The Effective Guide to Dental Brace Care

Posted on: September 25th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

We are all individuals and all have different needs.  Your dentist at the Straight Teeth Suite is very aware that once you have your dental braces fitted you may encounter a few issues you may not have been expecting.  Different patients respond differently to braces. To preempt this and to be sure you are fully informed in advance, we have compiled a comprehensive list of what you can expect, especially in the first few days.

Braces can be quite uncomfortable when they are first fitted but don’t worry; it is only temporary.  You have something that now feels alien in your mouth, and it feels awkward to chew.  We recommend a soft diet, in particular, nourishing soups while you adjust.

It is important to keep your teeth clean and your mouth healthy and avoid any breakages to minimise your treatment time and successfully straighten your teeth.

In the first few days following the fitting of your new dental braces you might experience:

  • Sore Teeth and Lips – which might feel uncomfortable for a few days or a couple of weeks.
  • Pain – which might resemble a headache in severity.  We all have different pain thresholds.  Some people don’t feel any pain while others need Paracetamol or Ibuprofen to help.
  • Bite Issues -If you have had bite guards placed at the back of your mouth, biting may be a bit awkward at first. This may cause a some discomfort that will go away in a few days as you adjust.
  • Rubbing – Braces, for some patients, cause pressure points as they move your teeth to the ideal position and might rub on your lips. If the wire is rubbing against your gum or lips, you can use the dental wax that comes in your brace kit provided by your dentist. Break a little piece off, soften and mold it with clean fingers and press it over the rubbing bracket and wire to protect your lips. But remember, if you are going to have a hot drink or something to eat, take the wax off first and place it back after you have finished.

Brushing your teeth and gums at least twice a day for three minutes is highly recommended to keep your mouth healthy. Don’t just focus around the brackets. Make sure you brush your gums as well. You can use teepee brushes to clean in between the brackets, where regular brushing won’t allow you to reach, and get rid of any trapped food. Your dentist or hygienist will help you pick the right size brush for you. Use a good mouthwash after you have cleaned your teeth.

If you notice any redness or swelling, let us know. Keep regular appointments with the hygienist to ensure your teeth clean and healthy and that plaque around the teeth and any of the brackets is totally removed.

Protect your braces by not eating hard, crunchy, or sticky food, such as chewing gum, toffees, and hard sweets, as the force can break a bracket.  It is advisable to cut your food into small pieces rather than biting into something like an apple. When chewing and eating, take your time, especially if you have had bite guards placed at the back.

Avoid biting your nails or chewing on pens, and pencil tops or opening bottles with your teeth. These actions can obviously cause breakages. If you have a clear brace, such as the 6 Month brace, then your brackets and elastics may stain over time; they become discoloured with tea, coffee, red wine and some foods.

We hope you have a trouble-free experience with your braces.  However, don’t hesitate to contact the Straight Teeth Suite if you have a problem regarding your brace whether it is with pain or a breakage.

Age is not a factor for Lingual Braces

Posted on: September 6th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

Deciding to wear braces is not easy, even if you are eager to have a beautiful smile. There are many adults who have postponed to see a dentist for many reasons including being embarrassed about wearing braces. But that fear should not stop you from getting the smile you always dreamed of, no matter how old you are. Advances in orthodontics have made braces less obvious and more and more adults are now willing to undergo treatment. Watch this patient’s testimonial video.

 

All Ages Can Get Lingual Braces

One patient came to fix her teeth because she was very unhappy with the way her smile looked. Her teeth were crowded and she felt uncomfortable and even embarrassed, whenever she smiled. What is important is that she thought her age was not appropriate for braces.

During the initial consultation, the patient found out that lingual braces are actually a great option for both young people and adults, no matter what their age is. The only condition is: the bones and gums must be healthy.

Please note: You are never too old for braces.

What Are Lingual Braces?

