It’s never to late to improve your smile! At Navan Orthodontics, we do all types of braces so you don’t have to limit yourself to one type. We can discuss all options with you so you can get the best treatment and care for you.
Ceramic braces or clear braces
Ceramic or clear braces are a great aesthetic brace and often the go to option for adults, especially for the top teeth. They are made of a translucent ceramic so they match the colour of your teeth, making them a less visible and a more aesthetic option. Flexible wires gently guide the teeth into their desired position, are held in place by clear elastics or small shiny gates.
Aligner braces or Invisalign
Aligners are clear, removable, thin mouthguards or aligners that are custom made to fit your teeth perfectly. They move the teeth in small increments every 1-2 weeks as you change to new aligners until they are in the desired position. Small white attachments are placed on the teeth to help guide the teeth along. Patients opting for aligners must wear their aligners for 22 hours/day for them to work. They should be taken out for eating, drinking and toothbrushing. They are a great aesthetic option as they are virtually invisible and can be removed for a special event.
Click here for more information on invisalign : https://www.invisalign.ie/en/Pages/Home.aspx
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https://www.invisalign.ie/SV/933291
Metal braces
Tried and tested! These are the gold standard of braces and have stood the test of time giving excellent results time after time. The metal brackets are small, low profile brackets so cause less irritation to the cheeks. They are attached to the teeth with a special glue or composite and cannot be removed. Flexible wires are inserted into the brackets which gently guide the teeth into position. They are softer than ceramic brackets so are less prone to fracture and are easier to remove. They are also a great option for patients with a deep bite (increased vertical overlap of upper and lower incisors) as they are more gentle on the enamel of the opposing teeth so are less likely to cause damage if you bite on them.
Mini-implants
Mini-implants are mini-anchors that can be used to move teeth more accurately. Often they are used for more complicated case with missing teeth or jaw disproportion.
6 months braces
At Navan Orthodontics, we do 6 months braces or treatment in shorter times. This is normally for easier cases or where teeth have moved a little after previous orthodontic treatment and a short course of brace treatment is needed.
Be wary of practices that only offer one type of brace treatment. Braces over 6 months will not give stable results for more complicated cases. Trust your orthodontist to help choose the right brace for you over the right treatment time.
Don’t be tempted by fast braces or cheaper offers
Be wary of practices that only offer one type of brace treatment. Quick braces will not give stable results for more complicated cases. Trust your orthodontist to help choose the right brace for you over the right treatment time.
Specialist Led Orthodontic Care
Orthodontic treatment is a medical procedure and comes with its own benefits and risks. It needs careful planning with full assessment, consultation with the patient, x-rays, photographs and regular supervision to ensure your treatment is going to plan and not causing any harm. Be careful of practices or internet advertisements offering fast braces, money off offers (especially if you pay upfront) or brace treatment with limited or no contact with a dentist or orthodontist.
For more information on how to get started click here https://navanorthodontics.ie/becoming-an-orthodontic-patient-navan/what-to-expect-at-orthodontic-assessment/
Fast braces / Direct to Consumer Aligners
There has been a massive increase in the availability of braces due to advances in scanning and computer aided design techniques. This has led to an influx of companies offering orthodontics, often claiming to do it in shorter treatment times and for less money. Teeth and gums have not changed for hundreds of years. They move the same as they always did. The power of marketing on the other hand has become more widespread and sometimes can be misleading.
Trust Your Orthodontist
Please appreciate the importance of having your orthodontic treatment done by a trained professional who does this every day, who has your best interest at heart and not the bottom line and who is there to manage all eventualities. Treatment can be unpredictable but have peace of mind, that if anything goes wrong your orthodontist is there to help and correct it.
More information from the American Association of Orthodontics
AAO warning on direct to consumer braces
Composite bonding or Veneers
If there are small irregularities on tooth shape or size, we can do small fillings or bonding to improve the aesthetics of these teeth for you.
Bleaching or whitening
Following your brace removal, what better way to treat yourself than with whitening your teeth! We can supply the whitening agent and whitening trays and show you how to whiten your teeth effectively and safely.
Why do teeth move – Relapse?
Teeth will always want to move back after your braces have been removed. This movement is called ‘relapse’. Did you also know that teeth move throughout life with or without braces? The best chance of limiting tooth movement after orthodontic treatment is by putting teeth into the most stable position within the supporting structures (bones and soft tissues- lips and tongue). Your orthodontist is trained to know where this is for your face.
Why do I need to wear retainers?
Why do I need to wear retainers?Retainers are worn to stop teeth moving again in the future. Retainers help to hold teeth in their new position. Retainers usually consist of removable clear retainers (like clear mouth guards) that cover all surfaces of the teeth or a bonded wire retainer on the back of the incisors.
Types of orthodontic retainers- removable or wire retainers
Removable retainers (essix retainers) are the best as they cover the teeth in 3 dimensions. They also hold the position of the back teeth which are also prone to moving inwards and reducing the smile width.
Wire retainers
Bonded retainers are sometimes used too. Bonded retainers are made of a small wire bent to fit the tongue side of your incisors. These are very good but come with some limitations:
- they only cover one surface of the incisors
- they are more difficult to clean and can lead to decay or gum inflammation
- they may not be suitable for all individuals
- they can bend or change shape with the force of the bite or the environment of the mouth
- they can come loose.
Due to the above, it is important that you understand these risk before getting a bonded retainer. They need long term maintenance and extra cleaning by yourself and with your dentist. Despite all this, they can be a good option in addition to your removable retainers and you can discuss this with your orthodontist.
Individual Retention Plan
As specialist orthodontists, we understand that one size does not fit all. We will develop an individual retention plan specifically for you. This may consist removable retainers full time for a set period of time followed by long term night time wear.
Retainer Checks
At Navan Orthodontics, we review our patients for 18 months after their braces have been removed to check their retainers. There is no extra charge for this. We can also review our patients long-term, so please come back if you have any worries about your teeth or tour retainers.