Dental braces
For teens and adults whose teeth need moving further than a removable tray can manage.
Fixed braces bond a small bracket to each tooth and move them with a wire Dr. Malik tightens every few weeks. They handle the crowding, rotation and bite problems that removable trays cannot, and every adjustment happens in this building.
Signs you might need braces.
- Teeth overlap or twist so far that floss will not pass between them.
- Your top and bottom teeth do not meet properly when you bite down.
- A tooth is drifting into a gap where one was lost.
- Your teen's adult teeth have come through crowded or crooked.
- You were told aligners would not move your teeth far enough.
Braces, step by step.
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01
Assessment
Dr. Malik looks at your bite, your jaw and how crowded the teeth are, with X-rays. If clear trays could do the job, or nothing needs doing, he says so.
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02
Planning the movement
A scan or moulds of both jaws show how far each tooth has to travel. You see the plan and a range of months before a single bracket goes on.
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03
Fitting
A bracket is bonded to the front of each tooth and joined to the next by a wire, in one visit and with no needles. Wax covers any edge that rubs your cheek while you get used to them.
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04
Adjustment visits
At each visit the wire is changed or tightened, and Dr. Malik checks the teeth are moving the way the plan says. Brush carefully around the brackets in between, because that is where decay starts.
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05
Retainers
When the teeth are in position the brackets come off and the teeth are polished. A retainer, worn mostly at night, keeps them from drifting back.
How we bill braces.
Braces are quoted as one price for the whole course, from fitting to removal. Orthodontic cover is usually a separate part of a dental plan with a lifetime maximum, so check whether yours extends to adults.
Ask us what it will costDental braces, answered.
Am I too old for braces?
No. Teeth move at any age as long as the gums and bone around them are healthy, and plenty of adults wear braces. If you would rather nobody noticed, ask whether clear aligners suit your case.
What can I eat with braces?
Most things, cut small. Hard and sticky food, such as whole apples, nuts, toffee and popcorn, can snap a bracket off, so those wait until the braces come off.
How long do braces take?
Often a year or two, less for mild crowding. Dr. Malik gives you a range before anything is fitted, and missed adjustments or broken brackets are what usually stretch it.
Do braces hurt?
Teeth feel tender for a few days after each adjustment; over-the-counter pain relief and soft food get you through it. If a wire is poking your cheek, call us and we fix it.
