Braces

Preparation: Your teeth are polished, conditioned, and dried to ensure a strong bond. We’ll use a cheek retractor to keep your mouth dry and visible.

Bonding the Brackets: A specialized dental adhesive is applied to the front of your teeth, and the metal or ceramic brackets are carefully positioned onto this glue. A blue curing light is used to harden the adhesive almost instantly.

Threading the Wires: We’ll carefully thread flexible archwires through the brackets. Small elastic bands (ligatures) are then placed over the brackets to hold the wire securely in place.

Wearing Braces: Within 3 to 4 hours of your fitting, your teeth and gums will likely feel tender as the wires begin applying pressure. This usually peaks within 72 hours and can be managed with soft foods and over-the-counter pain relievers.

Adjusting Braces: We’ll want to see you every 4 to 8 weeks. During these appointments, the rubber bands are usually changed, and the archwires may be adjusted or replaced with stiffer wires to guide your teeth further into alignment.

Maintenance: You’ll need to brush and floss meticulously – using tools like interdental brushes or floss threaders to navigate around the wires. Also best to avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods (like popcorn, caramel, and hard candy) that can damage the brackets.