dental braces Nottingham | Straight Teeth Suite

The Pro Guide on How to Look After Your Dental Braces

Posted on: May 8th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

Well done. You’ve just had your braces fitted! Braces can be quite uncomfortable when they’re first fitted. Don’t worry. It is only temporary. After a couple of days, we would expect that discomfort to disappear. To make thing easier for you, we recommend you stick to a soft diet for the first few days and allow yourself to adjust to this new phase.

To keep your teeth clean and healthy, avoid any breakages and minimize your treatment time, here are a few points for you to consider.

What To Expect While You’re Wearing Braces (Especially in the First Few Days)

1. Lip Soreness
At first, your teeth and lips are going to feel quite sore. Since each person responds differently to various interventions, you may only get that sore for a few days or up to about a couple of weeks or so.

2. Pain
As mentioned before, every person is different, which is why someone may experience pain once the braces are fitted that reminds a headache in severity. In this case, it is advised to take the usual medicine you use for headaches, such as your Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, or any other.

3. Small Bite Issues
If you have had bite guards placed at the back of your mouth, biting may be a bit difficult for you at first. Again, it may cause a small discomfort that will go away in a few days, so just be a little patient and it all goes well.

4. Rubbing on the Lips
The reason you had braces is that your teeth were irregular somehow (spaced, gappy, crooked, etc.). The braces may cause pressure points in order to move your teeth to the ideal position, and might rub on your lips. If the wire is rubbing against your gum, you can use the wax we provide you with, which comes in strips in your brace kit, to avoid ulcers. Break a little bit off and mould it with your fingers into a ball-like shape. Then, press it over the rubbing bracket and wire, and that’s about it.

Tip: If you are going to have a hot drink or something to eat, take the wax off first, because it will come off while you are eating or drinking something hot, and place it back after you are done.

How To Keep Your Teeth Clean And Healthy

To maintain a good level of hygiene, brushing your teeth AND gums at least twice a day for 3 minutes is highly recommended. Don’t just focus on the brackets. Make sure you brush your gums as well. You can use TP brushes (either yellow or blue, depending on the required size) to clean in between the brackets where regular brushing won’t allow you to reach and get rid of all the trapped food that could form tartar in the long run. Your dentist or hygienist will help you pick the right size for you.

A mouthwash is also a valued helping hand. We recommend an alcohol-free product with fluoride. Rinse out with that after you have cleaned your teeth and make sure you DON’T remove any excess with water. We want it in your mouth.

If you notice any redness or swelling, keep us posted. It is important to keep regular visits with the hygienist to ensure everything is clean and healthy and that plaque around the teeth and any of the brackets is effectively removed.

DO’s and DON’Ts of Eating

Look after the appliance by not eating hard, crunchy, or sticky food, such as chewing gums, crispy baguettes, toffees, and hard sweets, because they might break the bracket and make it pop away from the tooth. We are not saying you can’t eat, for example, your favourite chicken wings. But, we do prefer you tear the chicken with your fingers or a fork and eat it, rather than biting into the chicken wing itself!

As for fruit and vegetables, cut them into small pieces or peel them if necessary, and enjoy them! As long as you are not biting into an apple, you are always free to have as many as you want, if only you cut them up into small pieces.

When chewing and eating, take your time, especially if you have had bite guards placed on the back. You won’t be able to chew on as much surface as you were before, anyway. So take a little bit longer to eat your food.

Avoid biting your nails, pens, and pencil tops or opening bottles with your teeth. These actions may cause breakages. If you are wearing a clear brace such as the Six Month brace, then your brackets and elastics may stain over time; they just discolour. Note that foods such as tea, coffee, red wine, and curry, as well as smoking, will cause stains on your brace for a very long time. If you want curry, then do so a night before you have your elastics changed!

Upon any problem regarding your brace, be it a dental pain, a bracket that has come out or a or a bite block that has come off, book an appointment to have things checked out for you. If you want to know more about the options you have, when it comes to braces, feel free to contact us.