This is one of the options for adults when you decide to straighten your misaligned teeth. Lingual braces involve the use of fixed braces on the teeth’s inner surface. One of the advantages of this design is that they really are invisible – you can’t see them from the front, and they allow you to straighten your teeth in an extremely discreet manner. Many adults worry about how they will appear when they are out and about, but you needn’t worry about any severe changes occurring while the treatment is in place.

The lingual braces are permanent and that means they stay in your mouth 24/7.  Some people are initially put off by this, but lingual braces are actually the more practical option in the long run. The treatment time depends on the problems you have and the complexity of your teeth.

Some cases can take as little as three months, some cases can take twelve to eighteen months, but that would be indicated at your first appointment.

Lingual Braces Are Considered a Great Option for adults

The patient evaluated her experience with Lingual Braces as being a really positive one, not only thanks to the beautiful smile she has now but also thanks to the helpful staff she found at the Straight Teeth Suite. She was given all the information she needed and treated her case with enthusiasm.

Furthermore, the braces are not visible, they can’t actually be seen. This is a plus for adults who are scared of the idea of wearing braces. It can be your secret! The experience was a pleasing one and the result made the patient happy and confident. The fact that her new smile was obvious to people around her made her even more content.

For any concerns and questions, you can contact Straight Teeth Suite and make an appointment for a FREE consultation HERE

 

Fantastic new solutions to quickly straighten teeth

Posted on: August 28th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

If you want or need your teeth straightened quickly for a big occasion you would like to look your best for, or you do not like the idea of wearing braces for a year or more, aligners are a great solution.  Aligners are custom-made to fit your teeth and gently move them into the desired new position.   If you are a suitable candidate, the Straight Teeth Suite can fit your aligners and straighten your teeth in as little as sixteen weeks.  Four months and you can have the smile you always wanted.

Aligners

As we are all different and have different complexities of issues with our teeth, the dentist will first need to give you an examination to see if aligners are the best solution for your problem and to give you a realistic idea of what to expect.  If the problem is mild, for example, your teeth are just slightly overcrowded, you have an unsightly gap in your front teeth, or they protrude, aligners are probably a great solution, and you will not need braces for too long.  However, you need to be committed and follow the instructions the dentist gives you to the letter if you want fast results.  There are no half measures, if time is an issue.

The aligner is removable, but it is intended the patient wear it day and night until the teeth have been repositioned.  Just because you can take the aligners out, they are not made to be worn part-time if you want them to be effective.  They should only be removed to eat and clean your teeth if you want the best results.

How Aligners work

Aligners are removable braces with a clear plastic bar on the front and on the reverse side of your teeth.  The bars gently oppose each other, guiding the teeth into their new position. As they are almost invisible, they are a fantastic solution if you don’t want anyone to know you are wearing braces to straighten your teeth.  Initially, as with anything alien in your mouth, they may feel awkward and cumbersome, and you may develop a lisp until you get used to them.  During this period, you may be tempted to remove them but, for every hour you leave the aligners out, you add an hour to your treatment time.  If you are dedicated to straightening your teeth, they will follow, and you will soon have the smile you want.  If you feel you are not going to be able to commit, your dentist will suggest another solution.

During treatment, your teeth will need to be checked every two or three weeks to review progress and adjust the plastic bars.  When the treatment is completed, a retainer will be fitted to prevent your teeth from moving back to their old position.

Not quite ready to get braces? Please post your comment below if anything is unclear and you would like your questions answered.

Long may it last: Is my new smile permanent?

Posted on: August 7th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

You may have had braces fitted in your teenage years only to find that over time your teeth have moved back to their original position and are as crooked or overcrowded as they were originally.  Perhaps you are now contemplating whether or not to have braces or aligners fitted to repeat the treatment and correct your smile again but are of the opinion there is little point if they are going to move once your treatment is completed. The reason for the failed treatment is not in most cases because the straightening treatment did not work but because you were either not advised to wear retainers or failed to do so. Your smile will last if you follow a few simple rules as set down by the Straight Teeth Suite.

