Orthodontics

Orthodontics involves moving your teeth in order to straighten or realign them into a position which will improve the appearance of your smile.

As well as making your teeth look straighter, orthodontics can also help the function and bite of your teeth and jaw.

You might be a suitable candidate for orthodontic treatment if you have:

• crooked teeth
• overlapping teeth
• prominent or ‘sticking out’ teeth
• gaps between your teeth
• too many teeth for your mouth (overcrowding)
• bite problems
• jaw misalignment

Your dentist will be able to advise you on whether you will benefit from orthodontic treatment to address your particular problem

Traditionally, orthodontic treatment and braces were associated with children and teenagers but adults can and do wear braces these days and age is not really that important. There are a vast array of orthodontic treatments available today which are suitable for children, teenagers and adults alike.

If you’re an adult who never had the opportunity to straighten your crooked or overcrowded teeth as a teenager, it’s never too late to do something about it.

With all the advances in dental technology and the range of choices available in orthodontic appliances, there’s no reason not to have straight teeth and a beautiful smile.

Treatments can even be carried out subtly and discreetly with invisible braces or fixed brackets hidden behind your teeth-so nobody need know you’re even wearing a ‘brace’!

Orthodontic treatment might be suitable for adults for the following issues:

• Reducing overcrowded teeth to improve your smile
• Closing gaps between teeth to address a ‘goofy’ smile
• Realigning twisted or sticking-out teeth
• Moving teeth to accommodate a dental implant
• Realigning teeth for better cleaning to prevent gum disease & tooth loss
• Correcting bite problems

Contact us to book your no obligation complimentary consultation

Any dentist can offer orthodontic treatment without having undertaken extra post graduate qualifications in orthodontic treatment or being an orthodontist.

Having an experienced dentist who has carried out extra postgraduate training carry out your treatment will ensure you are being advised and treated by someone who is highly experienced and qualified in this particular area of dentistry.

There are a variety of orthodontic treatments available today.

These range from fixed braces which are available either with traditional metal brackets or more discreet, tooth coloured brackets to lingual braces which sit behind your teeth to removable braces which are made of clear and virtually ‘invisible’ aligners.

This will depend on your individual case and the results that you and your dentist are aiming to achieve.

Your dentist will be able to assess your suitability and give you more information and advice on the most suitable treatment options for you at your consultation appointment

It is sometimes necessary to create space in your mouth in order to move your teeth into the required position. Although many orthodontists remove teeth in order to achieve this, we aim to minimise or avoid removal of teeth in order to preserve your facial support structure and aesthetics.

Your dentist will advise you on the most suitable approach for you at your consultation appointment

The length of treatment will vary from one person to the next and will depend on how much work is involved in correcting your individual issue. Timescales can vary from as little as a few months for minor corrections to as long as two years for more complicated cases.

Your dentist will be able to give you an idea of the timescale involved to achieve the results you require before you start your treatment

When you first start orthodontic treatment, it can feel strange or uncomfortable wearing an appliance over your teeth or having something new in your mouth and there is usually an adjustment period involved. This should settle down once you get used to your orthodontic appliance.

Once your treatment is complete, your teeth should be in the position they need to be. In order to keep them straight, your dentist will recommend a retainer for you. This is an appliance which will hold your newly straightened teeth in place whilst the bone and gum surrounding your teeth stabilise and settle. Your retainers might be fixed to your teeth or they might be removable ones or a combination of the two, depending on what your dentist feels is best for you.

Orthodontic appliances used for your teeth straightening treatment will not cause damage to teeth. However, you do need to be thorough with your oral healthcare regime during orthodontic treatment and pay particular attention to cleaning both your teeth and any fixed brackets and braces effectively, as these can easily trap food.

It is quite normal for teeth to move throughout your life even if you have a retainer in place. It is impossible to predict whether your teeth will move or not as this varies for every individual. A permanent guarantee cannot therefore be given following orthodontic treatment.

Has your child been declined braces and orthodontic treatment on the NHS?

We are able to offer children orthodontic treatment on a fee paying basis at highly competitive rates Please call us for a second opinion or for further details