4 Things Every Mother Should Do Before Choosing an Orthodontist in Nottingham

Posted on: July 20th, 2015 by freshadmin No Comments

Misaligned teeth and jaws used to be a challenging task to deal with in the past. However, with the latest advances in dentistry, and breakthroughs that no one could have ever imagined a few decades ago, most oral issues are easily treated. What used to be a long and tedious process is now computer-designed and significantly shortened in treatment time, allowing children and teenagers to acquire a bright and straight smile without the use of metal braces and non-aesthetically pleasing headgear. Also, pain has given its place to nervous-free orthodontic treatments and effective pain management.

That said, can you trust just about everybody with your child’s braces? What should every mom know before deciding which orthodontist will treat her child’s mouth? Here are the 4 major points you need to focus on, to make the wisest of decisions:

Don’t Opt for the First Assessment you are Made

Knowledge is power, and the more you know about treatment options, the better placed your decision will be. For that reason, it is proposed not to stick to the initial assessment. They are, sometimes, wrong. To stay on the safe side, better ask for a second opinion. This should give you more knowledge and a more judgmental mind considering the first diagnosis and its accuracy. You will also understand whether your child is indeed in need of an orthodontic treatment and if the time is right to start one.

Get Advice from Orthodontic Specialists

Did you know that millions of people in the UK and across the world go undiagnosed with serious jaw and tooth alignment problems because they never consulted an experienced orthodontic specialist? The result is to have severe jaw joint issues and tooth wear later on in their lives that require more expensive treatments than the ones that should/could have been delivered at an earlier age. To avoid that, you can find the right doctors and get their advice. Maybe your child has biting issues (malocclusion) or other problems that could escalate into a more critical condition in the future. Wouldn’t you want to know beforehand so you can intervene and prevent it? That’s why you need to speak to orthodontists with many years of experience and advanced training in jaw & tooth alignment to develop the most suited treatment plan for your child.

Ask the Right Questions

– Is the doctor a specialist?

– When is the best time to start a treatment?

– How soon should my child be evaluated to rule out possible problems?

– Do I pay for the first visit?

– Am I paying extra for the retainers?

– What are the differences between treatment options (Lingual, Invisalign, etc.)?

– Are emergency appointments charged extra or included in the quoted fee?

– Are there any payment options?

– Do the orthodontist and staff at the clinic make my child feel special?

These are some of the important things you need to know about, to familiarise yourself with the nature of your child’s jaw and tooth alignment issues and be more able to understand the approach suggested.

Book a Consultation

To make a confident decision, you have to visit the clinic in person. During that visit, you will not only be able to get clarifications to the burning questions you have in mind, but also take a good look around to see if the practice is comfortable, clean and infuses serenity and professionalism. You will also be able to tell whether the orthodontist is fully engaged in conversation with your child and you, or if you are rushed, among so many others. If you are happy with everything, you can then say you have found the perfect specialist for your child. Just trust your mommy instinct on this one; it is never wrong!

Finding the right doctor to allow your child to acquire a lovely straight smile in a timely manner while setting the foundation for an excellent oral health is paramount. At Straight Teeth Smile in Nottingham, you will get the exceptional care you want for your child and feel our innate passion and deep love for what we do right away.

Contact us NOW to book your first FREE consultation, where we will discuss all about the significance of oral hygiene and health and develop a fully optimised plan for your child’s confident and healthy smile!

What to do if you can’t get NHS braces in Nottingham for your child?

Posted on: June 15th, 2015 by freshadmin No Comments

Braces are in high demand in the UK and worldwide. In 2013 alone, more than one million British people, adults and children alike, started an orthodontic treatment. Now, more than ever before, people want a treatment, be it for cosmetic or other reasons, which means that more and more parents ask for NHS treatments. However, getting NHS braces is not always guaranteed, and you may as well be refused NHS braces. The law is seemingly clear and straightforward: Orthodontic treatment is available on the NHS (for free) for under 18-year-olds, who need it. This means that if you have a child younger than 18, they are eligible for NHS braces. Right? Well, NOT always! You see, the trick part of the regulation is the last one, the “who need it”. Who determines whether a child needs an orthodontic treatment on dental health grounds? Orthodontists using IOTN (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need).

What is the IOTN Assessment?

The IOTN, with the unanimous consent of the British Orthodontic Society, is a measure of the necessity of an orthodontic treatment for children under 18. It is believed that if a treatment is to be rationed, there has to be a way to assess the children’s cases and decide on the ones that will benefit most from a treatment. That way, the limited NHS resources might be better (and fairer) prioritised.

