straight teeth suite Loughborough | Straight Teeth Suite

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.

Why are lingual braces so popular?

Posted on: July 10th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

Lingual braces (you may hear them referred to as Invisible braces or Incognito braces, as well) are braces positioned at the back of the teeth, facing the tongue. It is a superb treatment for adults that are worried about looks and aesthetics during an orthodontic treatment, as it offers complete discretion. This means that no one will be able to tell you are wearing braces!

Lingual braces are digitally customised and require specialised technology to make them, and trained professionals to install them. So, don’t expect your family dentist to know the how-tos as it takes particular skills to stand up to the challenge involved in implanting lingual braces. Of course, all these add to the overall cost of the treatment, making lingual braces more expensive than regular braces. However, their benefits overshadow any possible drawbacks, which is why lingual braces are among the most popular orthodontic treatments patients ask for in the last decades. In detail…

Lingual Braces are Invisible

If you have angled front teeth, crooked or misaligned teeth that make your smile somewhat unflattering, you will fix your problem with orthodontic braces. So far so good. However, with the traditional route, you will have to wear metal braces around your dentures. If you don’t fancy the metal mouth and metal braces flashing every time you smile, you have lingual braces; a solution with a more cosmetic and aesthetic appeal. They bond at the back of your teeth, thus remaining undetectable when smiling. Perfect!

Note: Even if you choose to wear clear braces or ceramic braces, they’d still be visible. They are definitely a more aesthetically inconspicuous option, but won’t give you the utmost discretion you will get from lingual braces. So, if you are struggling with self-consciousness, no other form of orthodontic braces will get you covered.

Lingual Braces are Made for Various Bites

Almost every form of bite can be treated with lingual braces. If you were told you need braces, there is absolutely no difference between conventional braces and lingual braces, when it comes to the final outcome. With only minor exceptions, lingual braces can treat even the most serious form of oral disfigurement. The only difference is that they won’t be seen by others. In addition, there is a variety of brackets to choose from, which gives you the freedom to shop around if you want and find the company that will best meet your oral requirements.

Lingual Braces are Custom-Made for YOUR Smile

For lingual braces, we use 3D imaging and computer-designed brackets and wires to fit your mouth specifically. The “one size fits all” plan does not have a place here. No one will tell you that positioning lingual braces is an easy task. The fitting demands particular skills and knowledge so that the braces are perfectly aligned with your teeth’s contours and meet your mouth’s particular specifications. This is one of the reasons you need an orthodontic that has received special training to be able to fit lingual braces.

Do you know if you are a good candidate for lingual braces? If any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us, book your FREE first consultation, and get your mouth assessed. Acquiring that wonderful, straight smile of your dreams has never been so close!

Smile with Confidence with Invisalign – Your guide to Invisalign, part four

Posted on: July 2nd, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

If you are reading this article, you are probably planning to improve your smile and straighten your teeth. So, you should congratulate yourself for making this decision, considering there still are many people afraid of this procedure, implications and even costs.

Well, there is nothing to worry about. With Invisalign available at the Straight Teeth Suite, you don’t have to wear old-fashioned braces and the costs aren’t as high as you’ve thought.

So, What to Expect from Straightening Your Teeth?

Well, the treatment is easy and pretty fast, comparing to usual, fixed braces. Also, people don’t even have to know you are wearing anything in your mouth. Of course, they will begin noticing the improvement and probably the beauty of your smile. But the rest of it? Not really. Only if you tell them, since the aligners are almost invisible.

How Exactly Does this Work?

The procedure offered is far from being similar to the traditional braces, most people run away from. You should actually expect clear invisible plastic trays that must be changed every two weeks.

However, you must be careful and not let yourself tempted to do it any less than that, because you can actually stop tooth movement and encounter some issues.

Can You Take the Aligners Out?

