Why use braces?

Braces can be used to straighten teeth to improve your appearance, to prevent abnormal wear of your teeth and gums, to prevent jaw problems occurring, to allow easier cleaning of your teeth, to close gaps between your teeth, to prevent accidental damage happening to your teeth or to help your dentist restore your teeth. The idea is to make your teeth as healthy as possible to prevent the need for dental treatment in the future – this is why so many children nowadays have braces.

HOW THEY WORK

Braces straighten teeth by putting steady pressure on your teeth and by staying in place for a certain amount of time. Most people just need fixed braces with wires and elastic bands to do this.

Sometimes removable braces are used before or with fixed braces depending on the problem to start with – everyone’s treatment is tailor-made.

SUCCESS

Success depends on a partnership between the skills of the orthodontist and the enthusiasm and help of the patient and their parents. It is important to attend the orthodontist regularly and to follow any instructions given by the orthodontist.

The success of the treatment also depends on the commitment of the patient. For children’s orthodontic treatment it is very important that the patient is as keen as the parent.