The IOTN comprises the following: (1) The Dental Health Component, and (2) The Aesthetic Component, and are divided in grades from 1-5 with 1 being the closest to perfection and 5 the most severe dental problems, such as protruding upper teeth (> than 9mm), large number of teeth missing, cranio-facial anomalies, and teeth that can’t come into the mouth as supposed because of crowding or any other cause.

Where to Address If you are Refused NHS Treatment for your Child

So, what happens when you are denied NHS or are being put on an unreasonably long waiting list?

The first thing you can do is contact your local NHS branch. You can find a list of authorities and trusts per area, here. Besides that, you may want to seek private treatment. The best way to get around it is to get recommendations from either the BOS website or your dentist. Talk to other people that have had an orthodontic treatment for their child and get some personal recommendations from them as well.

If, for any reason, you feel that the assessment that your child has received is unfair, you should speak to the family dentist so that he arranges a second option. Additionally, you can address your local PCT (Primary Care Trust) and see what they have to say.

Finally, there are practices that offer payment options that make the cost of an orthodontic treatment manageable. Plus, if your child’s problem is minor, you can find treatments that will fix your child’s dental issue in a few months, which means the fees will probably be much less than you first imagined.

At Straight Teeth Suite in Nottingham, there are various finance plans to suit your budget. Feel free to take a look.

No one should decide whether your child needs an orthodontic treatment or not and no one has the right to deprive a child of a beautiful (and self-confidence boosting), straight smile. So, don’t hesitate. Contact us NOW and let’s find the best way to give your kid the smile they deserve!

What brace options are there for teenagers in Nottingham?

Posted on: May 18th, 2015 by freshadmin No Comments

These days, teenagers have many orthodontic treatments, to fix their misaligned teeth and improper bite. Depending on their particular needs, there is always a suited treatment to their requirements. Undeniably, braces have come a long way, offering more options than ever before. So, if you are considering an orthodontic treatment for your teenager, you will not end up empty handed. On the contrary, because of the plethora of options available, it’s always advised to make sure you compare the choices before you commit to a source of treatment, so that you can find out exactly what to expect.

In detail, your teenager has the following options for braces:

Traditional Metal Braces

No, these have nothing to do with the metal mouth you may be used to. Dentistry has evolved substantially over the last few decades, offering more discreet braces. These braces are made of minuscule, stainless steel brackets that are glued to the surface of every tooth, holding strong and thin wires that sit in bracket slots. Everything is held in place with the use of elastic bands.

Traditional braces apply gentle force on the teeth, causing them to move. They are often the most cost-effective option because the metal brackets are industry-standard.

Ceramic Braces (Clear)

If you don’t like the use of metal, the next best thing is ceramic braces that use tooth-coloured or clear ceramic brackets (e.g. Damon Braces), which makes them more discreet than traditional braces. Most of them are self-ligating, meaning they have a channel that holds everything in place, but you may also find brackets that still use elastic ties for that purpose.

Note: Before opting for ceramic braces, you first need to know whether your teen is a good candidate because these braces don’t correct all kinds of orthodontic issues.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are braces implanted at the back of your teeth, not their visible side. It is not a treatment that every orthodontist can offer as it requires special training and a high level of expertise. So, before you choose this treatment, it is best to search for truly qualified professionals, as it is them who will be able to treat all orthodontic issues with lingual braces. As it is a treatment that demands high technology, it can be more expensive than the others, but you do get utmost discretion. This is why most celebrities and A-lists prefer this particular option to straighten their teeth.

Invisalign/Smilelign/Clear Aligners

These braces are invisible, removable clear plastic trays, specially created using a mold of your teeth, and are changed as the teeth move. It is the perfect option for mild to moderate orthodontic issues and brings excellent results if used as prescribed.

Personalisation Options

Braces among teenagers tend to become fashion statements, considering an entire industry that has moved forward making brackets in all different kinds of shapes (e.g. stars, hearts, and flowers) and colours (from golden to bright sapphire). The same applies to the rubber bands that hold the wires to the brackets and are changed at every appointment, giving your teen the chance to wear something different, something completely personal, whenever he/she feels like it!