You definitely shouldn’t take the aligners out more than you are advised to. These aligners must be worn for an average of 22-23 hours a day, so you only removed them to eat, drink and brush your teeth

Invisible Aligners Are Not Painful

Many people have this question and the answer is always the same: pain is a very subjective matter. However, with the invisible aligners, you won’t get the entire rubbing that you would with the fixed braces, Of course, there will be some pressure in the first week, but it does ease off afterwards.

Invisalign Doesn’t Really Affect Your Speech

Many people are quite afraid of their manner of speaking while wearing braces. When beginning to straighten your teeth in Loughborough, you might also get an unusual lisp, but it’s only temporary. However, besides the fact that many people find it cute, if you talk a lot or read a book out loud in the first days, your tongue can get used to it and the lisp will disappear quite quickly. Not as bad as you expected, right?

Is There Anything You Should Not Do While Wearing the Aligners?

After all the good news you received, it’s time for some interdictions. Actually, none of these is good for your health so you can have a positive perspective when it comes to the following advice: smoking and chewing gum are not recommended. Both can damage the aligners and there is a charge to replace them.

So, now that you found out how easy it can be to straighten your teeth are you ready to make an easy but important change in your life? Book your FREE assessment HERE or read Your Guide To Invisalign part 1 HERE

How long can a teeth straightening treatment take?

Posted on: June 5th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

Misaligned teeth can make you smile less and undermine your confidence, affecting your social and personal life. Fortunately, you now have more orthodontic teeth straightening options available than ever before to bring your smile back and perfectly align your teeth. If you are wondering about the overall duration of a given teeth straightening treatment, we must say that there is no straightforward answer. Each case is different and only when we have assessed and evaluated each case separately will we be able to set the desired time frame for the completion (and type) of the treatment a patient will have to undergo. To help you understand what can affect the duration of an orthodontic treatment, here is a small guide with some useful information.

What is Teeth Crowding and What Should I Know about it?

Teeth crowding or malocclusion is an irregularity of the jaws (upper or lower, or even both) or the teeth relationship. Teeth crowding is a complex and multifactorial subject, whose nature is classified under dental, skeletal, and soft tissue. All three of them interplay and result in a broad array of teeth crowding severity.

The dental causes include:

The Position of the Teeth
Extra/Missing Teeth
Incompatible Tooth Size
Permanent Teeth whose Eruption has been Disrupted.

The skeletal causes include a varied growth of the jaws (either one of them or both) while the soft tissue causes include lower lips, among others. Also, tooth crowding can be inherited, or it could be attributed to development disorders, such as hypothyroidism and Down’s Syndrome, to name a few.

As you can see, tooth crowding can occur due to numerous reasons that have to be carefully and thoroughly evaluated before recommending an orthodontic teeth straightening treatment. Of course, just the fact that someone has malocclusion does not necessarily mean they will benefit, either functionally or aesthetically, from undergoing treatment. Whether orthodontic intervention should be considered for an individual (that is if they make a suited candidate) is another issue that also has to be assessed.

Get Fully Informed

Just as we want to carry out a full assessment of a case, we want you to be as educated about the available options as possible. For that reason, we provide you with not only one but five different teeth straightening solutions to choose the one that best meets your needs and requirements. Making an informed choice regarding your orthodontic treatment is paramount to us, so don’t be surprised if we show you several before and after examples of our options and a 3D simulation that will allow you to visually see the final result before you even start a treatment! For your reference, you can have from invisible braces that go completely undetected and clear braces to braces with shorter treatment times and less discomfort.

Back to the initial question, a teeth-straightening treatment at Straight Teeth Suite in Loughborough can take from 2 months and up to 2 years, always depending on the case. Needless to say, each treatment is strictly personalised and will not exceed the 2-year upper limit for any reason whatsoever.

To get a better idea of the teeth straightening options available, feel free to book your first straight Teeth consultation for FREE or download your FREE Straight Teeth Guide here and claim the smile of your dreams!