The most important part of teeth straightening treatment are the retainers.  Whether you have had fixed braces or clear aligners to straighten your teeth, once they are removed a retainer will need to be fitted to keep your teeth permanently in their new position. Without a retainer, teeth can move into the spaces or position they were in before.  When you undergo an orthodontic treatment, the bone and tissue surrounding the teeth require some time to adjust to the new position they are moved into, by your treatment. This time span is crucial and must be used intelligently, to maximize the effect of having worn braces to straighten your teeth to achieve a beautiful smile.

The best retainer is a fixed retainer.   This is a small wire fixed to the reverse side of the teeth and held in place with a white filling material, so it is very discreet. Retainers allow the gums to adjust slowly to the new bone structure and keep the teeth perfectly aligned, at the same time. You are the only person, aside from your dentist, who need know the fixed retainer is there.  Not only is it invisible but it is comfortable.  Very soon you will forget you are wearing the retainer.  It remains in position indefinitely protecting your teeth from moving.

In addition, the Straight Teeth Suite recommend a removable retainer worn over the fixed retainer only at night.  The ‘belt and braces’ combination of the fixed wire and removable retainer ensures good stability while you sleep. Patients who have adhered to this type of retention treatment over a period of more than eight years are the patients whose teeth have remained in position and are happy with their smile.

For all of you who have successfully endured dental treatment and worn braces for anything from six months to two years to straighten your teeth, the relief of finally having your braces removed and seeing your new smile light up your face is a magical moment. Long may it last.

Contact the Straight Teeth Suite here for an appointment to talk about braces and retainers to keep your smile for life.

The Best Ways To Make Your Smile Stick

Posted on: July 31st, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

If you have recently completed your straightening treatment, having worn braces for many months, you will be relieved when they are finally taken off, and you have the pleasure of your new smile unencumbered by brackets, wires or aligners.  The Straight Teeth Suite  explains the need for retainers, how they work, and how they will keep you smiling.

Which Retainer?

There are three types of retainer:

  • Your best option is a fixed retainer worn indefinitely to hold your teeth permanently in their new position.  A fixed retainer is a discreet wire bonded to the back of your teeth where it can’t be seen.  It is comfortably positioned, and you will soon forget it is there.
  • A removable retainer, worn at night, will help prevent your teeth from moving.  This is essential in the early weeks following removal of your braces, and you need to adopt the habit of wearing it regularly.  The plastic vacuum formed retainer is moulded from impressions of your straightened teeth and worn to hold your teeth in place. Without your retainer, your teeth will undoubtedly move.
  • The most cautious option is a combination of both a fixed and removable brace.  The removable brace is worn at night, two or three times a week to be certain your teeth will not move.

Why you need to Wear a Retainer

  1. A retainer keeps your teeth in their new position.
  2. Teeth need time to fuse in place.
  3. Without a retainer teeth can move back into their old position.
  4. The forces of biting and chewing put more pressure on your teeth.
  5. If you lose, or gain, weight and age, your face will change shape putting pressure on your teeth.
  6. Some patients are prone to grinding their teeth when asleep, and these constant forces can damage your teeth.

Before considering braces to straighten your teeth, you need to know the importance of committing to life with a retainer.  After all, you don’t want anything to dent your smile and burst your bubble, so think of your retainer as the protector of your new smile.

Anything we haven’t covered on retainers? Post your comment below and we’ll make sure to answer.

New ways to get straight teeth like celebrities

Posted on: July 24th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

We wonder how many celebrities featured in the news, in magazines and on television who have worn braces to straighten their teeth you can name?  You can’t?  That’s not surprising. Lingual braces are so clever and discreet they can’t be seen.  Nobody will know you have been to the Straight Teeth Suite and are undergoing teeth realignment with Lingual braces unless, of course, you tell them.  

There are some famous people who have embraced their braces and have told the world about their new smiles. Myleene Klass, singer and television presenter of This Morning, flaunted her Lingual braces for all to see.  But, if she hadn’t opened her mouth so wide to let the camera in, no one who have known.

