5 Things No One Tells You About Braces | Randall Orthodontics (2024)

FAQs

What is the hardest part about braces? ›

The hardest part about getting braces is making it through the first week. Your body is getting used to the strange, new pieces of metal in your mouth, and you probably feel a little sore at first. Once you get through the first week, you're well on your way to a beautifully straight smile.

Braces Are Nearly 300 Years Old

The first braces were created in 1728 by a French physician, Pierre Fauchard, also known as the father of modern dentistry. The brace is made up of a piece of metal connected to the teeth by a thread.

How Much Do Braces Hurt on a Scale of 1-10? Your braces will not hurt at all when you get them put on, taken off, tightened or anything else, so it is a 1 or a 0 for how painful braces are.

At what age can you get braces? For children, most get braces between 9 and 14 years old. But adults can benefit from orthodontia as well, and there's no right or wrong age for adults to get braces. As a general rule, once the adult teeth are in, braces are possible.

The most common regret of people who had braces many years ago is the movement of their teeth. Parents of patients often tell us they had a perfect smile after braces but it has changed over the years.

The first 1-2 weeks when you wear braces, you are not used to the pulling force of the bowstring, you may experience pain and dullness.

Most patients experience some discomfort the first 4 days to a week after their braces, expanders, and/or wires are placed and after a wire adjustment and/or an activation appointment. Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth.

Most of the time, the most painful orthodontic sensations that people are afraid of is getting their braces put on and having them taken off. As far as getting them put on, braces do not cause pain. However, the tension between your teeth or under orthodontic bands can cause some soreness later in the day.

Your braces have brackets, bands and archwires that are all prone to damage from the foods you consume and from your eating habits. During your treatment you should avoid sticky foods, hard candies, chips, chewing on non-food items like pens (we see you exam week) and chomping down on foods with your front teeth.

Braces Are a Lifelong Commitment

While braces themselves only need to be worn anywhere from 18 months to 3 years (this very rarely happens anymore), after your teeth are in their proper positions your orthodontist will have you wear either a permanent and/or removable retainer.

How many years will it take for teeth braces? ›

Though everyone's orthodontic needs are different, most people will need to wear braces for anywhere from 1 to three years until their teeth are moved into place. Many orthodontists will estimate anywhere from 18 months to 2 years depending on how much correction you require.

The intensity of orthodontic pain is comparable to the greatest intensity of general pain felt with a wasp sting or an ankle sprain (Bergius et al., 2002).

The average frequency is 4-6 weeks. But Your orthodontist is the best person to tell you when you need braces tightening. They might call you sooner or later, depending on your case. But sometimes, you might need braces tightening before your scheduled appointment.

However, a general rule of thumb is your kids should look at getting braces between the ages of 9 and 14. Usually, this is before they've gone through puberty. If they've already gone through it, this means it'll be harder to adjust their jaw and/or teeth, as they've already settled into their post-puberty positions.

The best time for a child to get braces is when their baby teeth have fallen out and the majority of their permanent teeth have grown in. This is typically between the ages of 10 and 14.

In short, no, you are never too old for orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontist considers many variables when developing your customized treatment plan, but age is rarely a deciding factor. Orthodontic treatment can be as successful for adults as it is for adolescents.

In good clinical practice, the failure of brackets should not exceed more than 6% [5]. But an incidence of 0.6-28.3% has been reported in a systematic review [6]. A bracket rebonded due to failure can increase the treatment duration from 0.3 to 0.6 months [7, 8].

Braces improve your overall appearance. By beautifully aligning your teeth, braces create an esthetically pleasing result that significantly boosts your attractiveness and self-confidence. When you have a smile that you're proud of, you naturally smile more.

The answer is a resounding no!

Braces will not make your teeth weak or fallout; however, you might feel pain and discomfort after a few days of having braces and your teeth will slightly loose for the first 2 or 3 days after braces are tightened.

Do braces change your jawline? ›

Yes, braces can change your jawline, your chin, the shape of your mouth, and even your lips. However, these effects are secondary to the actual reforming of your teeth and bite. Braces can tighten your jawline and your teeth, but this happens over time and imperceptibly.

Nowadays, there are several options of braces that work the fastest. Typical metallic braces treatment has been refined and developed to give much better and quicker results. Now ceramic braces, lingual braces, self ligating braces and functional braces are considered as fastest braces to straighten teeth.

Any speech impediment or difficulty resulting from adjustment to wearing dental braces is temporary and not permanent. The tongue may be having difficulty reaching places and you may find yourself lisping at times.

Day 1: Having the braces placed on your teeth is not painful. But as your teeth begin to move, they typically will become sore. The soreness you experience is not a sharp pain, but rather a dull ache that typically lasts not more than 2 or 3 days. Dr.

Some people wonder if the shape of their face will change with teeth braces, and the short answer is yes — this is true. Your body will react to how braces are shifting your teeth into their corrected positions, therefore, your face shape is also likely to change.

