The oldest and most well-proven system for teeth straightening and correcting bite problems is traditional metal braces. But just because they’ve been around forever, doesn’t mean the technology is old. These days there is a huge variety of options either to conceal your braces or to celebrate them.
Explore the questions below for everything you need to know.
These are still the most commonly used braces and are much smaller and flatter than years ago making them less obvious and more comfortable, but still one of the most effective teeth straightening methods. Braces can be thought of as the handle on your teeth but it is the wire that does the work.
Your Clear Choice Orthodontist will change or adjust your wires to move your teeth into the correct positions to achieve your beautiful new smile.
So, want to stand out from the crowd?
Then coloured braces are for you! You can choose from a wide range of colours for your braces to match your sports team or express yourself and match your outfit. Subtle or stand out, the choice is yours and you can choose a new colour scheme every time you come in to have your braces adjusted.
Looking for something more discreet?
Clear braces are much like traditional fixed metal braces only the brackets are made from ceramic or plastic and are tooth-coloured, so they blend in with your own teeth making them much less visible. Modern clear braces are small, strong, and are a popular option amongst some adults and teens seeking something less obvious, but just as effective for teeth straightening.
Thanks to the well-proven process and easy access to your teeth both at time of fitting and regular adjustments, traditional braces are probably the most cost-effective option. Everyone’s treatment plan is different, but an average cost for braces on both the top and bottom arch is $ 6500 over 12-24 months.
We offer a number of payment plans that break down the cost into a very manageable series of monthly instalments so that you’re not left with a credit card debt at the end, just a beautiful, natural smile.
When we’re working with your teeth we have to allow time for them to move in your gums. Depending on the degree of complexity in rotating, tipping and other movements of your teeth you should anticipate your braces to be on for at least 12 months and up to 24. Some complex cases last up to 36 months
Your mouth will be quite sensitive at first because the archwires of your braces place a degree of force on your teeth in order to effect a change and get them to move. Some paracetamol or ibuprofen will relieve the discomfort and within a couple of days you will feel normal again.
The sensation will return at each appointment but disappear just as quickly, and your braces will carry on their task of teeth straightening unnoticed.
No, your braces won’t change the way you speak for anything more than a day or two after fitting. Initially your tongue will be uncomfortable as it touches your teeth when you form words, but as soon as your mouth adjusts you will go back to speaking as clearly as ever.
At first, they will feel strange. Your teeth will be tender for a few days after fitting and again at each subsequent adjustment, but a mild analgesic will minimise the discomfort. The brackets will feel foreign for a couple of days too, but you will quickly become used to them. It’s likely that you will run your tongue over the new items in your mouth quite a bit at first but that’s not a problem and you will soon stop.
We will give you some wax that you can use to minimise the rubbing of your lips and cheek against one or more brackets on your teeth. Again, this will be a short-lived experience and as your mouth toughens up a little you won’t feel the irritation anymore.
For the first couple of days after fitting or your regular adjustment you will want to eat only soft foods like soup, jelly and ice-cream. After that you can eat practically what you like. The only rules are that you avoid extra hard foods like nuts, popcorn (the unpopped kernels) and hard biscuits, and sticky foods like caramel, chewy lollies and so on. This is because they can cause a bracket to dislodge and if a bracket isn’t bonded with your tooth, your braces aren’t doing anything to move it, so your treatment may take longer.
When you first visit us we will examine your teeth and talk to you about your concerns. We will take some photos, and perhaps even a dental mould so that we can get a good handle on what actions to take to enhance your smile or correct a bite problem. We’ll make recommendations on what your options are and if you choose traditional braces we’ll talk you through the process in detail. On the day of your fitting we may place 4 bands around your back teeth. These act as anchor points for your archwires – the thin metal wire that does most of the work.
We’ll glue brackets to your other teeth and we’ll connect them to your archwires. We will adjust the archwires to commence rotating or moving your teeth into a better position and then you’ll be on your way to a great new smile.
Braces were used to realign the crooked teeth and eliminate crowding issues.
In this case Braces were used to realign the teeth eliminating crowding.
…so your treatment will be as well.
Your local Orthodontist will be able to discuss all of the options available for you, including Traditional Metal Braces, and work out the ideal treatment plan for you.
So click the link below to find your nearest Clear Choice Orthodontist and get ready for your new smile.
all Orthodontists are qualified dentists
they then study for an additional 3 years
including 5,000 hours of practical training
specialists in correcting misaligned teeth and jaws
