Please scroll down the page to see the answers to the following FAQ's

 

Specialist orthodontists  first qualify as dentists after undertaking a five year undergraduate course. They then undertake extensive training and obtian futher postgraduate degrees in order to register with the General Dental Council Specialist List. Orthodontic specialists are very highly trained and offer a very high standard of treatment.

 

Treatment will vary depending on the problem. The treatment required for each specific problem will be discussed with you at your initial appointment. There are fundamentally two types of braces. Removable appliances (these may be removed for cleaning) or fixed appliances (these remain attached to the teeth for the duration of treatment).

 

The appearance of your teeth can have a big impact on self esteem and general confidence and it could therefore be considered to be of lifelong benefit. Treatment may be requested for a variety of reasons:

To improve the facial appearance and the appearance of the teeth
To improve the function of the teeth
To help prevent traumatic injury to prominent teeth
To straighten teeth and help maintain the long term health of the dental tissues

How often will I need to be seen ?

On average, once the appliances are fitted you will be seen every six weeks. 
 
How long will treatment take ?

Generally treatment takes between 18 -24 months

 

Having the appliances fitted is painless. However it will take up to a couple of weeks to adjust to wearing the braces. When the teeth initially start to move you may experience some discomfort but this can be relieved by taking regular painkillers your orthodontist will advise the best way if dealing with this.

 

Only if absolutely necessary,depending on how crowded your teeth are and on the shape of your jaw. However your orthodontist will discuss this with you prior to you agreeing to proceed with treatment. Extractions are not carried out at the orthodontic practice. Your orthodontist will liase with your own dentist and request them to remove the necessary teeth.

 

If you are under 18 treatment is carried out under the NHS and there will not be a charge. However if you lose an appliance there is a charge for replacement. There may also be a charge for failing to attend an appointment as this wastes valuable NHS time when another patient could have been seen.

 

If you are an adult, there is no NHS provison for orthodontic treatment and so is provided privately.

 

Generally most orthodontic treatment is best carried out from the age of 10 to late teens. Your dentist will know when it is the right time to refer you. Some children may need to be referred earlier. Adult orthodontics is also becoming more common and there is really no upper age limit.

 

Will my teeth remain straight ?

Your orthodontist will provide you with retainers at the end of treatment . These help to reduce the chances of 'relapse' or slippage of the teeth. There is no 100% guarantee that the teeth will stay in exactly the same position for the rest of you life.

 

There are two types of clear braces however these are not available on the NHS. This type of treatment must therefore be undertaken on a private basis.