10 Important Things to Know Before You Get

10 Important Things to Know Before
You Get Dental Braces

Created By: Marie Howard

You Can Have Braces At Any Age

• Dental braces are most commonly

associated with teenagers, simply because
this is when most people first notice their
crooked teeth. There is no age limit for
this kind of corrective treatment though,
so don’t be put off by the stereotypes. You
can use braces to correct misaligned teeth
at any age, just so long as your teeth and
gums are reasonably strong. Dental braces
are not suitable for patients with weakened
gums or poor dental health.

Straight Teeth Are Not Everything

• The assumption is that braces are all

about giving a patient perfectly straight
teeth. While this is one of the main aims
of wearing them, it is not the only
objective. Dental braces achieve a lot
more. This is why, when a patient
attends a consultation for braces, their
orthodontist examines their mouth for a
lot of different issues. They will ask a lot
of questions, but what they are trying to
do is build up a comprehensive oral
review.

Your Bite May Also Need to Be Fixed

• As well as determining whether your

teeth are straight, your orthodontist will
check to see if your bite is healthy. The
‘bite’ is what happens when you close
your two rows of teeth and then open
them up again. When you do this, the
rows should meet, but not grind or
exhibit too much abrasion. Similarly,
there should be no big gaps anywhere
along the line where the two rows of
teeth meet.

Your Orthodontist is an Expert

• The relationship between
orthodontists and regular dentists can
be an unnecessarily confusing one
sometimes. In simple terms, an
orthodontist is specially trained in
dental movement and the function of
the jawbone. So, they know all of the
things that a regular dentist does, but
their specialist subject is how the teeth
move in the mouth. This makes them
the perfect choice for prescribing,
fitting, and monitoring dental braces.

Most Consultations Are Free

• The great thing about visiting the

orthodontist for the first time is that
most do not charge for a consultation.
This means that patients can see the
specialist recommended by their own
dentist, but also visit a second or a third
if they feel it necessary. You can have
as many consultations as you need, in
order to find an orthodontist that you
are comfortable with.

Don’t Fixate on Invisible Brackets

• Modern dentists are running into

issues, these days, with patients who
don’t really listen to their
recommendations. They want dental
braces that look as inconspicuous as
possible. While this is understandable
– and there are special ‘concealed’
braces – they are not always the most
suitable choice. Invisible bracket
braces are designed to blend in with
teeth, so they are popular with
teenagers. However, only a small
percentage of patients are compatible
with the plastic brackets and aligners.

Cost and Treatment Times Differ

• The bad news is that dental braces don’t

really come cheap. They can be a costly
treatment option, but since they are usually
an essential one, there are lots of dental
membership plans and payments schemes to
help patients meet the expense. The
important thing to know is that costs vary
wildly. The typical cost of braces depends on
the location, the clinic, the age of the
patient, and whether or not there are any
other complicating issues.

Two Years is the Average Treatment Period

• The typical treatment duration is around

two years, but your own prognosis will
depend on how much work needs to be
done to straighten your teeth and fix your
bite. There are certain methods that can
be used to align the teeth faster, but these
are generally not recommended unless the
teeth are in an extremely robust and
healthy condition. You can ask your
dentist for more information about them,
but be aware that they involve a degree of
painful alignment.

Switching During Treatment is Costly

• There are times when patients simply cannot

avoid moving away from their chosen
orthodontist during treatment. This is a
tricky situation, but one which just has to
happen sometimes. However, if you can
avoid moving house or cutting ties with your
orthodontist while still wearing your braces,
do so at all costs. It can be very fussy and
financially tricky to up and move to another
clinic in the middle of treatment.

There Will Be Some Pain

• Unfortunately, wearing and getting used

to braces is not a pain free process. While
the actual fitting rarely hurts, the new
sensations and pressure against your teeth
will cause soreness and aching. You may
experience sores on the inside of your
gums and lips, because the mouth is
simply not used to having so much metal
or plastic close to the tissues. All of these
painful side effects should subside after a
couple of weeks.

The Right Way to Deal with Dental Braces

• If you have recently been fitted with

braces and are having trouble adjusting,
speak to your orthodontist. It if their
responsibility to help you get through the
initial stages of wearing braces; use your
specialist as a valuable resource. Ask
questions, raise concerns, and inform
them about any changes in your mouth. If
you stay in touch with your dentist and
visit as often as recommended, you should
find that the process goes much more
smoothly.

Thank You!