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

Smile with Invisalign – Your guide to Invisalign, part one

Posted on: May 1st, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

You probably heard many people talking about a method of straightening your teeth, which doesn’t have anything to do with the old-fashioned annoying braces people seem to be so afraid of. Invisalign became popular pretty fast thanks to the many benefits they bring to patients. Here are five of the reasons most people choose to improve their smile using invisible aligners in Loughborough.
1. You Don’t Have to Wait Too Long for a Confident Smile
Everything happens pretty fast around you and waiting years before being able to smile without feeling uncomfortable seems too much. This is why many people don’t even bother to try straightening their teeth. However, the new method, involving invisible aligners is different. In just a few months, you can get beautiful natural looking teeth without any effort at all.
2. Invisible Aligners Makes Straightening Your Teeth Comfy
This already famous procedure, involves a nearly invisible way to straighten your teeth. Even if people who wore fixed braces told you how awful it was for them, you should not be worried.

This method involves going through a succession of clear aligners, which you change every two weeks until your teeth are as straight as you always dreamed of. No rubbing wires like you would get with old fashioned braces and, of course, less pain and much less discomfort!
3. There is No Age Limit!
Age doesn’t matter, even if if you’re in your 60s or 70s. What matters is that your teeth and gums are healthy. However, many dentists prefer using Invisalign on young adults who have got all of the teeth present and fully formed.
4. The Treatment is Cost-Effective!
There are so many people who are afraid of prices when they hear all the information available on getting a great smile in Loughborough. But this is far from being an issue. The price really depends on the complexity of the treatment, but people say that, considering the effectiveness of the procedure, the price is more than affordable and you can spread the cost with a monthly payment plan.
5. Straightening your Teeth Doesn’t Have to Be Obvious
Nobody should feel ashamed to wear braces. However, there are many people who are uncomfortable with fixed braces, feeling like people stare at them. Well, with Invisalign all these fears are gone. Everything is close to being invisible so even if you feel conscious, your peers will have no idea you’re straightening your teeth while talking to them.

Invisalign is an effective but easy and comfortable journey towards a new life full of the confidence given by a beautiful straight smile. The invisible aligners are the proof that there is no need for too much hassle in order to get the straight teeth you’ve always wanted.

If you’re ready to find out what your options are you can contact us here. To read Your Guide To Invisalign part 2 click HERE

Are braces only for straightening teeth?

Posted on: April 17th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

Dental braces can give you the cosmetic results you have always desired, but did you know they have many other benefits for your overall health and wellbeing? While it is true that many patients cite appearance when choosing to invest in dental braces, there are myriad other health-related reasons why you should invest in this treatment.

Here is a brief overview of the most common medical and physical reasons people elect to straighten their teeth in Loughborough – do you recognise any of your own concerns below?

Reason 1: Crowded or crooked teeth leading to decay

If your teeth are very crowded and /or crooked, it can be a challenge to keep them clean. A crooked alignment to your teeth can make effective brushing and flossing nearly impossible, and this poor oral hygiene can lead to serious health risks, including the development of caries (cavities), increased rates of gum disease and even the potential for abscessed sores in your mouth.

In the worst-case scenarios, this has led to patients requiring extractions and needing to replace their natural teeth with a set of dentures. While dental implants and dentures are nothing to be ashamed of, you can often avoid these drastic and expensive measures if thorough dental hygiene is made possible with dental braces.

Reason 2: Bite issues and misaligned jaw

If you suffer from pain, stress and tension in your jaw and up through to your temples and skull, the problem often originates in the misalignment of your teeth. If your bite is not aligned correctly, unnecessary wear on one side of your jaw can result in permanent damage and great pain, grinding issues and stress with your entire mandibular system. These problems can often be addressed or minimised with corrective dental braces.

Reason 3: Inability to chew food correctly and efficiently

When one part of your body is off kilter, the ill effects can spread through all of your vital organs and bodily systems. Your mouth and teeth are just two part of your entire digestive system, the series of functions that nourish and replenish the fuel you need to survive. If your teeth are not correctly aligned, you can have difficulties chewing your food properly, and this can in turn affect your stomach, intestines and other internal organs, leaving your improperly nourished and doing damage to your soft tissues.

