Q. Do I need to be referred?
No, a referral is not necessary. You can ring and book an appointment for a free consultation with us.

 

Q. Do braces hurt?
Generally braces do not hurt. However after certain visits teeth may be tender for a few days. If necessary, take some pain medication such as nurofen provided you are not allergic to it. The majority of patients do not feel any soreness at all.

With the new technology self-ligating brackets and space age nickel titanium gentle wires, very light forces are used. Just because it does not hurt, does not mean it is not working.

 

Q. How old do I have to be to start orthodontic treatment?
Every child is different. Some children develop their permanent teeth very quickly. Some very slowly. Some children are ready for an orthodontic screening before age 9, others by age 12. Girls need to be seen earlier than boys when it comes to treating some cases. Generally once a child is ready most of the permanent teeth have erupted but not all of them.

 

Q. How long will treatment take?
Treatment normally lasts 18 months – 2 years but depending on the specific orthodontic problem and treatment, it could last from 6 months or very rarely up to 36 months.

 

Q. Can I still play sports?
Yes, but we recommend you wear a mouth guard when playing all sports.

 

Q. What about playing musical instruments during orthodontic treatment?
If you play an instrument, it might take a period of time to adjust as you will need to adapt to playing your instrument with braces on. With practice and patience, braces typically do not interfere with the playing instruments.

 

Q. Are there foods I cannot eat while I have braces?
Yes, we advise that you do not eat hard sticky toffees or any food that will break your braces. We will provide a thorough list at the braces appointment.

 

Q. Can I return to school or work the day I receive my braces?
Yes, there is no problem with that.

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Q. Do I need retainers afterwards?
Yes. Teeth move throughout life so even if your teeth are perfect and you never had braces, your teeth will move throughout life so you need to wear retainers (removable braces) at night to maintain the beautiful smile just achieved. We also provide you with a retainer wire that goes on the back of your front teeth (cannot be seen) this is to ensure that you will not need braces again after being in treatment with us.