What You Need To Know About Getting Braces


Orthodontics can straighten crooked and misaligned teeth that undermine your smile and appearance, affect your bite and ability to chew, and contribute to cavities and gum disease. An orthodontist in Calgary uses braces to apply gentle pressure on those teeth to gradually move them into their ideal position. 

If you’re concerned about oddly spaced, crooked, or overlapping teeth, braces in NE Calgary may offer a solution that frees your smile, restores full functionality, and reduces the risk of dental health problems. Here is some information about what to expect during treatment by an orthodontist in Calgary. Once you’ve considered how this process can help you achieve your appearance and health goals, contact an orthodontist to learn about the next step.

Assessment


Orthodontics treatment in Calgary begins with a consultation where your orthodontist will take and review x-rays of your teeth and jaw. Not every spacing and alignment issue requires braces. Your dentist will recommend treatment options and answer any questions about orthodontics, braces, and length of treatment.

Getting Braces in Calgary


Once you or your family has made the decision to get braces, the process of placing them on your teeth involves five steps. These five steps can be accomplished quickly in a single appointment.


  • Your teeth will be polished, then air-dried, so that the metal brackets will bond securely to your teeth
  • Conditioner is used on your teeth for 30 seconds to prepare them for bonding to the braces’ brackets. Once the conditioner is removed and your teeth are dried, your orthodontist in NE Calgary will apply adhesive primer to your teeth
  • Cement will be put on the back of the brackets which will then be placed on your teeth in the precise position required to reposition them over time
  • The cement will be hardened using high intensity light which bonds those brackets securely to your teeth
  • Dental arch wires are then placed in and between the brackets with elastic ties to connect them to each other and exert the subtle pressure needed to re-align the teeth

Getting Used to Braces


Beginning several hours after braces are placed on your teeth, you will experience tightness and even some soreness. That tightness and soreness is a normal and expected sensation caused by the dental arch wires beginning to shift your teeth. Patients usually experience that soreness for three to five days, after which it subsides. Over-the-counter pain medication can help resolve the discomfort if necessary.

Adjustment Appointments


Orthodontics is a dynamic exercise of moving and responding to the movement of your teeth to accomplish your goal. Every three to 10 weeks, you’ll visit your orthodontist in NE Calgary so that the elastic ties that properly position the dental arch wires can be adjusted to ensure the right pressure is placed in the right locations to achieve your goals. After each adjustment appointment, you’ll probably feel familiar tightness for several hours. That’s a symptom of progress. 

During the adjustment appointments, the elastic ties and arch wires are often removed. With those ties and wires off your teeth, your orthodontist will review your progress, renew your bands and wires, and answer any questions. Best yet, you’ll even be able to brush and floss thoroughly before wires are put back in your mouth.

Your orthodontist will provide you with clear instructions about living with braces in NE Calgary, including foods to avoid and how to keep your teeth clean throughout the whole process. It is not the time to fall down on your oral care habits. 

Orthodontics is a proven solution for crooked, misaligned, and improperly spaced teeth. It is an investment of time and money that will pay off with a lifelong smile that is straighter, healthier, and more confident. When you’re ready to take the first step toward that healthier and more confident future, contact an orthodontist in Calgary and ask to arrange an assessment.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

All you need to know about overbites and fixing them with braces

Image
An overbite occurs when the upper teeth protrude over the lower teeth mostly because of an underdeveloped upper or lower jaw. The medical term for overbites is malocclusion. Many a time, an overbite may emerge as crooked teeth, but in reality, the individual’s teeth are not in line with their jaw. Overbites can be hereditary in many cases but can also be a repercussion of habits such as excessive use of pacifiers or thumb sucking during childhood. Overbites can affect an individual’s eating habits, ability to swallow, and speech patterns. There are two types of overbites : Vertical Overbite: In this case, the upper teeth predominantly overlap the lower teeth.  Horizontal Overbite: In this case, the upper teeth bulge or protrude over the lower teeth.   Dental procedures and treatments can either reduce or fully repair the overbite. The application of braces to correct overbites is a viable solution. Visit a orthodontist in Northeast Calgary today for a consultation.   How do
Read more

What To Do About Your Teeth Grinding

Image
Many people clench their jaw and grind or gnash their teeth, often without realizing it. Some people learn they suffer from sleep bruxism — the name for that condition — only after being told by a sleeping partner or after describing teeth, jaw, face, and neck-related symptoms to their doctor or dentist. The consequences of sleep bruxism can be serious for your health, but can be prevented. What are the signs of sleep bruxism? There are four common indications that you may have the habit of clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth. Those symptoms are: unexplained toothaches, headaches focused in your temples and that may feel like an earache, a popping or clicking sound in your jaw, and pain or limited range of motion in your jaw. If you continue to clench your jaw as you sleep, teeth grinding in NE Calgary can cause damage to your teeth and dental work that can eventually lead to the loss of teeth, fillings, and crowns. What causes sleep bruxism? The most common type of
Read more