Reason 4: To reduce the risk of dental trauma

Protruding or crooked teeth can put you at a higher risk of dental trauma when playing sports or in the case of an accidental contact injury. Having these misalignments and protrusions corrected with dental braces will greatly reduce these risks.

From the list above it is easy to see that the attraction of a natural looking, correctly aligned smile is only one aspect of the decision to straighten your teeth. If any of the above maladies or threats sound familiar to you, then it is best to act as quickly as possible and begin mitigating your risk for dental trauma, tooth decay or poor nutrition. If you are wondering what you can do to improve your dental health, speak to someone in person about your options, give the team at Straight Teeth Suite in Loughborough an email or a call today.

3 Facts Defining the Cost of Braces in Loughborough

Posted on: February 11th, 2016 by freshadmin No Comments

Perhaps you have made the decision to have your teeth straightened with braces but when you look online to try and get an idea of the cost, there are too many variables, and you end up more confused than ever. The Straight Teeth Suite in Loughborough has compiled a list of the differing factors they consider when pricing your braces. Not only do they fit clear braces but they give clear prices before you commit to treatment. Hidden braces, not hidden costs.

The reason pricing teeth straightening treatment is so complicated is because there are many factors to be put into the equation before a price can be determined. There is no ‘off the shelf’ price as a dentist needs to appraise your specific problem during a consultation and take into consideration these three factors to determine the final cost:

The dentist will assess the condition and position of your teeth. The more complex the problem, the more work will need to be done. For example, if your teeth are very over-crowded you may need to have some extracted before braces can be fitted. Others problems, such as a gap between your upper incisors will be relatively easy to fix and, therefore, less expensive.
The time your treatment will take. Some treatments take just four months, and other more involved procedures may take up to two years. Obviously, the longer the treatment, the more appointments you will need which will be factored into the cost.
The type of brace you need and choose, whether it is a fixed brace, an invisible brace or an aligner, will have to be factored into the overall cost of treatment. The materials the braces are made from are reflected in the price. For example, ceramic brackets are more expensive than metal brackets. A lingual brace, fixed to the reverse side of your teeth and hidden from view is a more costly choice than a traditional brace fixed to the front of your teeth. Not only are the brackets for a Lingual brace more expensive but the manufacturing fees are higher too.

If you would like your teeth straightened but don’t know if it is something you can afford, make an appointment with the Straight Teeth Suite. We would be happy to discuss the different options with you. You might be pleasantly surprised when your treatment plan works out at a lot less than you anticipated. On the other hand, perhaps you can’t afford your braces at this time. The Straight Teeth Suite can offer you a payment plan to spread the cost and make it more affordable.

If you would like to find out the cost of your braces without any pressure to commit, please contact the Straight Teeth Suite in Loughborough here

Best Choice of braces: Lingual braces in Loughborough

Posted on: January 25th, 2016 by freshadmin No Comments

Straight teeth and a beautiful smile are no longer the domain of the rich and famous. In the UK, a million people in all walks of life had their teeth straightened last year, not only to improve the function of their teeth and their appearance but to improve their confidence. A beautiful smile will win friends and influence people, and that is important when trying to get ahead. If you are confident in yourself, others will be confident in you. The Straight Teeth Suite in Loughborough will help you to make the best choice when considering Lingual braces.

Lingual braces are increasingly popular and becoming a favourite option for many patients when selecting what type of brace to have fitted. The two principal reasons they are so popular, especially with patients who have jobs where their appearance is important, is because Lingual braces are almost invisible, and they work quickly. They are so discreet nobody will know you are wearing braces as, unlike traditional braces, they are fitted to the reverse side of your teeth. The clever technicians at the Lingual brace laboratory make the brackets and archwires to fit your teeth, and they make them light, comfortable and unobtrusive. They are easy to keep clean and do not interfere with eating or with speaking. There is no need to fear you will be drinking soup for months or lisping your way through a speech.

