Teeth straightening

The main consequences that crooked teeth can cause are:

• Cavities are much more common in crooked teeth. Food debris sticks to their surfaces and gets stuck between them, and they are more difficult to clean. All this can lead to caries and inflammation of the gums.
• Caring for and treating crooked teeth is much more difficult than for teeth in even rows. If a crooked tooth needs to be replaced with an implant, you will probably have to align the neighbouring teeth first. Therefore, it is better to straighten them in advance, and not when a specific problem arises.
• If your bite is correct, the teeth support each other like abutments, and the masticatory load is distributed evenly when you eat. When the bite is irregular, the load is unevenly distributed – some teeth get a bit lazy, while others do the work for two. This excessive load leads to a much higher probability of losing teeth – they wear down faster, chip or even break.
• An irregular bite and uneven teeth can become an obstacle to quality prosthetic restoration. Crooked teeth make it difficult to place dental implants and bridges, or even make these treatment processes impossible. In this case, the teeth must be straightened first, and only then can the implant or bridge be placed. If you are older, straightening your teeth may take longer, so we do not recommend putting it off.
• In some cases, an irregular bite can prevent a person from chewing food properly, and this can eventually result in stomach and gastrointestinal tract diseases.

Orthodontic treatment is suitable for both you and your children. Bring your children to the orthodontist for the first time when they are 8 or 9 years old. After assessing the situation, we will decide whether treatment is needed. If so, then we will tell you whether the treatment should be started immediately, or whether it is worth waiting for a more suitable time – for example, coming in a few years later when the jaw is more formed.

Teens, adults and seniors can also get their teeth straightened. With modern technologies, straightening is effective. If you are older, we will assess the condition of your teeth before these procedures, starting with whether there is periodontal disease or other diseases that may complicate straightening.

The purpose of braces is to straighten the teeth and correct the bite. We affix them for the entire treatment period and do not take them out of the mouth. Children can get braces as soon as all of their permanent teeth come in. There is no special age restriction. Treatment usually takes a few years, but there are exceptions, so it is best to come in for a personal consultation.

When should I start wearing braces? We will answer this question for you after an individual examination and consultation, once we assess your bite and the general condition of your teeth and plan further treatment, if necessary (e.g. implant surgery).

American orthodontist Edward Angle is considered the pioneer of treatment with non-removable orthodontic appliances (braces), as he is the one who perfected and adapted the system that has been in use for almost a century.

Braces are an appliance of complex shape and configuration that must be manufactured with great precision. Brackets are attached to the front or back surface of each tooth with a special bonding agent. The forces of movement are created by the arch wire connecting the brackets. Their movement – how much to tighten them and in which direction and how much to move the teeth – is controlled by the orthodontist. This creates constant pressure on the crooked tooth or teeth and forces them to change their position.

Braces fall into two main categories – traditional and lingual. 

Lingual braces are considered state-of-the-art orthodontics. They are also known as internal braces, inside braces, invisible braces and hidden braces. We attach them to the inner surfaces of the teeth, so no one will even suspect that you have a teeth-correcting device in your mouth! Lingual braces are made for you from a special alloy, according to your dental impressions. They are extremely thin and flat, so they fit optimally on the inner surface of your teeth.

Traditional braces can be divided into “new-generation” (self-ligating) braces and “old-generation” (conventional) braces. In both cases, they can be metal or ceramic.

Metal braces were the pioneers of all braces, but they rapidly improved over time, changing their appearance and features. Modern metal braces and their arch wires are made from all different kinds of metal alloys. This ensures good therapeutic properties and guarantees that they will not change colour throughout the treatment period. Today’s metal bracket systems are safe, do not damage tooth enamel and do not cause tooth decay. The main drawback is aesthetics.

Ceramic braces are less noticeable than metal braces. They are not much different in colour from the tooth, so they are a good alternative if you want to avoid a “metal smile”.

New-generation braces are considered one of the most modern solutions available. What makes this system different is that it has special lock mechanisms with arch wires and individual brackets combined into a single orthodontic arch. The unique design reduces friction and applies less but more adaptive force to your teeth, resulting in shorter treatment times. Another important advantage is that tooth extraction can often be avoided when treating with self-ligating braces.

Which braces should I choose?

The answer depends on your expectations, your budget and your individual situation. During the consultation, we will provide information about each type of braces and give valuable advice, making the choice easier.

Lingual braces are made after assessing the condition of your teeth and jaw, according to your individual dental parameters. They are designed and manufactured using the latest computer technologies (3D scanning and modelling), which makes it possible to accurately calculate the position on the tooth, the load on the tooth and other important parameters. All this ensures the best treatment outcome and maximum comfort. Lingual braces are a great way to keep your treatment unnoticed by others.

Traditional braces often put you at an additional risk of caries, since they make it more difficult to brush your teeth well. Food debris left in the gaps can cause cavities. Meanwhile, studies have shown that the risk of caries is almost five times lower when wearing lingual braces than it is with traditional braces. This is because custom-fit lingual braces are larger and their base covers almost the entire inner surface of the tooth, making them easier to clean and less prone to plaque build-up. Plus, you never have to worry about having food noticeably stuck in your braces after eating with lingual braces. If there is something in your braces, it will remain unnoticeable on the inside of your teeth until you have a chance to brush them.

Many of our colleagues have tried lingual braces themselves, and say that they have little to no impact on your speech, chewing and other functions, and do not cause any discomfort. According to them, sometimes you even forget that you are wearing them.

