Orthodontist FAQ’s

What are the possible risks of orthodontic treatment?

What is orthodontic treatment?

Orthodontic treatment involves wearing braces (removable & fixed). It may involve the extraction of that and very occasionally, jaw surgery.

What might I gain from orthodontic treatment?

The benefits of orthodontics treatment can include the following:

• Correction of dental crowding and traightening of your teeth.
• Correction of your bite so that the front and back teeth meet together evenly on closing.
• Reducing the likelihood of damage to prominent teeth.
• Improving your appearance, including your smile.

What types of braces are there?

• Removable braces are those which can be removed for cleaning.
• Fixed braces are ones glued unto teeth and they cannot be removed for cleaning

When will the brace be fitted?

• This depends on the correct number of adult teeth being present in your mouth and the stage of growth of your face and jaws. You need to be good at tooth brushing, keeping your teeth clean and be keen to have treatment.

If teeth need to be extracted, who will do this?

• Your own dentist usually does this.

Is it painful?

• Having the braces fitted is not painful. However, it is common to have slightly sore teeth for 3 – 5 days after first fitting the brace and after each adjustment appointment.

How often will I need an appointment?

• Once your brace has been fitted, you will need regular appointments for it to be adjusted.

Will the brace affect what I can eat?

• In order to prevent damage to both your teeth and brace, you will need to:
• Avoid sugary snacks/drinks between meals and at bedtime.
• Avoid sticky, chewy or hard sweets, mints and sugared chewing gum.
• Avoid fizzy drinks (including diet drinks) and large amounts of fruit juice.
• Avoid hard or chewy foods – such as apples, carrots and crusty bread because these can damage your brace. Avoid them or cut them up 1st.

Will orthodontic treatment damage my teeth?

• It is important that you brush your teeth well for at least 3 minutes, twice a day. Use a fluoride toothpaste. To further protect the teeth, use an alcohol free fluoride mouthrinse daily at a different time to when you brush your teeth. Avoid eating or rinsing for 20 minutes after using it

What about acidic foods?

• Fruit such as oranges and lemons also contain acids, which can dissolve your teeth if you eat a large amount every day.

What can I drink between meals?

• Plain still water and milk are best for your teeth.

What can I eat between meals?

• Sugar free or low sugar foods are best. Suggestions include bread, cheese sandwiches, vegetables, nuts or fruit.

What else can I do to keep my teeth healthy?

• Use dental floss or an interdental brush each day to remove plaque from between the teeth.
• Using a fluoride alcohol-free mouth rinse can help reduce plaque, strengthen teeth and freshen breath.
• Visit your dentist regularly to check that your teeth and gums are healthy.
• Chewing sugar-free gum after meals reduces the risk of tooth decay

Can smoking and drinking alcohol affect my teeth and gums?

• Smoking causes tooth staining, bad breath, gum disease, tooth loss and mouth cancer.
• Some alcoholic drinks are acidic and very sugary, also some mixer drinks contain acid, so these drinks can cause tooth decay or erosion if they are consumed often in large amounts

Will I still need to see my regular dentists?

• Yes. It will be important for you to continue to have check-ups with your regular dentist throughout orthodontic treatment so that your teeth can be checked for decay.

Will I still be able to play contact sports?

• Yes, but it is recommended that you wear a mouthguard. This will also be the case if you take part in activities requiring a protective helmet e.g. roller-blading, skateboarding and horse riding. Ask your orthodontist about this. Further advice is available on the BOS website (www.bos.org.uk).

What if I play a musical instrument?

A fixed brace may make it more difficult for you to play your wind or brass instrument. You will need to discuss this with your music teacher and orthodontist. Further advice is available on the BOS website (www.bos.org.uk).

What if my brace breaks during treatment?

• Contact your orthodontist for an appointment as soon as is reasonably possible. Repeated breakages will slow down the treatment and increase the overall treatment time. You may have topay for replacement braces and, if further breakages occur, then treatment might have to stop.

What happens at the end of treatment?

• Your teeth might move back towards their original positions. In order to prevent prevent this, you will be fitted with retainers by your orthodontist will advise you on how long and how often you will need to wear them.

How successful is orthodontic treatment?

• This very much depends on your commitment to the treatment. Patients who cooperate well with treatment and wear their retainers as advised, get good results, whilst those who do not, are not likely to get the result they wanted.

REMEMBER

• Brush your teeth for 2 minutes at least twice each day.
• Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
• Replace your toothbrush regularly.
• Eat a balanced, healthy diet and cut down on fizzy and acidic drinks.
• Avoid sugary foods and drinks between meals.
• Visit your dentist regularly.

Any further questions? Please ask your dentist, orthodontist or hygienist.

Changes in the position of your teeth can continue throughout life. This is part of the normal process of getting older.

If you have any further questions, please write them down and bring them with
you to your next appointment or look at our website.
It is important that you fully understand what is involved in having orthodontic treatment before you decide to go ahead.

Can you eat with rubber bands on your braces? This is an excellent question that many patients may ask when they learn they need to wear braces for 15 to 18 months to straighten their teeth. Braces work by gradually shifting your teeth into alignment over some time. But what is the purpose of the elastic bands? And do you still need to wear them while you eat. Dental Specialists in St Albans has the answers you seek.