Lingual braces work fast. From the first day they are fitted, they start moving your teeth into the desired, correct position by applying gentle pressure. In just five weeks you will notice a difference and know you have made the best choice. We treat patients with all kinds of problems from misaligned and overcrowded teeth to poor bites and gaps. Some cases take just three months to correct and more complex cases rather longer. The dentist will be able to advise you of the time scale at your first consultation.

Few people understand how their health can be badly affected by a poor bite. How often have you experienced a headache, or shoulder ache or neck pains and have put it down to stress? An unbalanced bite not only affects your ability to eat certain foods but puts the surrounding teeth under enormous pressure, which causes pain. Lingual braces can correct this and allow the jaws to fit together properly. Therefore, the surrounding joints and muscles relax, causing significantly less damage to teeth.

If your teeth are overcrowded or crooked, you are more prone to cavities and gum disease as it is difficult to keep your teeth clean and plaque will develop in the hard-to-reach areas. Left untreated, your gums will become inflamed, resulting in oral infection and potential tooth loss. In such cases, it is imperative to have your teeth straightened. Lingual braces are a great choice in matters of health and not just aesthetics.

Not all dentists offer lingual braces because of the training and technical expertise that are required. Braces are definitely worth the investment, but Lingual braces have special requirements. Because they are personally made to fit each patient, they cost a bit more, and treatment tends to be more involved. Each tooth has its own separate parts The Straight Teeth Suite have put together a financial plan to help you spread the cost over time as you choose premium braces; Lingual braces and a great smile.

If you are ready to make your choice and change your life, contact the Straight Teeth Suite in Loughborough here.

Understanding Orthodontic Treatment for Children Part 1: Materials, Costs and Check Ups

Posted on: November 12th, 2015 by freshadmin No Comments

Orthodontic treatment for children has been done for many, many decades. Treatment is very safe, and it’s very important. Ideally, everyone who has crooked teeth, or misaligned teeth should have treatment in those early years, or as teenagers, in order to improve the bite.

It is easier to treat a growing child. The gums are stronger. The teeth are stronger. Everything happens more predictably.

In this two part series we will answer the most frequently asked questions we get from parents considering orthodontic treatment for their children.

What materials do we use?

Here at the Straight Teeth Suite, we tend to fit conventional types of braces on children who have lost their baby teeth because what we want to do is not just improve the appearance of the teeth, but also to correct the bite, or encourage a positive bite.

The majority of our child patients will have either a metal or tooth coloured fixed brace. Most of the time we tend to opt for metal.

A metal brace consists of metal wire and elastics that hold the wire in place. It will also consist of elastics to hook top teeth to bottom ones to improve or correct the bite.

How much would it cost?

Depending on what type of brackets we use, it can be as little as £1,800, or up to £3,000 – £3,500. Obviously, if we decide to go for a ceramic option, it may be a little bit more, but on average, it’s between these two prices.

Results can last for life, as long as your child also wears a retainer. This keeps the teeth straight, and otherwise your teeth will move back to their original position.

Unfortunately there are a lot of adults who had braces when they were children, but as they never wore retainers, they have to go through the treatment all over again. Understanding the importance of retainers from a young age, can be the key in avoiding the treatment a second time around later in life, and incurring another cost.

How often would I need to see the dentist?

With conventional braces for children, we tend to review your child every 6 to 8 weeks, and then approximately every 4 weeks as we get closer to the end of the treatment.

Is the treatment painful?

It can be uncomfortable in the first few weeks, because there will be new pressure on the teeth, and there can be rubbing from the brackets, but it does get easier over time.

Some children cope better than others, and of course, as long as they get regular reassurance then it becomes much easier for the child to deal with. Additional help such as keeping wax for the brackets, and maybe painkillers for the first few days, can also make a big difference.

In Part 2 of this series we will be discussing the importance of early treatment and whether braces are the right treatment for your child.