Straight teeth are the pathway to good oral health. Straighter teeth are easier to clean and maintain, reducing the risk of developing dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Restoring teeth to their proper alignment involves correcting bite, spacing, and overcrowding issues through orthodontic treatment.
What is involved in treatment?
Braces are an effective orthodontic treatment for correcting crooked teeth, overbites, and other issues with alignment. Although braces may initially cause discomfort and require frequent adjustments, they provide many advantages to enhance dental health. Braces apply constant, gentle pressure to the teeth to gradually move them into the correct position and even reshape bone structure. Below are the steps involved in getting braces and their relation to dental health.
Step 1: Consultation and Evaluation
The first step in getting braces is to schedule a consultation with our orthodontist. Orthodontists are professionals who specialize in aligning teeth and restoring natural bite function. During your first appointment, our orthodontist will conduct an evaluation to determine if braces are the right treatment for you based on the results of your X-rays and the impressions taken of your teeth.
Step 2: Bonding of Brackets
Brackets are small, square-shaped metal or ceramic pieces attached to the front of the teeth using special adhesive or orthodontic bands and are used to support the archwires.
Step 3: Placement of Archwires
Once the brackets are in place, our orthodontist will thread thin and flexible wires, known as archwires, to guide the teeth’s movement. These wires apply pressure to the teeth, ultimately moving them into their proper position.
Step 4: Adjustment and Tightening
Our orthodontist will examine your teeth at each subsequent appointment to monitor your progress. Necessary adjustments will be made to the archwires and brackets to ensure the desired results are achieved and your teeth are moving correctly. If needed, springs may be placed on the archwires between the brackets to improve movement, and elastics or rubber bands may be attached to hooks on the brackets in various ways to gradually move your teeth into the correct position. Our orthodontist will also periodically adjust and tighten the archwire to ensure your teeth continue to move in the right direction.
Step 5: Removal of Braces
Once the teeth have finished moving into the desired position, the final step in the orthodontic treatment is the removal of the braces. This process, called Debonding, involves the removal of the brackets and archwires. Our orthodontist will use a special tool to gently break the adhesive bond between the bracket and the tooth surface, which may cause some discomfort but is generally painless. Following the removal of the braces, our orthodontist will recommend a fixed or removable retainer to hold the teeth in their new positions. These retainers will help maintain the newly aligned teeth until the bone and tissues around them adjust to their new positions.
Braces can be an effective treatment option for straightening teeth and correcting other dental problems. Connecticut Valley Orthodontics thoroughly examines your oral health before proceeding with any orthodontic treatment to ensure the process is comfortable, safe, and effective.
If you want to learn more, schedule a consultation with us today to see if braces are right for you.