To know whether your teenager is a fitted candidate for the orthodontic treatment you have chosen, please don’t hesitate to contact our Straight Teeth Suite clinic in Nottingham to book a consultation, completely free of any charges and obligations.

Give your children the smile they deserve and watch them grow up with confidence!

What are Lingual Braces in Nottingham? A Helpful Guide

Posted on: May 10th, 2015 by freshadmin No Comments

The majority of modern patients are particularly concerned with their appearance when undergoing an orthodontic treatment. Ever since the introduction of Invisalign aligners in 1998, more and more people are receiving treatments, mainly because of the extreme discretion the treatment provides them with. Who wouldn’t want to wear braces that are hardly visible, anyway? Unfortunately, Invisalign braces don’t cover all patient cases. Some problems require more than plastic aligners to correct. Besides, it would be nice to have an option that allows for complete invisibility. The recent advances in CAD/CAM technology and 3D imaging have provided us with another option, called Lingual (meaning tongue) Braces; a very crucial milestone in orthodontics.

What do they Look Like?

Lingual braces or Invisible Braces are braces attached to the inside of the mouth – the teeth that face the tongue. This means that they are invisible from the outside, and even if someone is too close to you, they would still know you are wearing braces.

Advantages of Lingual Braces

Besides being practically undetectable, lingual braces are extremely efficient in treating complex cases compared to clear aligners. These cases could include altering the height of the teeth, correcting rotations, and closing the space(s) after an extraction. In addition, when wearing braces, discoloration (white spots) occurs, sometimes. With lingual braces, you will not have to worry about someone noticing those white spots on your teeth, as they will be on the inside.

Why are Lingual Braces more Expensive?

Lingual Braces require lighter and smaller, robotically created wires, and precision brackets, given that the distances between the teeth on the inside are shorter than on the outside. Since braces and wires are custom-made, requiring specialised technology and 3D imaging to make them, plus the fact that treatments tend to be more timely and involved, lingual braces make a more expensive treatment. Also, compared to conventional braces, lingual braces may require more chair-time. It makes sense though as working on the inside and upside-down is more difficult for an orthodontist than working on the outside.

That aside, it takes specialised skills to offer lingual braces. It is NOT something every orthodontist can do. They need to have extra training for this particular dental treatment, and, of course, always keep up with the latest through continuing education courses. This expertise acquired figures into the cost.

But, don’t be intimidated by the sound of lingual braces being more expensive. There are ways to make the cost manageable, either via dental insurance plans that may cover lingual braces or in-office payment plans.

What to Expect at First?

It will take some time to get used to having braces on the inside of your mouth and so close to your tongue. But, an adjustment period is anticipated in every type of treatment, anyway. The wires and brackets will feel a bit rough at first, and you may have slight issues with your speech. Don’t worry. These are only temporal and more or less the same as wearing normal braces. Now, the one thing that is different is that it will be a bit more challenging to keep your teeth clean, but our hygienist will give you a great helping hand.

However, not everyone is fit for lingual braces. If, for example, you have small teeth of significant issues with your bite, such as an overbite, you may not be a suited candidate for them.

As you can understand, there are lots of things that have to be discussed so that you can make a wise and knowledgeable decision. For that reason, feel free to book your first consultation (no charges) here at Straight Teeth Suite in Nottingham, where we can go through all options and offer the best solution for your case.

With fantastic results guaranteed and benefits that outweigh the potential drawbacks, wearing lingual braces will definitely be an investment well worth your money and time, so why wait any longer? Just Contact us now and let the most invisible journey to a wide, straight smile begin!

Invisalign: From A-Z in Nottingham

Posted on: May 5th, 2015 by freshadmin No Comments

Admittedly, Invisalign is gaining popularity, especially among adults, as a solution for orthodontic issues, and for a very good reason. Invisalign, unlike traditional ceramic-metal braces that require the placement of brackets on the teeth, in addition to being linked together with unaesthetic-pleasing wires, works, as its name suggest, almost invisibly. It is a particularly attractive solution for those that feel self-conscious about wearing braces that are noticeable and wish to draw attention away from their mouths, such as actors and teachers.

But, how much do you know about Invisalign? Here is a guide to the basic steps involved, so you know what to expect before you decide to opt for them or not.