The spacers are taken out before your braces are put on. The braces don't hurt like the spacers; in fact, when the spacers are removed, it feels so much better, even after the braces are put on! Many people have remarked that spacers were the worst part of the entire process.

When you begin wearing braces, the quality of your sleep may suffer in the initial days or weeks. Generally, this is simply because your gums and cheeks aren't yet used to the dental apparatus being in your mouth. A certain amount of pain and discomfort is completely normal during this period.

Braces are worth the cost because of the many health benefits it helps you to retain. It can be tough to maintain optimal oral health when teeth are not as straight or aligned as they could be. Having braces can help set your teeth and alignment straight.

Do you have to wear your retainer forever after braces? ›

If you have minor dental issues, your dentist will initially suggest wearing retainers full-time for 2-3 months. But you might have to wear your retainers for over 6 months if you have severe dental problems. However, the good news is that you do not have to wear your retainers forever.

You should only expect to wear your braces for a maximum of three years. While this may appear to be an excessively long period with braces on your teeth, please make an effort to understand that this is the worst-case scenario.

The average orthodontic treatment falls somewhere between 16-18 months, but can sometimes take as long as 24 months, or even more. Be wary of promises from anyone who says you can have a straight smile in only six months.

The average orthodontic treatment plan is anywhere from 18 months to three years. It's different for everyone, but anything beyond a four-year treatment plan warrants getting second, third and fourth opinions.

Very occasionally orthodontic treatment can shorten the roots of your teeth, so we'll take X-rays to make sure there are no underlying issues. If everything's in tip-top condition, there's nothing to stop you from wearing braces two or even three times. Although done properly, once should be enough!

Braces can take longer to deliver the expected results in adults. However, age is a minor factor affecting treatment duration. Other factors that can affect the time of treatment include teeth cleaning procedures. Also, the type of orthodontic problem largely influences the time taken to wear adult braces.

Examples of orthodontics gone wrong

Braces place the teeth and jaw under continued force. If your orthodontist fails to apply your braces incorrectly or doesn't monitor your treatment properly, this can lead to problems with your oral health including gum disease, dental decay, and incorrect tooth positioning.

Braces and Invisalign do not cause teeth to become weaker, looser, or fall out in healthy people. Braces can be a good option for those with poor periodontal health. Excessive force in orthodontic treatment with Invisalign or braces can cause severe damage to the root and pulp of teeth as well as the supporting bones.

Braces themselves are unlikely to cause damage to your teeth, but wearing them does add to the importance of your personal responsibility for oral hygiene. Traditional braces can act as traps for food particles, providing anchors for bits of food to hang on to the surface of your teeth.

How long does braces glue last? ›

Bonded retainers

The glue that bonds the wire can wear out with the everyday activity your mouth experiences—eating, talking, brushing and flossing. A bonded retainer on your upper teeth may last up to three years, while a lower bonded retainer will last longer, as this part of the mouth doesn't see as much activity.

While some people may notice a difference in as little as one month, most will not see any change for three to four months. Some people may never notice a difference until their braces are removed. The reason for the huge difference is that each patient is different.

After tightening your braces, it is common for your teeth to feel slightly loose for the first two to three days after the adjustment. This does not imply that your tooth will become permanently loose as a result of the situation. It is not anything that ought to cause any cause for alarm.

The expansion of the jaw is one of the most common reasons why teeth look bigger after braces. The jaw grows during treatment in order to accommodate the new position of the teeth. It may take a few weeks or months for the jaw to expand enough to fit the new dental position.

Should teeth wiggle after braces? Yes, while the loose tooth or wiggly tooth sensation you may experience after braces seems a bit unnerving, don't be alarmed! Teeth wiggling after braces is actually quite normal.

If brackets remain in place for years, plaque could build-up in places that are hard to reach, eventually leading to tooth decay and gum disease. Some Brackets May Later Dislodge– Under normal circ*mstances, when a bracket dislodges, your orthodontist will reattach it.

In short, no, you are never too old for orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontist considers many variables when developing your customized treatment plan, but age is rarely a deciding factor. Orthodontic treatment can be as successful for adults as it is for adolescents.

Getting your braces off is a little bit like getting them on. It's a big change, and your orthodontist does have to use some force to get the brackets and all of the glue out of your mouth. While it doesn't hurt, when you get home from your last visit you might notice that your teeth and gums are a little tender.

However, a general rule of thumb is your kids should look at getting braces between the ages of 9 and 14. Usually, this is before they've gone through puberty. If they've already gone through it, this means it'll be harder to adjust their jaw and/or teeth, as they've already settled into their post-puberty positions.

How Early Can Kids Start Braces? Traditionally, treatment with dental braces begins when a child has lost most of his or her baby (primary) teeth, and a majority of the adult (permanent) teeth have grown in —usually between the ages of 8 and 14.