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. Metal brackets also have the benefit of coming with coloured elastics which can be changed at every visit!
Removable braces
Removable braces can be removed by the patient but should be worn about 22 hours per day. They are made of acrylic and wires which hold the appliance on to the teeth. They are removed for eating, toothbrushing and sports. They can come in multiple colours which can make them more appealing to younger patients! Removable braces are often worn first to correct dental and jaw problems including deep bites, narrow arches, crowding, jaw disproportion, overbites, overjets. They work best when the patient is growing (10-13 for girls, 12-14 for boys). This is a great age to start treatment as it is also when patients are best able to cooperate with removable braces.
Ceramic braces or clear braces
Ceramic braces or clear braces are a great alternative to metal braces. They give the same control but are made of a translucent ceramic so they match the colour of your teeth, making them a less visible and a more aesthetic option. The wires are held in place by elastics or shiny gates. Ceramic brackets are slightly less durable than metal brackets so can be more prone to fracture. They are also slightly more expensive. Despite these, they can be a great alternative to metal braces if you want an aesthetic option.
- metal braces with colours, smiles, removable braces, clear braces with colours pics….
- Adult orthodontics – clear braces as above,
- Invisalign aligner braces (eg invisalign) are clear removable thin mouthguards/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. Aligner patients need great compliance and 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.
- , metal braces pics (?stock)
- Children’s braces- removable braces, metal braces pics, functional braces (twin blocks), expanders (Louis- also photo on smile gallery), headgear (Aine Cusack), growth modification, space maintainers, habit breakers,
- Mini-implants- are mini-anchors that can be used to accurately move teeth. Often they are used for more complicated case with missing teeth or jaw disproportion (Saoirse missing teeth, Aine expander class III)
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.
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 searches offering fast braces, money off offers especially if you pay upfront or brace treatment with limited or no contact with a dentist or orthodontist. 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. Please appreciate the importance of having your orthodontic treatment done with a trained professional who does this every day , wo has your best interest at heart and not the bottom line and who is there to manage all eventualities. Treatment can be unpredictable and have peace of mind, that if anything goes wrong your orthodontist is there to help and correct it. (may need to be re-worded) Orthodontics does come with some risks. Your treating orthodontist will be able to discuss these with you and reduce and manage them.
Link to AAO warning on direct to consumer braces
We do all types of braces so we can discuss all options with you so you can get the best care for you.
Mdt, know all local dentists. Have worked with lots of specialist, some in navan, some in Dublin and Louth. Arrange best and most convenient for you.
Veneers
Bleaching or whitening
Retainers
Teeth will always want to move (also known as relapse -teeth moving after orthodontics). It is a fact of life. The best chance of limiting tooth movement after orthodontic treatment is by putting teeth into the most stable position within the supporting bones and soft tissues (lips and tongue). Otherwise greater risk of
Long term studies have been done following a large group of individuals over 20 years. Some had braces, some did not, some had extractions, some did not, some had wisdom teeth, some did not. They all had one things in common: their teeth moved to some extent over the 20 year follow up period.
From this, we have learned the importance of long term retention.
Retainers usually consist of removable clear retainers (like clear mouth guards) that cover all surfaces of the teeth or a bonded wire retainer to the back of the incisors.
The 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.
Bonded retainers are sometimes used too. These consist of a wire bent to fit the palatal surface of your incisors. These are good but have 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.
An individual retention plan will be formulated for each patient by your orthodontist.
This is normally removable retainers full time for a set period followed by long term night time wear.
At Navan Orthodontics, we review our patients for 1 year (or 18 months) after their active orthodontic treatment to check their retainers. There is no extra charge with this. We can also review your retainers long-term if you have any worries about them.
Braces for everyone
Teens
Removable, expanders, metal, ceramic, invisalign, headgear/facemask
Adults
Metal, ceramic, invisalign, mini-implants, lingual?
Children
Removable, metal, space maintainers, habit breakers, headgear