What role do elastic bands play in orthodontics?

Elastic bands are pieces of your braces hardware that work together to shift teeth into alignment. The bands specifically apply additional pressure if necessary and come in all different colors and sizes. Your rubber bands will be made to fit your braces and will stretch over the little loops on the upper and lower brackets. The bands are perfectly safe for your mouth because they are made using medical-grade latex.

Does everyone wear rubber bands with their braces?

It’s entirely possible that you may not end up having to wear rubber bands with your braces because not everyone does. Some patients’ teeth do not need the extra pressure to shift their teeth. It just depends on how well your teeth are shifting and how the shift affects your bite.

Do rubber bands move your jaw or teeth?

Yes, rubber bands gradually move your teeth over time by working with brackets and wires to put pressure on them to move.

How fast do elastics move teeth?

Just like the braces and wires themselves, it takes time for teeth to move. You don’t want them to move too fast because it could damage the roots. That being said, it usually takes about five to eight months for the additional pressure from elastic bands to shift teeth into alignment.

Can rubber bands pull your teeth out?

It’s a very uncommon occurrence, but elastic bands could work their way under the gums and pull out a tooth. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on your hardware and be careful when removing your elastic bands. Dental Specialists, St Albans will show you how to apply and remove your elastics.

Can you eat with rubber bands on your braces?

You can eat small items while wearing your elastic bands. But if you are finding it difficult to eat, feel free to remove them and then put them back on after you are done. Wearing them while eating also poses the risk of damaging your braces or for more food to get stuck in your hardware. Certain foods, such as acidic foods, can also cause your elastic bands to deteriorate faster, which means you’ll run out of them sooner. Orthodontists recommend removing your elastic bands before eating.

Can you wear rubber bands while sleeping?

You must wear your elastic bands for at least 20 hours every day. That means you should wear them while you sleep. The only times you should remove them are before you eat and before you brush your teeth. Elastic bands are a crucial part of your braces treatment as the additional pressure on your teeth helps move them into place. Failure to wear them will result in a longer treatment time, which means more time in braces.

How will I know if the rubber bands are working?

Naturally, you want to know if your treatment is working. After all, it costs thousands of dollars and you’ve had to wear your braces for months. No worries! There are signs you can feel and see that will tell you that your hardware is hard at work shifting your teeth. Your teeth and jaws may feel sensitive or achy. You will also likely notice a difference in the appearance of your smile as your teeth shift. Your orthodontist can tell you if it is working during follow-up visits as well. Also, you can take over-the-counter pain medication to alleviate any discomfort, but we promise your braces are working.

Will the rubber bands change the appearance of my face?

While the rubber bands by themselves won’t change your facial appearance, your braces may have a minor impact on your facial features. If you have a severe overbite or underbite, your features will change as your teeth and jaws shift to fix the misalignment. This is NOT a bad thing. Your appearance will slightly change for the better so you’ll have healthier teeth and jaws.

Can I double up my rubber bands?

If you are thinking that doubling up your rubber bands will make your teeth shift faster so your treatment ends sooner, stop with that line of thinking. Doubling up your rubber bands will apply more pressure and shift your teeth faster, but this is a bad thing. Shifting teeth too fast can damage the roots. The last thing you want to do is damage your teeth to the point where you lose them. Allow your braces and elastic bands to work normally. The result, while it takes time, is worth the wait.

What if I swallow or break my rubber bands?

If you break your rubber bands, replace them right away. If you run out, call your orthodontist as soon as possible to refill your supply. Should you swallow one of your elastic bands, remain calm. Elastic bands for braces are made to be safe if you swallow them so they are relatively harmless. The elastic band will simply pass through your digestive system. If you do feel any pain or discomfort or just want reassurance that it poses no threat to your health, see your medical doctor.

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What are the possible risks of orthodontic treatment?

Patients should finish their orthodontic treatment with healthy teeth and gums. Unfortunately, some patients do experience problems during orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontist will talk to you about the common risks of treatment and about those that might particularly affect you.

Will I end up with marks on my teeth?

Your teeth will be damaged unless you keep them clean and are sensible about what you eat and drink.

Make sure this doesn’t happen to you

It is important to brush your teeth well, at least twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste. If you do not keep your teeth and brace clean, you risk ending up with permanent white or brown marks on your teeth. The picture above shows this. Rinsing with fluoride mouthrinse at bedtime, after tooth brushing, will also help to keep your teeth healthy. If you have too many sweets, sugary foods, fruit drinks or fizzy drinks, you also risk ending up with marks on your teeth. The more often you have sugary foods or drinks, the more likely you are to damage your teeth, so avoid sweet things between meals.

Will my gums be damaged?

Most patients experience a little redness and swelling of the gums whilst wearing a brace. This problem usually disappears once the brace is removed. However, if you do not brush your teeth and brace properly, your gums may become very swollen during treatment, causing lasting damage.

Does it matter if I have injured my teeth in the past?

If you break your rubber bands, replace them right away. If you run out, call your orthodontist as soon as possible to refill your supply. Should you swallow one of your elastic bands, remain calm. Elastic bands for braces are made to be safe if you swallow them so they are relatively harmless. The elastic band will simply pass through your digestive system. If you do feel any pain or discomfort or just want reassurance that it poses no threat to your health, see your medical doctor.