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30+ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Invisalign information
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Q. How can I tell if I/my child needs braces?
A. Take the Smile test.
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Q. Who can I get safe treatment from?
A. From a qualified specialist. See Avoiding unsafe orthodontics on how to determine if you will receive the best treatment possible.
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Q. What types of braces are there?
A. Fixed and removable. Fixed are more common, and come in silver, clear, & gold. See the Picture gallery for more pictures.
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Q. How long do braces go on for?
A. It differs for each case. It can range from 3-4 months for simple cases, to about 3 years for more comprehensive treatment. The average is usually 2 years. Once the brace is removed, you may need to wear a retainer for 6months – 1 year afterwards.
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Q. How old should I/my child be for treatment?
A. It varies for each case – it can be as young as eight to as old as 68! Generally, age doesn't matter. Children should have their first orthodontic screening around 8 years old. See treatment for different age groups: 8-12 (interceptive); 13-18 (teenage); 19+ (adult).
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Q. What are the stages to getting a brace?
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A consultation visit to see if you need braces and discuss cost and timing of treatment.
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If it is decided that treatment is necessary, then another visit is needed for record taking:
Impressions to make models of the teeth (see Ortho Terms).
X-rays to determine the presence and position of teeth, and
Photographs
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Treatment planning – this is done with the patient (and parent/guardian where appropriate). This is to discuss the proposed plan for treatment and possible alternatives.
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Fitting the brace. It may be either a fixed or a removable brace.
Fitting a fixed brace – small, elastic rings are placed between the back teeth to separate them slightly. This makes room to place the bands a few days later. The bands are then stuck on to the back teeth. The material used is strong enough to keep the appliance attached to the teeth during treatment, without damaging the surface of your teeth when the brace is removed. The teeth are prepared, then blown dry. Brackets (see Parts of a brace) are then glued to the teeth. The glue is hardened – painlessly - within seconds, by a specialised lamp. After gluing on the brackets an arch wire is attached to them. This wire acts to guide the teeth into place. The brace is tied in with elastic modules - or donuts. Donuts come in all colors to suit everybody’s taste. Clear or tooth-colored donuts are practically invisible. On the other hand, colored, glow-in-the-dark or even fluorescent donuts are sure to get you noticed! We’ll make sure that your brace is as individual as you are and gives you exactly the look you want.
Fitting a removable brace – impressions are taken to make a model of your teeth. This is sent off to the lab which makes your brace. Your brace will be ready in about 2 weeks. Fitting takes only a few minutes. You can see pictures of removable braces here.
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Q. How long does it take to fit a fixed brace?
A. About 1-1½ hours.
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Q. Fitting a brace – does it hurt?
A. The process of fixing a brace to your teeth doesn’t hurt. In some cases, patients may feel a little discomfort for a few hours after the brace has been fitted or the arch wires have been tightened. Painkillers usually stop the discomfort right away. The brackets sometimes rub against your lips or cheeks for the first few days. This, however, is short lived as you soon get used to the brace. To begin with we give you wax that acts as a cushion and prevent soreness. Also, this practice imports modern, state-of-the-art materials. This means that our braces use lighter forces on your teeth than older, traditional braces.
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Q. What is “tightening the wires”?
A. Once teeth move into a new position, new wires are put in place as the next step of the treatment. These new wires are often stiffer, making the brace feel “tighter” for a few days. This may cause mild discomfort for a day or two.
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Q. How often are visits to the orthodontist during the course of my treatment?
A. Typically, 4-6 weeks.
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Q. Do I still need regular visits to the dentist?
A. Yes.
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Q. Is eating difficult with a brace?
A. No, but some changes to how you eat are required. For example, hard foods can damage the appliance, while things like chewing gum and sticky chocolates can stick between the wires. This makes it more difficult to clean your teeth and prevent decay.
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Q. Is speaking difficult with a brace?
A. Few patients wearing a fixed brace notice any difference. Patients wearing a removable brace may find it takes a few days to get used to because the appliance rests against the roof of your mouth. This sensation passes within only a few days.
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Q. Can I play sport with braces on?
A. Yes. For removable braces, it is recommended you remove the appliance before participating in heavy contact sports. Wearers of fixed braces can participate in all activities, even contact sports like martial arts, football and basketball. Gum shields can be made for you if required.
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Q. Can I play musical instruments with a brace on?
A. Yes. We stock products to make it more comfortable if you request it.
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Q. Can I make braces more colourful?
A. Absolutely! The elastic parts of the brace can be fitted in pretty much any color you choose or fluorescent or glow-in-the-dark if you really want to get noticed! Removable braces can also come in different colours, with glitter, and with pictures.
