Dental Braces

Dental braces is a device that is used to correct crooked teeth, protruded teeth, ease pressure on the temporomandibular joints, and also improve the visual look of the face and smile.

Braces can be fitted at any age but the suitable age is childhood when the jaw is bendy and can easily be molded into the shape you want it to take. Today more and more adults with bad teeth alignment also opt for the procedure. However, in adults the treatment is a little complicated and may require them to wear a retainer (generally at night) for the rest of there lives.

The procedure for braces is long. The first step is the x-ray of the mouth. The doctors need the x-ray to determine the method of treatment. In many cases a few teeth have to be removed to give proper space to the other teeth to settle down, for alignment. This is done when there is crowding in the mouth.

Once the decisions and actions are taken, the orthodontist fits the patient’s teeth with very small brackets. These brackets are held on with an extremely strong dental adhesive. Once the brackets are in place the doctor slides the wire through the brackets. These wires are responsible for re shaping the jaw line or teeth alignment. Gradually the doctor may also give the patient removable stretch bands to wear from there bottom row teeth to top row. These are required when an over bite needs to be corrected. Rubber bands can also be fitted along the wires for the same reason.

The whole procedure lasts for minimum of two years and can be very restrictive in terms of the food you eat and the way you eat it. You are not allowed to pull hard with your teeth or take a bite with your front teeth. Maintaining oral hygiene also becomes difficult as food keeps getting stuck between wires. There is no pain as such but minor irritation now and then cannot be ruled out.