Orthodontics

Fixed Braces

For both adults and children

Conventional Fixed Braces

Conventional fixed braces are one of the most commonly used appliances to straighten teeth.
Brackets are attached to the front of your teeth and connected with a very thin metal wire that applies gentle pressure to your teeth to help guide them into a straighter position. Fixed braces are able to produce very precise tooth movement to achieve ideal results.

SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

Conventional fixed braces are suitable for all ages and are often used for more complex cases, for example, severe overcrowding or crooked teeth.Treatment with fixed braces usually starts once all the adult teeth have erupted and usually lasts for 18-24 months. All fixed appliance treatment is followed by retention.

VISIBLE YET EFFECTIVE

The metal brackets are attached to the front of the teeth and an orthodontic wire (archwire) is tied (or ligated) into the bracket using coloured elastic rings. These elastics can be silver coloured to blend in with the appliance or brightly coloured. There are over 20 colours to choose from and many patients choose a different colour at each visit!

Ceramic Fixed Braces

DISCREET TEETH ALIGNMENT

These are similar to conventional fixed metal braces except the brackets (small squares) are made from a clear material which blends in with the natural colour of your teeth, making them less visible.

POPULAR CHOICE FOR ADULTS

If you want to straighten your teeth more discreetly than with conventional fixed metal braces, then ceramic braces produces a more aesthetically pleasing appliance, particularly suitable for adults.

Functional Appliances/Braces

A functional appliance is a type of brace to correct a “Class II” problem; Class II problems are a group of bite problems where the top teeth bite in front of the lower teeth, giving the appearance of goofy or protruding upper teeth. The aim of the treatment would be to encourage the lower jaw to catch up in growth and a functional appliance may help this happen. Functional appliances may be either fixed or removable. Removable functional appliances are most popular in the U.K. And the common removable functional appliances are made from separate upper and lower parts, which interlock placing the lower jaw in a more advanced position.

HOW LONG WILL THE TREATMENT TAKE?

Functional treatments can take anywhere between 9 to 12 months to produce the desired effects. A further course of fixed braces to refine the results might be necessary after the functional appliance treatment.

What is a Twin Block Appliance

The twin-block is a type of removable, functional appliance which derives its name from the split nature of the device in which you have an upper block and a lower block which fit together like twins. When you bite, the blocks fit together in a certain way that encourages your jaws to grow into the correct biting position.
For the brace to work correctly the blocks in your mouth have to meet together properly at all times – walking around with your mouth open and with no contact of the blocks is not a great idea!

Looking After Your Braces

Fixed Braces

HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO WEAR THE FUNCTIONAL BRACE?

The number of hours per day that you are expected to wear the brace will be explained to you. Most functional appliances are worn on a full-time or near full-time basis. With the correct number of hours of wear you may find the improvement in the position of your teeth can be quite dramatic.
For the brace to work correctly the blocks in your mouth have to meet together properly at all times – walking around with your mouth open and with no contact of the blocks is not a great idea!