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Q. Can I make my braces less noticeable?
A. Definitely! We have brackets that are clear or tooth-colored. This can leave your brace virtually invisible.
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Q. What about lingual braces (those stuck behind the teeth)?
A. The use of these braces has diminished in recent years. Lingual braces do take longer to work, and the results are not as precise as traditional braces. The state-of-the-art in orthodontics is now the ultra-discreet tooth-colored and clear braces. At Caribbean Smiles, however, Dr. Destang is trained in the use of lingual braces.
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Q. What about the new Invisalign invisible braces?
A. This treatment is offered at our clinic. Only orthodontists specially certified to use the technology can treat patients with Invisalign. Please see the Invisalign information page.
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Q. Can I kiss wearing braces?
A. Of course!
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Q. Why do you need to wear elastics?
A. Elastics are like small rubber bands that usually go from your top to your bottom teeth. They help to move your teeth into the proper bite position. This is a part of the treatment which relies on you – failure to wear the elastics could prevent or delay your front teeth moving into their correct position. This can prolong your treatment or detract from the results. And remember – if you don’t wear them, it’ll show and we’ll know!
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Q. What should I do if part of my brace becomes loose or gets broken?
A. Call to make an appointment (see contact us). Remember that not all breakages are emergencies, therefore, please don't panic. In cases where there is discomfort, we will do all necessary to help. Remember, always keep your wax handy! Also, note that a small fee usually applies for repair to the braces - please be careful when biting and brushing!
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Q. What happens if I swallow part of the brace?
A. Tell us about it. The components of the brace are small and non-toxic and normally pass through your digestive system without any problem. On extremely rare occasions, a part could be inhaled into the lungs and may require medical treatment.
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Q. Does it hurt to have my braces removed?
A. No, not at all. The glue used to fix the brackets is specially designed to allow the brace to be removed painlessly by our specialised tools.
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Q. How long does it take to remove a brace?
A. About half an hour.
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Q. Are the results permanent?
A. It is generally accepted within the orthodontic community that about 90% of the results are retained long term after treatment. Remember that teeth do move throughout your life, as they are living tissues and are not set in stone. Some movement of the teeth will occur, but use of a retainer minimises this movement.
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Q. What is a retainer?
A. A retainer is an appliance that’s used after the brace has been removed. It holds the teeth in their new position until they become stable. Retainers come in various forms. Clear retainers (which are barely noticeable) and fixed retainers are the two most-commonly used by this practice.
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Q. How long will I need to wear a retainer?
A. A removable one for 6-12 months after the braces are removed. A fixed retainer is worn for a longer period, from 1 year to permanently.
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Q. What happens if I don’t wear a retainer?
A. You undo all the good work! If the teeth don’t get a chance to settle into their new position, they drift back towards the position they were in before the braces were fitted.
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Q. Why are braces so expensive?
A. The materials and components used are expensive and highly specialised. Each tiny piece has been precision made. This is why it is stressed that treatment be carried out by persons specially trained and qualified in orthodontics. Some of the materials are so state of the art that they are used by NASA. I'd be happy to give you a demonstration if you wish!
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Q. Is it worth it?
A. Definitely! Ask anyone who’s had braces, and have a look at smiles in magazines and advertisements. Many models and stars will have worn braces to get that “movie star” smile.
A. Loads of them! Britney Spears, Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta Jones, Scott Hoch (famous golfer), Chelsea Clinton, Martina Hingis, Venus Williams, Kim Zmeskal, Cher, Butthead, Cindy Crawford, Cameron Diaz, Daisy Fuentes, Whoopie Goldberg, Heather Lochlear, Dominique Moceanu, Allysa Milano, Tamara & Tia Mowry (Sister, Sister), Monica, Diana Ross, Monica Seles, Barbara Walters (and that's only to name a few). Famous smiles often got some help along the way.
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Q. If I wore a brace in the past but I’m unhappy with how my teeth look now, can I be treated again?
A. Yes. However previous treatment may limit what can be done.
34. Q. What about the prices of braces?
A. The cost of treatment differs for each case. It depends on the complexity of the case and the time required for treatment. Thus, the cost for one patient will not necessarily be the same as for another.Plans are structured such that the cost is spread out over the duration of treatment. The normal procedure is that a deposit is made at the start of treatment, and the remaining balance is paid in equal monthly installments over the duration of treatment. A 10% discount is offered if the full amount is paid at the start of treatment. A 10% - 15% family discount is offered for 2 or more family members in treatment. We do accept Visa & MasterCard credit cards. We can also offer advice on insurance plans. Direct debits / Salary deductions are also possible.
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Q. Where can I see pictures and results of braces?
A. Go to my Picture gallery.
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