It is sometimes said dentists are more aware of the clinical procedure and their skills and can’t really empathise with their patients unless they have experienced the treatment for themselves. That is just about to change!  I have decided to have my teeth straightened in Loughborough and will record the story, step by step, to let you know what it is like from the other side; patient not dentist.

Despite having crooked teeth, I never received orthodontic treatment as a teenager.  My Mum took me to a dentist who wanted to extract four front teeth.  Mum thought that was too extreme and she declined on my behalf.  And I never had the teenage braces most young people wear.  Despite the long years of  training and graduating as a dentist and working in my dental practice, my front teeth remained crooked into adulthood.  Until now!

As a dentist, I have treated thousands of patients who needed their teeth straightened. As at one time no-one else in the practice was qualified to straighten teeth, I did not undergo the treatment myself. Then Ana, who some of you will know, joined Straight Teeth Suite and I decided to have braces and straight teeth for myself.  Ana kindly agreed to treat me.

For the benefit of patients, I am telling my own story of braces that might amuse some of you but will certainly edify. I am in the late stages of my pregnancy and have decided to have my teeth straightened whilst on maternity leave and I am at home with my baby.

Ana and I drew up a treatment plan after a thorough examination of my teeth. I have decided to undergo fixed braces; Damon braces.  My reasons are almost entirely cosmetic, to be more comfortable with my smile. Although my back teeth are well positioned, I have a very slightly crowded upper front tooth, and more moderate crowding on the bottom front teeth, which is getting worse over time. Furthermore, my bite is slightly deep.

What that means is that when I bite together, the bottom teeth bite too far back against my top front ones. Over time, they are wearing and chipping away. Straightening my teeth will not only improve my smile but essentially prevent further damage to my bottom teeth in the future.

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Damon braces are a type of fixed metal brace where the blocks are bonded to the teeth. High tech shape-memory wires are then used to move teeth comfortably and effectively. Damon Braces are designed to be discreet, comfortable and easy to keep clean. There are two options, Damon Q, fixed metal,  which I chose, and Damon Clear, a white/clear fixed brace.  They are the most efficient brace for straightening crooked teeth, dispensing with the need of elastic and metal ties. You might wonder why I didn’t choose lingual braces, invisible braces.  Whereas lingual braces have the clear advantage of not being seen, no pun intended, Damon braces have the edge when it comes to specific misalignment issues and Ana and I agreed they would be more effective.

My blogs will appear from time to time, and I will tell you just how it feels not as a dentist but as a patient; the flipside. Click here to read part two  where I will talk about what it feels like to wear Damon braces for the first time. I have to admit I am slightly nervous, but Ana will continue to reassure me in the in the same way I reassure my patients.  She certainly has me convinced all will be fine.

In the meantime, if you need any further information about how to straighten your teeth in Loughborough and the different methods available, visit our website and contact us here

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