Other famous personalities in the public eye, such as Wimbledon champions, Serina Williams and her sister Venus, Tom Cruise and Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame have all worn braces.  Faye Dunaway, the Oscar-winning actress, wore her braces at the age of sixty- one proving it is never too late to get a beautiful smile.  Members of the Royal family, including Prince William, who wore his braces for years with no one noticing, despite the paparazzi photographing him thousands of times. Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, is known to have had her Lingual braces fitted before her marriage to William giving her a lovely smile for the much-publicised wedding photos.  Her braces were invisible, and only a few close family members knew she had opted to have her teeth straightened until someone leaked the news to the press.

All these celebrities are in the public eye and may be subject to scrutiny. Even if you are not famous, you may feel judged or criticised if you have an overcrowded smile or buck teeth. And, if your bite is misaligned it may be uncomfortable to eat. They are many different reasons, aside from the aesthetic, to consider having braces and realigning your teeth.

You don’t have to be famous to treat yourself like the best.  Lingual braces are available for all.  Fitted to the reverse side of your teeth, they are more comfortable than conventional braces.  As they are custom made, they fit perfectly and are very effective in moving teeth to their desired position in a relatively short amount of time. The brackets are smaller and they are less intrusive so they don’t disrupt your ability to chew or affect your speech.  And best of all, no one will know you have braces unless you tell them.

If you want to be one of the best and have Lingual braces fitted, contact the Straight Teeth Suite HERE

4 Months with Lingual Braces. How I Learnt to Live With Them

Posted on: May 29th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

After 4 months of living with Lingual braces, my teeth are free, and I have the smile I have been dreaming of for the past twenty years.  I can’t stop looking in the mirror to admire my new grin.  It is better than I ever expected.  For the last few months, I have been visiting the Straight Teeth Suite to have my Lingual braces fitted and adjusted, and I am so happy I did.

Day 1:  Having chosen Lingual braces because they are nearly invisible unless I open my mouth really wide, the day has come for my dentist to fit them. I am excited and nervous at one and the same time. The whole procedure lasted about forty minutes.  Firstly, my teeth were thoroughly cleaned with a water jet.  The brackets were then fixed to the reverse side of my teeth where they can’t be seen using a special adhesive.  As the dentist pressed on each of the brackets to get a strong bond, the pressure was uncomfortable for a moment, and my jaw was starting to ache from keeping my mouth open.  And last of all, the wires were threaded through the brackets. Armed with a bag of essentials including Ibuprofen, toothbrush, mouthwash and dental wax, I made my way home. I was not in any pain yet, but I will let you know how I got on.

Day 2. My first 48 hours with Lingual braces were no better and no worse than I had been warned.  I had a little pain, a lot of discomfort, I lisped a bit, and I found it hard to chew.  After taking a dose of Ibuprofen, the pain disappeared.  My tongue was sore where I had rubbed it on the brackets so I put some dental wax on the wires and brackets, and that really helped.  I had plenty of soups in the fridge and dipped my bread to soften it, so I didn’t go hungry.  I was lisping for a while but practiced using the Rainbow Passage developed by some speech therapists. I didn’t sound too silly. It was useful to practice in front of a mirror and exaggerate the words. Singing along to my favourite songs helped too. My mouth felt really dry overnight, so I kept a glass of water by my bed.

Day 31. A month after my braces were fitted and I could already see a difference in the position of my teeth.  I wasn’t expecting this so soon.  The gap between my lower incisors, right at the front had completely closed.  It is a big confidence boost to see the braces are actually working.  My lisp was much better. In fact, I only lisped when I talked too fast or had bits of food stuck in the brackets.  I brushed my teeth at least six times a day. Not only did my mouth feel much nicer after brushing but it helped with the lisp too.  I had moments when I could forget I was wearing braces which were a real bonus.It can be very tiring being conscious of something alien in your mouth all day.  When I had my braces fitted I was told to avoid biting into anything hard or chewy. Four weeks on I had devised a menu plan to make this more bearable.  Porridge, scrambled eggs, granola with yoghurt and fruit, for breakfast.  Soup, fish and mash, jacket potato with tuna, pasta and sauce, or omelette for lunch or dinner.  And puddings of chocolate mousse or ice cream made up for not being able to eat sweets or biscuits.

