Braces
Why Orthodontist?
Brace Types & Retainers
Three years of extra training in Orthodontics
Orthodontist or Dentist - What is the difference?
In the UK, a Specialist Orthodontist needs to have three years of extra training in Orthodontics after qualifying as a dentist.
After receiving a primary degree in general dentistry (a five-year BDS degree), an orthodontist must complete an extra three years of post-graduate Orthodontic training at an accredited university teaching hospital. During this training, an orthodontist will be subjected to many theoretical and clinical exams by the University and the Royal Surgical Colleges, finally graduating with a Master degree in Orthodontics (MSc) and a Membership diploma in Orthodontics (MOrth) from the Royal Surgical Colleges.
However, very few know the difference between a Dentist and a Specialist Orthodontist!!!!
A recent survey* revealed that nearly a third of the UK population doesn’t know what an orthodontist does!! And only 64% of people could correctly identify that an orthodontist specializes in straightening teeth. Similarly, about half of those surveyed (48%) were unaware that a specialist orthodontist had completed three years of extra training after qualifying as a dentist (with 56% of men even more unaware than women).
We offer Invisalign, clear ceramic braces, conventional metal braces, Damon or lingual braces
Few general dentists can offer treatment alternatives!
Many general dentists only offer Invisalign for treating cases. In fact, very few general dentists place traditional “wire and brackets” dental braces and consequently, other orthodontic techniques that may produce a superior outcome wouldn’t be offered.
Therefore, it’s important that you do your research and consult a Specialist Orthodontist to get the best possible treatment outcome. We are conveniently located to serve North London including Finchley, Totteridge, Whetstone, Barnet, Muswell Hill, Highgate, Crouch End, Hampstead, and Wembley
*http://www.theinvisibleorthodontist.co.uk
**Miyanger V. What’s an orthodontist? Dentistry.co.uk, 28 May 2015
How do braces work? Why adults benefit from having braces?
Components of fixed braces and how they work
Braces are a combination of wires and brackets. Brackets can be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic and hold the archwire against each tooth. The pressure that is applied by the braces comes from the archwire and moves the teeth.
By using a constant and gentle force in a controlled direction, braces slowly move teeth to the corrected position. For aesthetically conscious adults, ceramic (clear) braces provide an excellent alternative to traditional metal braces.
Types of braces
- Removable braces such as removable expansion appliance or anterior bite plane appliance
- Traditional Metal Braces
- Self-ligating Braces (Damon)
- Clear aligners (Invisalign, Cleararcorrect, Spark)
- Clear (Ceramic) Braces
- Lingual Braces
- Functional Appliances such as Twin Block Appliance
Am I too old for orthodontic treatment?
There is no age limit for orthodontic treatment.
However, adults may have experienced damage or loss of the gum and bone supporting their teeth (periodontal disease). Special treatments by your dentist or a gum specialist (periodontist) may be necessary before, during, or after orthodontic treatment. We offer a variety of discrete orthodontic treatments that are designed for adults such as clear aligners (Invisalign), clear (ceramic) braces, and lingual/hidden braces. However, Metal Braces, remain a popular option for adults as well.
Let us give you a new smile that you can be proud of!
Need to wear retainers
Retainers
Will I need to wear retainers?
Yes, when you have completed the tooth moving part of your treatment and the braces are finally removed, you enter the final stage of your treatment, the holding part, to maintain the improved position of the teeth. Previous studies have shown that ageing causes the teeth to develop some crowding and bones of the face to move forward and downward due to gravity. As a result, to keep your teeth straight, it is necessary to have a set of retainers that you wear periodically throughout your life.
There are periodontal fibres that surround your teeth within your bone which require about 6 months to fully stabilize around the new position of your teeth.
Therefore, you need to wear a retainer to stabilize the orthodontic corrections. The next few months are the most critical part of your treatment! The retainer is designed to hold your teeth in their new corrected position until the bone surrounding the roots of the teeth “fills in” and makes them “solid.” If retainers are not worn following orthodontic tooth movement, teeth will move back towards their old positions (orthodontic relapse) and all that time wearing braces would be wasted.
You are required to wear your retainers for at least 3-6 months full-time, which means that you are wearing the retainers day and night. After the first 3-6 months, you can start wearing the retainers on a nighttime basis.
Teeth tend to move throughout life, therefore, you should wear retainers indefinitely.
YOU MUST WEAR YOUR RETAINER AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR TEETH STRAIGHT!!
Types of retainers
Removable retainers:
They are either made of acrylic material and have some metal wires incorporated in them (Hawley type retainer), or are vacuum-formed made of thin, clear, thermoplastic material (Clear Essix retainers). At the end of your treatment, we provide you with a set of removable retainers after the braces are removed. Removable retainers must be worn for 24 hours a day for the first three months after braces removal, followed by nighttime wear on long-term basis. As retainers are worn for years, they will need periodic replacement. A replacement retainer can be provided at a charge. Please contact us immediately if you lose or break the retainer.
Fixed bonded retainer:
As it is commonly said they are the “permanent” style retainers and are fitted immediately after your braces are removed. Fixed lingual retainers are used in patients with large spaces between their teeth (between central incisors) or those with severely rotated teeth. A fixed retainer must be checked every 6 months by your orthodontist. As bonded retainers are often bonded to the front upper or lower teeth they don’t keep the back teeth straight; therefore, we recommend a combination of bonded retainers and removable ones to keep all teeth straight.
Upper Ceramic and Lower Metal Braces
Upper and Lower Ceramic Braces with Tooth-Coloured Wire
