Frequently Asked Orthodontics and Braces Questions

We are often asked these questions on orthodontics, braces, and teeth straightening so we offer them to you to make your search for the right orthodontist or dentist providing orthodontics a simpler process.

Q. What types of braces are there?
A. Fixed braces and removable braces. Fixed are more common in silver, clear, & gold colors. Orthodontics is the study in dentistry of moving teeth. Orthodontics uses braces to move the teeth. Both fixed and removable braces move the teeth into good alignment restoring a great healthy bite AND giving you a beautiful smile.

Q. What about the new Invisalign invisible orthodontics braces?
A. This treatment is offered at Carson Dental as well. Click on invisalign tab.

Q. Which stars have worn orthodontic braces?
A. Here are a few of them: Britney Spears, Catherine Zeta Jones, Scott Hoch (famous golfer), Chelsea Clinton, Martina Hingis, Venus Williams, Kim Zmeskal, Cher, Butthead, Cindy Crawford, Cameron Diaz, Daisy Fuentes, Whoopie Goldberg, Heather Lochlear, Dominique Moceanu, Allysa Milano, Tamara & Tia Mowry, Monica, Diana Ross, Monica Seles, Barbara Walters, and on and on…

Basics of orthodontics

Q. How long do orthodontic braces go on for?
A. It differs for each orthodontics case. It can range from 3-4 months for simple cases, to about 3 years for more comprehensive orthodontics treatment. The average is usually 2 years. Once the orthodontic brace is removed, you may need to wear a retainer for 6-12 months.

Q. How old should I be for orthodontics treatment?
A. It varies for each case – it can be as young as eight to as old as 68! Generally, age doesn’t matter. Children should have their first orthodontic screening around 8 years old. See treatment for different age groups: 8-12 (interceptive); 13-18 (teenage); 19+ (adult).

Q. How long does it take to fit a fixed orthodontics brace?
A. About 1-1½ hours.

Q. Fitting an orthodontics brace – does it hurt?
A. The process of fixing a brace to your teeth doesn’t hurt. In some cases, patients may feel a little discomfort for a few hours after the brace has been fitted or the arch wires have been tightened. Painkillers usually stop the discomfort right away. The brackets sometimes rub against your lips or cheeks for the first few days. This, however, is short lived as you soon get used to the brace. To begin with we give you wax that acts as a cushion and prevent soreness. Also, this practice imports modern, state-of-the-art materials. This means that our braces use lighter forces on your teeth than older, traditional braces.

Q. What is “tightening the wires”?
A. Once teeth move into a new position, new wires are put in place as the next step of the treatment. These new wires are often stiffer, making the brace feel “tighter” for a few days. This may cause mild discomfort for a day or two.

Q. How often are visits to the orthodontist during the course of my treatment?
A. Typically, 4-6 weeks.

Q. Do I still need regular visits to the dentist?
A. Yes.

Q. Is eating difficult with a brace?
A. No, but some changes to how you eat are required. For example, hard foods can damage the appliance, while things like chewing gum and sticky chocolates can stick between the wires. This makes it more difficult to clean your teeth and prevent decay.

Q. Is speaking difficult with a brace?
A. Few patients wearing a fixed brace notice any difference. Patients wearing a removable brace may find it takes a few days to get used to because the appliance rests against the roof of your mouth. This sensation passes within only a few days.

Q. Can I play sport with braces on?
A. Yes. For removable braces, it is recommended you remove the appliance before participating in heavy contact sports. Wearers of fixed braces can participate in all activities, even contact sports like martial arts, football and basketball. Gum shields can be made for you if required.

Q. Can I play musical instruments with a brace on?
A. Yes. We stock products to make it more comfortable if you request it.

Q. Can I make braces more colourful?
A. Absolutely, the elastic parts of the brace can be fitted in pretty much any color you choose or fluorescent or glow-in-the-dark if you really want to get noticed! Removable braces can also come in different colours, with glitter, and with pictures.

Q. Can I make my braces less noticeable?
A. Definitely! We have brackets that are clear or tooth-colored. This can leave your brace virtually invisible.

Q. Why do you need to wear elastics?
A. Elastics are like small rubber bands that usually go from your top to your bottom teeth. They help to move your teeth into the proper bite position. This is a part of the treatment which relies on you – failure to wear the elastics could prevent or delay your front teeth moving into their correct position. This can prolong your treatment or detract from the results. And remember – if you don’t wear them, it’ll show and we’ll know!

Q. What should I do if part of my brace becomes loose or gets broken?
A. Call and make an emergency appointment ASAP (see contact us). If the brace has been broken and pieces get loose, it often means that the brace is not intact and that the teeth are not moving. This will make your treatment longer.

Q. What happens if I swallow part of the brace?
A. Tell us about it. The components of the brace are small and non-toxic and normally pass through your digestive system without any problem. On very rare occasions, a part could be inhaled into the lungs and may require medical treatment.

Q. Does it hurt to have my braces removed?
A. No, not at all. The glue used to fix the brackets is specially designed to allow the brace to be removed painlessly by our specialised tools.

Q. How long does it take to remove a brace?
A. About half an hour.

Q. Are the results of orthodontics permanent?
A. It is generally accepted within the orthodontic community that about 90% of the results are retained long term after treatment.

Q. What is a orthodontic retainer?
A. A retainer is an appliance that’s used after the brace has been removed. It holds the teeth in their new position until they become stable. Retainers come in various forms. Clear retainers (which are barely noticeable) and fixed retainers are the two most-commonly used at Morgan Dental.

Q. How long will I need to wear a retainer?
A. A removable one for 6-12 months after the braces are removed. A fixed retainer is worn for a longer period, from 1 year to permanently.

Q. What happens if I don’t wear a retainer?

A. You undo all the good work! If the teeth don’t get a chance to settle into their new position, they drift back towards the position they were in before the orthodontics braces were fitted.

Q. If I wore a brace in the past but I’m unhappy with how my teeth look now, can I be treated again?
A. Yes. However previous orthodontics treatment may limit what can be done.

Learn more about orthodontics

Click here to learn more about the benefits of orthodontics for children

Click here to learn more about the benefits of adult orthodontics