If you find yourself wanting to know the options for dental alignment, then the first step will be to book an initial consultation with one of our specialists. They will help guide and assess you to see your suitability for the treatment and the best treatment options.

During this appointment, you will also have your oral hygiene and dental health assessed. It is important to have any required treatment before starting your orthodontic journey. Depending on the case, you may be required to have some teeth removed (called extraction); this is done to make space for teeth that may currently be crowded.

When you have had time to think about your options and you are ready to commit to the process of having your braces, we will carry out any work, such as fillings or cleaning, before your treatment starts. At this stage, you may also require some teeth to be removed, this is common practice in orthodontics and allows space to be created for your teeth to move into during your treatment.

During your record-taking appointment, you will have several x-rays taken, smaller intraoral x-rays and a larger panoramic x-ray. These x-rays are used to plan your treatment and record the starting point. Along with the x-rays, we will also take some clinical photos and moulds of your teeth. Once this first appointment has been completed, you will be presented with your treatment plan, and your Orthodontist will explain the process of having your braces fitted.

Now it is time to have your braces fitted! Your Orthodontist will start by placing a cheek retractor to hold your lips and cheek out of the way. They will then place special conditioning gel on each tooth; this allows the bonding material to stick to the tooth. This gel will then be washed away with water, and the cement will be placed onto the tooth; the bracket will then be placed on top. This process is then repeated on each tooth. Once all the teeth have the brackets placed, the Orthodontist will cut a piece of wire to the size of the mouth, attaching it to the brackets. At this stage, the Orthodontist may also place some small elastic bands on the back teeth attaching one side to the upper and one side to the lower, this assists with the correct placement of the jaw.

During the appointment, the Orthodontist will discuss your current oral hygiene routine and how this can be improved to suit the needs of your new braces. This appointment will usually last around 2 hours.

During your follow-up appointments, your orthodontist will check your treatment progress and make adjustments when required. The adjustments are likely to be made by removing the wire and placing a smaller wire which will gently pull the teeth into the desired location.

You are likely to have one of these appointments every 4-8 weeks for the duration of your treatment, which can span 18-24 months.

You’ve finally made it to your end appointment, and you are ready to have your braces removed! During this appointment, the wire connecting your brace will be removed, and each individual bracket will be gently removed from your teeth. The brackets will leave some residue behind, which your Orthodontist will remove with a small drill. This appointment will not normally take very long, and you should be done within the hour!

During your final appointment, your Orthodontist will explain the aftercare required to keep your new smile healthy. This will include the use of either a fixed retainer or a removable retainer. Fixed retainers are small metal wires attached to the inside of your teeth, holding them in place. If this is required, it will be fitted on your last appointment. If your Orthodontist feels that you will benefit from the use of a removable retainer, then an impression or scan of your teeth will be made to produce a custom tray, which should be worn overnight.

A robust oral hygiene routine is critical for the success of the orthodontic treatment; your dentist will help instruct you on how to floss correctly, use interdental aids and brush effectively whilst wearing your braces. As well as interdental cleaning and brushing with a round-headed electric toothbrush, you may also be shown a single tuft toothbrush which will help clean around the brackets.

If you do not brush effectively around these brackets, plaque can build up, leading to acid erosion or decay. If this happens when the brackets are removed, you may be left with white or brown patches where the brackets were attached.