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Orthodontic Information Potential Patients Should Review

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Braces are among the most effective orthodontic treatments for correcting the issues caused by misaligned teeth. Individuals that have no experience with braces will often be at a disadvantage when they are making decisions due to limited information.

How Often Will Your Braces Be Adjusted?

The braces will have to be regularly adjusted if they are to continue to effectively straighten your teeth. Fortunately, these adjustments are only needed once a month for most patients. In the hours after this adjustment, your teeth may be somewhat sore. This is normal as the tightening of the braces will put more pressure on the teeth, but you should adjust to this sensation fairly quickly. Also, the adjustments during the early phases of the orthodontic treatment are likely to be more intense due to the need to make major changes to the alignment of the teeth.

Will The Experience Of Having Braces Be Different For Adults Than Teenagers?

Adults that have alignment issues with their teeth can undergo orthodontic treatments, but their experience may be different than those that receive this treatment as a teenager. More specifically, adult teeth are more difficult to adjust. While this will not hinder the overall effectiveness of the orthodontic treatments, it can require the patient to wear the braces for longer. Also, adult orthodontic patients may experience slightly more discomfort as their teeth will be more resistant to shifting.

What Types Of Issues Can Your Brace Experience?

Individuals are often very concerned about the need to regularly address problems with their braces. However, it is fairly rare for braces to suffer serious problems. Typically, broken wires are the most common problem that braces will experience. When your braces experience this type of problem, you should have them promptly repaired. This can minimize the discomfort that you may experience due to this injury while also mitigating any impacts the damage will have on the effectiveness of the braces.

Can Your Teeth Shift After The Braces Are Removed?

Once the braces are removed, you might have a worry that the teeth will gradually shift back into their previous positions. Orthodontists will help to combat this problem by providing their patients with retainers that should be worn to keep the teeth as straight as possible. Wearing this retainer as instructed is particularly important during the period immediately after the braces are removed. If you had particularly serious alignment issues, the dentist may install a permanent retainer.

Contact a clinic, like Donald E. Snyder Orthodontics, for more help.


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