Consultation with our Certified Invisalign Providers

Please note that only professionals that have received specialised training can work with Invisalign.

That said, during your consultation appointment, our trained clinicians will assess your smile’s needs and determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign or not. This is necessary, because, in some cases, the type of problem may require another orthodontic treatment to fix, other than Invisalign.

Creation of a Bespoke Treatment Plan

With Invisalign, we use a series of clear trays that are specially created by taking X-rays and impressions of your teeth, so they fit almost perfectly over your teeth. These are then submitted to a specialized laboratory that makes a 3D print of your smile, which will be used to create an individual treatment plan. That way, we are able to estimate the overall duration of your treatment.

Arrival of Individually Moulded Trays

Once your customized trays arrive, the treatment process can commence. However, for Invisalign to work properly, you must wear the aligners 20 to 22 hours per day, remove them only when you eat or drink, and brush your teeth regularly. These trays will allow your teeth to move into the right position, as a means to correct your teeth alignment issues, without having to worry about anything during your everyday life. Once the individualised treatment plan is completed, you can look in the mirror and be euphoric with the beautiful smile you have gained!

Final Notes:

Normally, you will have to replace your aligners every couple of weeks and have a new set. This is to paramount to allow the teeth to continue moving throughout the treatment process.
It is important to check in with our team approximately every 6 weeks or so, to check how the treatment progresses.
Like any other teeth straightening method, maintaining your oral hygiene is critical to a successful orthodontic treatment. It is paramount to clean your aligner after you have removed it to eat or drink, so it won’t get stained and remains bacteria-free.

To acquire a gorgeous smile is not a far-fetched dream at Straight Teeth Suite, so don’t be intimidated by those that may discourage you from wearing braces, only because they think braces are for children.

How to correct Overlapping Front Teeth with dental braces in Nottingham

Posted on: December 8th, 2014 by freshadmin No Comments

One of the main complaints we hear by patients who want teeth straightening is about overlapped front teeth. Considering that one of our dentist’s front teeth used to be overlapping, we totally understand those patients who come to us and complain about this issue.
We know the embarrassment you may be experiencing. Yes, we also know that many of you wish for perfectly straightened teeth for the most special moments of your life, such as your wedding day. Well, you know what’s been around for many years: It’s never too late! Thanks to the technological advancements in dentistry, dentists are now more knowledgeable than ever. All this profound knowledge allows us to provide the most advanced options that can treat and correct any issue our patients may have, regarding their oral health and the condition of their mouth.

We have helped many brides get the smile they have always wanted for their special day; but, some of you, did not have the chance to have braces on time, and now you are at a critical stage in life. A stage where you want to take some action, improve your smile, and feel awesome when you look at family photos. You just want to feel confident when you go to job interviews and more comfortable in social situations. Not to mention, start dating again…For all these, we can help. We have already helped thousands of patients. To speak with facts, let’s go through a case, so, with concrete evidence, you know what we can achieve for you.

Patient’s Case

This patient presented to us complaining about the position and colour of her front teeth. At the consultation appointment, we discussed her ideal results and went through various treatment options before she decided to go for 6 Month Braces.

Six Month Braces is one of our most popular forms of treatment and is much preferred for its discretion and quick results. It consists of fixed clear tooth coloured braces and tooth coloured wires. The treatment aims at straightening the front teeth and takes an average of 6 months to accomplish that. The photos can’t lie. As you can see, the results are astonishing!

In this case, we treated top and bottom teeth, we saw the patient for adjustments every 4 weeks, and, within 6 months, the teeth were lovely and straight. On the day of brace removal, we fitted the retainers and took moulds so that the patient could start doing home whitening soon after. You can see the result for yourself: Wonderful straight white teeth in just 6 months!

Have any issues with overlapping teeth? The times when this would be an unsurpassed obstacle were long gone. Straight Teeth Suite has proven that overlapped front teeth CAN be treated quickly and in a discreet way. Still hesitant? Take one step at a time with this test. Dr Raha Sepehrara will be more than happy to help. Or, you could also
Contact us, or call us on 0115 824 3115. Let’s go through your alternatives together, for the heart-stopping smile you have always wanted!