Braces & Appliances

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. There are many different types of braces and the one you will be instructed to wear will depend onthe complexity of your orthodontic treatment. The brace might be one of the following

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 butis otherwise worn full time. 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 the more complex 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 often within 24 hours.

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 and the brace will sometimes cause chaffing of the inside of lips and cheeks. This is I am afraid considered normal but you will soon get used to the appliance and any tenderness will go,thereafter there is rairly a problem. Fixed appliances can’t harm teethin themselves but it is important to keep them constantly clean,they must be brushed at least after every meal.

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 certain that the teeth bite properly.

Invisalign

A much newer device which may be recommended for adult patients and some children who want a very limited amount of realignment. It consists of a series of aligners, which look like thin 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.They are not available within the NHS

INCOGNITO

 A recently introduced fixed brace which is fitted to the inside surfaces of the teeth where it is completely out of site and thus invisible.A highly sophisticated appliance which require expert fitting and adjustment and again only available on a private basis

Click here for information on retainers >

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