Day 60.  Two months later and my wires were adjusted for the first time. It wasn’t too uncomfortable and only took a little time. The best thing was my protruding tooth has now moved to connect with the wire. For the first week, my gums ached again, and I took some more painkillers.  My lisp had totally vanished by this time, so everything was great. I also visited the hygienist who professionally cleaned my teeth.  She was able to get in between the brackets and wires and my teeth felt smooth and clean.

Day 90.  More than halfway through my treatment and I had my wires adjusted again. My teeth had moved dramatically during the past three months since I first had my lingual braces fitted. I was already feeling happy to show my teeth when I smiled, something I avoided doing before.

I was prepared for another week of discomfort after my appointment but this time,  I didn’t need to take the painkillers.

Day 120. At the third adjustment for my braces, the dentist used a stronger wire. He said my teeth were moving well.  My gums were sore again for just a few days but I didn’t have any tongue pain from rubbing on the brackets, and I could eat most things. I was already more confident and actually wore red lipstick for the first time in my adult life.  I even started practicing  smiling for the camera in time for the braces to come off.

Day 143.  The end of the journey, I had my braces removed, and I felt amazing!   I hadn’t actually thought about how the dentist would remove the brackets. When I saw the clamp, a bit of panic set in. The dentist literally pulled the brackets off. One yelp and it was all over.  I had a tiny wire fixed behind my teeth to hold everything in place before my retainers were fitted.  I love my smile and any discomfort, trials and suffering were undoubtedly worth the effort.  If I have any regrets, it is that I didn’t have braces and a beautiful smile sooner.

If you are considering Lingual braces, contact the Straight Teeth Suite for a free consultation HERE

The Cost of Happiness: Teeth Straightening

Posted on: April 24th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

How much it costs to get a great smile is a question the Straight Teeth Suite is frequently asked.  Modern dentistry and the skilled technicians can now achieve fantastic results for patients with misaligned or missing teeth but, until recently, this kind of dentistry was often considered the domain only of the rich and Hollywood stars bringing perfect, white smiles to the screen.  From simple techniques to keep your teeth healthy and clean,  to more complex procedures to straighten crooked or crowded teeth, to more complicated treatments to replace missing teeth, the Straight Teeth Suite in Leicester will price your priceless new smile.

What is the price of happiness?

A simple clean with a qualified hygienist can give your smile a whole new look.  Stain removal, using air flow and a professional polish can cost as little as £68 but can leave you feeling refreshed.  Teeth whitening at £200 can renew a tired, yellowing smile, leaving you beaming with pleasure.

If your teeth are overcrowded or crooked, teeth straightening with fixed braces or clear aligners can cost from £1500 for simple cases to £4000 for more complex cases that take more time to correct. The Straight Teeth Suite recommend both fixed braces and clear aligners depending on type and severity of the treatment needed.  Fixed braces are designed to be as discreet and comfortable as possible and clear aligners, a moulded clear plastic tray that fits over the teeth is invisible and removable. The aligners are changed every two or three weeks until the teeth have moved to their new position.  The best type of brace for you and the duration of treatment will be explained at your first consultation.  Dentistry is never a case of ‘one size fits all’ and all treatments have to be determined individually and costed accordingly.

Quite a lot of patients combine teeth straightening and teeth whitening treatments to achieve the smile of their dreams. When the teeth have become damaged through wear and tear, accident or injury and are chipped or uneven, we can offer composite edge bonding.  Essentially, this is a filling, coloured to match your teeth and fixed in place to improve the shape of the teeth.

Although this type of treatment may initially seem beyond your reach, by spreading the cost over time it becomes much more realistic and affordable. The Straight Teeth Suite can offer their patients a financial plan, allowing you to spread the cost on a monthly basis over one-year interest-free or up to five years. You can achieve your new smile without delay.

