treatment?
Your treatment should be successful if you are committed to it. You will need to take care of your teeth and brace, attend regular appointments and follow the Orthodontist's instructions. Bad oral hygiene, missed appointments and repeated breakage of the brace will all extend the duration of your treatment and, in extreme cases, may force us to discontinue it altogether. If this happens, your teeth may be left in a worse position than when you started treatment.
Is orthodontic treatment permanent?
After your active treatment has finished, you will need to wear a removable retainer to keep your teeth in their new positions. You will need to wear the retainer full time initially and progress to night time wear over the course of several months. How often and how long you need to wear the retainer will depend on the severity of your initial case and the type of tooth movements acheived by your brace during active treatment. When you stop wearing the retainer, your teeth will probably move a little. As you grow older, changes to the position of your teeth will be part of the normal aging process. Like the success of orthodontic treatment, the permanence of treatment depends on how well you follow the advice given to you by your Orthodontist on how often and how long to wear your retainer.
How often will I need to see the Orthodontist?
You will need to see your Orthodontist frequently and regularly for the brace to be adjusted. Missed appointments, either through cancellation or non-attendance, or repeated breakages of the brace will increase the length of time treatment will take. If you fail to attend two appointments in a row, repeatedly miss or cancel appointments leading to long intervals between visits or repeatedly break your brace, we may be forced to discontinue your treatment.
Yes. You should still have regular checkups throughout orthodontic treatment.
Who is eligible for NHS treatment?
We can offer NHS treatment for children (under 18 years of age) if their orthodontic case is serious enough to meet NHS guidelines. Eligibilty for NHS treatment is based on the IOTN, an objective and reliable way for specialists to select those children who will benefit most from treatment.
Who is eligible for Private treatment?
We offer affordable private treatment for both adults and children with the option of an in-house, interest free payment plan. Advances in discrete and invisible braces are allowing an ever increasing number of adults to have orthodontic treatment with minimum disruption to their daily lives. Parents sometimes opt for private treatment if their child’s case does not qualify them for NHS treatment, if they would like discrete braces or if they prefer appointments to be outside school hours.
You can find out more about private treatment in the Private Treatment section.
Whether or not you choose private treatment, rest assured that we provide the same high standard of patient care and clinical excellence to both our NHS and private patients.