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Information on Braces (known as 'Appliances')
Here at the Grosvenor Orthodontic Clinic we believe it is important to provide prospective orthodontic patients with as much information as possible. This page of our website is intended to provide information on what an orthodontic brace is made up of, how they are worn and how to look after them.
The purpose of any brace or appliance is to use gentle and constant pressure in order to move your teeth into a new and straighter position - usually to straighten your teeth. There are different types of braces and the brace you will be instructed to wear will depend on your course of orthodontic treatment. The brace might be:
Removable
A removable brace is a plastic plate with delicate wires and springs attached. As the name suggests, this appliance can be removed for cleaning. All appliances are made in a special orthodontic laboratory. Fitting and adjusting the removable brace is relatively simple and will not take long.
Removable braces incorporate various types of springs to tip and tilt the teeth into position but they are not able to apply rotational or bodily movement to teeth. Removable appliances are worn 24/7 (except when you are eating, swimming or playing contact sports) and are commonly worn as part of more straightforward orthodontic treatments. Wearing a removable brace may produce more saliva in your mouth and you may find it harder to talk and swallow for a while, but these symptoms will rapidly disappear.
Fixed
Individual brackets are stuck directly to the teeth and connected by flexible wires which are tightened at regular intervals. If a fixed brace is recommended, you may be able to choose between ceramic (tooth-coloured) or metal brackets. Fixed appliances are glued directly to the teeth, which is why they are called fixed braces as they are not removable by the patient. They are individually constructed in the mouth and are highly sophisticated pieces of precision engineering.
With fixed braces, individual control of each tooth is possible which means that detailed positioning and a high standard of finish can be obtained. Fitting and adjusting fixed braces is a highly skilled and lengthy process. During the first few days of wearing your fixed brace, your teeth may feel tender to bite with but you will soon get used to the appliance and any tenderness will go. Fixed appliances can't harm teeth but it is important to keep them clean.
Functional
Worn on the upper and lower teeth at the same time. By connecting the two removable braces, the power of the jaw muscles is applied to move the teeth in tandem and to make sure that the teeth bite properly.
Invisalign
The newest device which may be recommended for patients who want a very limited amount of realignment. It consists of a series of aligners, which look like transparent mouthguards. Sophisticated software provides the designs for the aligners, based on how you want your teeth to look, and they are worn over a period of 12 to 18 months. Invisalign treatment is offered as an alternative to braces, mainly in the case of adults with completely formed teeth and jaw growth. Invisalign aligners are not noticeable, unlike conventional braces. They are more comfortable and can be removed for eating and brushing.
Click here for information on retainers.
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