If you have a special occasion in mind or have been dreaming of a great new smile, contact the Straight Teeth Suite in Leicester for a consultation and a quote and take a step towards happiness today.

How to Broaden your Smile with Arch Expansion

Posted on: April 3rd, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

If you have a narrow arch your front teeth may appear prominent and your smile may not be as effective as you would wish.  You may think there is nothing that can be done and it is your lot in life to have a minimal grin.  Fear not. With arch expansion at the Straight Teeth Suite, you can soon broaden your horizons, increase your confidence and improve your smile.

Arch Expansion

Everyone is different and smiles come in different shapes and sizes. Celebrities, such as Julia Roberts or Angelina Jolie are instantly recognisable by their broad smiles.  But, if your mouth is too small and too narrow, no amount of trying to stretch your grin will achieve a smile like these stars. If your arch is too narrow, you may feel very self-conscious, as if your smile does not fit your personality.  Patients, with a narrow arch, show very little of their back teeth as they are covered by the shadow from the cheeks.  With an arch expansion, the teeth are repositioned to open up and broaden your smile to suit your face.  A general estimation of the right smile for you is when it reaches the centre of your eyes, in line with the pupils.

With a narrow arch, your teeth may be over-crowded and your bite misaligned.  This can lead to oral health issues, such as gum disease, as overcrowded teeth are very difficult to keep clean however meticulous you are when you brush your teeth.

Damon Braces

The Straight Teeth Suite uses Damon braces to straighten the teeth and widen the arch.  Damon braces are a fixed brace which, unlike traditional braces, use a slide mechanism to hold the wire, allowing teeth to move more freely, quickly and comfortably creating an arch expansion and a great smile.

In this case, you can see how prominent the patient’s front teeth were.  We made a full evaluation and fitted Damon braces.

The result was a broader arch, eliminating the shadows in the patient’s mouth when he smiles.

7 tips for having braces whilst pregnant

Posted on: March 27th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

If you are planning two major events in your life, getting straight teeth and having a baby, you may be able to achieve both at one and the same time.  However, to achieve this safely and successfully, you need to be prepared.  A new baby will give you lots to smile about, and straight teeth will make that smile so special.  The Straight Teeth Suite have compiled an essential list of the points to consider when contemplating braces while you are pregnant, so you know what to expect and can factor them into your plans. You and your baby can have a photo of your first new smiles together!

  1. Plan your braces with your dentist before you get pregnant so all X-rays can be taken before treatment begins.  Although the radiation dosage in dental X-rays is minimal, we do not risk taking X-rays in pregnant patients, especially in the first trimester.
  2. Provided your teeth and gums are healthy, there is no reason not to have braces during pregnancy.
  3. The hormones released during pregnancy fluctuate and can make you more sensitive to plaque build up.  Oral health is important at all times, but you need to be extra, extra, extra vigilant with brushing and flossing when you are pregnant.  Make regular visits to the hygienist for a professional clean and be sure to follow their advice.
  4. During the early days, following the fitting of your new braces, you may experience some discomfort when eating and not be able to chew.  It is essential to keep to a nutritious diet for the health of your unborn baby and your own well being.  Keep a good selection of healthy soups in stock to get you through these days without going hungry. Scrambled eggs, porridge, baked potatoes and other soft foods are healthy ways to avoid hunger when you can’t bite.
  5. Start your braces treatment early in your pregnancy as, towards the final months, your growing bump may make it awkward and uncomfortable to lie back in the dentist’s chair for extended periods of time.
  6. If you are planning on taking extended maternity leave, this may be a good time to have your braces fitted.  In the early weeks, following the birth of your baby, you may find you have little time for yourself to keep appointments but once you have settled into a routine, you will have a little more time for yourself.
  7. Some people develop a lisp in the initial weeks following the fitting of their braces. Singing to your baby will help to overcome any speech problems.

If you would like an appointment with the Straight Teeth Suite to discuss braces, please contact us here