Teeth braces are devices used in orthodontics and dentistry to align, straighten, and position your teeth to improve dental health, oral aesthetics and any biting or teeth alignment problems. For how long do you need to wear braces for? On average, it takes about 24 months to complete an orthodontic treatment. Some patients require less than 12 months, while some require over 3 years of treatment. It hugely depends on how complex your teeth condition is, and the type of braces you have.
Metal braces are the most common type of dental braces. These are made of metal and is used to align, straighten, and position your teeth to improve dental health, oral aesthetics and any biting or teeth alignment problems. For how long do you need to wear braces for? On average, it takes about 24 months to complete an orthodontic treatment. Some patients require less than 12 months, while some require over 3 years of treatment. It hugely depends on how complex your teeth condition is.
Ceramic braces work similarly to traditional or metal braces, but have tooth-coloured or clear brackets to replace metal ones. These help in making your braces less noticeable, as ceramic brackets picked are usually tooth-coloured.
Child braces are dental braces for children to align, straighten, and position your teeth to improve dental health, oral aesthetics and any biting or teeth alignment problems. Child braces are usually less complex and more straightforward than adult treatments, because adults have generally more oral conditions to look out for during orthodontic treatments. On average, it takes about 24 months to complete an orthodontic treatment. Some patients require less than 12 months, while some require up to 3 years of treatment. It depends on the complexity of your oral condition.
Unlike conventional braces, aligners are clear and thin plastic-like trays that fit on our teeth. They are usually not permanent and can be put in and removed by the user. Usually, aligners should be put on all the time except for when having meals or when practising oral hygiene like brushing or flossing.
Invisalign is one of the popular brands for clear aligners procedures. They are clear and thin plastic-like trays that fit on our teeth. They are usually not permanent and can be put in and removed by the user. Usually, aligners should be put on all the time except for when having meals or when practising oral hygiene like brushing or flossing.
Self-ligating braces are fitted in like conventional metal braces, but without elastic rubber bands or metal ties. Clips or brackets are instead used to attach the wires so that they can move naturally with the teeth as they realign, resulting in a more comfortable, better looking treatment.
A mouthguard is a protective device that covers your teeth and gums to prevent or reduce injury during your activities.
A mouthguard can be prescribed by the dentist to avoid tooth grinding. Mouthguards can protect the teeth from grinding against each other, causing excessive wear. There are mouthguards for teeth grinding at night (nightguards) and for teeth clenching during the daytime.
Retainers avoid teeth from moving back to their original positions after braces or aligners are removed. They prevent movement of teeth until the growth of our gums and skeletal muscles are reorganised following the changes. The frequency of wearing retainers and the length of time needed to keep them on vary, we usually need to wear them for full time for about 6 months, and then only during the night time after that.
This type of retainer is usually placed on the lower front teeth. It is not removable and is usually left in place for months. This solution is common for those who have a high risk of their teeth moving back into their old positions.
Also known as Vacuum-formed retainers, these are plastic-like retainers which are usually transparent. These retainers go on your teeth like a cap and is less visible. They are easy to remove and clean, but less durable than a Hawley retainer. They are not recommended for individuals who grind their teeth.
Designed by Charles Hawley in 1919, this is the most popular retainer used after orthodontic treatments. Hawley retainers are simple-looking metal wire retainers that can hold the position of teeth to prevent them from moving back into their original positions. It is removable, making it easy to clean, and the acrylic is available in a wide range of colours
