| What is orthodontic treatment? |
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Orthodontic treatment usually involves
the wearing of braces (removable or fixed) sometimes the extraction of
teeth, and very occasionally jaw surgery.
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| Why might I need orthodontic treatment? |
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There are 3 main reasons for having orthodontic
treatment :
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To improve the
appearance of the teeth and face |
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To improve the health of the
teeth and gums |
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To improve function i.e. to
make it easier to eat |
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| What type of braces are there? |
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There are those which can be removed for |
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cleaning known as removale braces. |
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The second type of brace is fixed |
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| How long will the treatment take? |
Treatment with braces usually takes
between 6 - 24 months to complete.
|
| If teeth need to be extracted who will
do this? |
| Your
own dentist usually does this. |
How
often will I need an appointment? |
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Once your brace has been fitted you
will need frequent and regular
appointments for it to be adjusted.
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| Will
the brace affect what I can eat? |
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In order to prevent damage to both your teeth and
brace, you will need to avoid the following:
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Toffees, boiled
sweets, sugared chewing gum, chocolate |
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Fizzy drinks including diet
drinks, excessive amounts of fruit juice |
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Hard foods which
might damage the brace such as crunchy apples,
crusty bread. Hard foods can be eaten with care,
if you cut them up first. |
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| Will orthodontic treatment damage my teeth? |
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It is important
you brush your teeth well, three times per day and use a fluoride toothpaste.
A fluoride mouthrinse should also be used last thing at night. Failure to
keep your teeth and brace clean will lead to permanent scarring of your teeth.
Having orthodontic treatment to improve the appearance of the teeth will be pointless
if such scarring is allowed to occur. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you
still have examinations with your regular dentist throughout orthodontic treatment
so that your teeth can be checked for decay. |
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| Will I still be able to play contact sports? |
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Yes, but it is recommended you wear a gum shield when
doing so. This will also be the case if you enjoy riding a bicycle,
roller-skating or skateboarding. |
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| What if I play a music instrument? |
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If you play a wind instrument,
particularly the flute or a brass instrument, then a fixed brace
may make it more difficult. You will need to discuss
this with your music teacher. |
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| How successful is orthodontic treatment? |
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This very much depends on your commitment to the treatment.
As a general rule, patients who co-operate well with treatment get
good results, whilst those who do not, get poor results. Unless retainers
are worn in the longer term some settling and growth changes may
occur after treatment. |
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