With the rapid development of orthodontic science, we usually manage to make space for all the teeth when straightening teeth and correcting the bite. If tooth extraction is nevertheless unavoidable, we usually target the four first premolars, but we always take into account the individual arrangement of the teeth in your mouth.

Patients often ask if extracting the tooth will leave a gap. The answer is no, it will not leave a gap. We purposefully use it to align the teeth correctly.

Mini dental implants are used to provide temporary anchorage when moving uneven teeth and correcting the bite. The patient’s teeth themselves are usually used as an abutment, but if they are too mobile and move, treatment can be more complicated and lengthy. Mini implants allow us to choose a more convenient place for the anchorage. These small devices do not move, making treatment easier, more precise and faster.

When fitting a mini implant, we first use X-ray diagnostics to choose the right place. Placing a mini implant into the jawbone takes 10-15 minutes and is done under local anaesthesia. The implant heads protrude from the gum to provide a solid foundation for the orthodontic devices needed to create additional force. It is also very important that the mini implant does not grow into the bone, so it can be immediately loaded with additional forces and easily removed after the treatment.

By using mini implants in orthodontics, we can protect you from a number of inconveniences. After placing this small metal screw into your jaw, we can use simpler orthodontic structures, and you no longer need to wear large and uncomfortable appliances (such as orthodontic headgear) – a partial (smaller) brace system is enough.

The wide use of mini implants is a significant achievement that saves time, simplifies treatment and allows for an effective outcome. Mini dental implants that are used to create temporary anchorage should not be confused with permanent implants, which are placed as part of prosthetic restoration. Mini implants are much thinner than permanent implants and do not fuse with the bone in your jaw, making them easy to remove.

We usually use orthodontic retainers to straighten children’s teeth. They are effective in easier cases, and are easy to remove for eating. We recommend cleaning retainers thoroughly. Their price is relatively low.

Orthodontic retainers for straightening are made of plastic and have special hooks to hold them in place in the mouth. In order for this appliance to gradually change the position of the teeth, it may also have springs, hooks, wires and screws. Like with braces, orthodontic retainers can be used to correct the curvature of the teeth of the upper and lower jaws and treat an irregular bite. Retainers are custom made for each patient after taking a dental impression.

You must always remove the retainer before brushing your teeth or eating. After you eat, be sure to rinse your mouth to remove any food debris that is left behind, and then to also rinse the retainer before reinserting it.

Retainers are relatively inexpensive. We use orthodontic retainers to treat milder cases. If this treatment is chosen, parents should make sure that the child uses the retainer as instructed. Removable appliances are also widely used to maintain the results obtained and prevent teeth from shifting back to their original positions after orthodontic treatment with braces.

Orthodontic aligners are also considered removable appliances. After scanning the patient’s teeth, a model of the teeth is transferred to the digital space. A special programme uses this model to draw up a very precise treatment plan, according to which the aligners are produced and worn one after another to straighten the teeth. The advantages of this method are aesthetics, because the aligners are transparent and you can take them out if need be.

Prices for teeth straightening depend on the method you choose – retainers, aligners or braces. We can calculate the exact price of these measures and additional procedures after your visit to the orthodontist.

• Brush your teeth twice daily with a toothpaste containing at least 1450 ppm/0.31% fluoride. Choose a toothpaste that contains hydroxyapatites and has an extended effect of up to 12 hours.
• Use a manual or electric/ultrasonic toothbrush.
• Interdental brushes are crucial with braces. They should be used daily in order to thoroughly clean plaque from the teeth and braces and prevent the formation of caries.
• Clean between your teeth at least twice daily with Oral-B Super Floss or interdental picks, as selected by your dental hygienist or doctor. Selecting interdental picks on your own can be risky, because if you buy ones that are too large, you can cause permanent damage to your gums. For better interdental cleansing, we recommend an oral irrigator.
• Rinse your mouth twice daily with a fluoride mouthwash and rinse with water after meals during the day.
• For the treatment of early-stage dental demineralisation, also known as “white spots”, we recommended using GC MI Paste Plus with fluoride (900 ppm). After brushing your teeth, apply a small amount of the cream to your teeth. Once you do this, do not rinse your mouth, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes. However, if you are allergic to dairy products, this option is not for you.
• If you are at risk of caries or would like additional protection against caries, we recommend professional fluoride applications two or three times a year when you come in to have your teeth cleaned.
• During orthodontic treatment, we recommend coming in every four to six months for professional teeth cleaning.

In the first days after having your braces bonded, your teeth may be more sensitive to chewing and biting (from light aching to severe pain), so stick to soft food. You can take pain killers if need be. Tenderness, pain and aching are temporary and usually go away in a few days.

Both during the first days after the braces are bonded and during the orthodontic treatment, the brackets or the end of the arch wire can irritate the soft tissues of the mouth (lips, tongue, cheeks). You can use orthodontic wax to reduce the discomfort. Warm a small piece between your fingers until it softens and then press it to the area that is causing the irritation. The wax comes off easily when brushing your teeth and it is not poisonous, so don’t worry if you swallow it by mistake.

During orthodontic treatment, avoid biting into and chewing hard foods (nuts, pastry crust, breadcrumbs, pretzels, French fries, pizza crust, hard cheeses, ice in soft drinks) and sticky foods (caramel sweets, chewing gum). Also avoid biting into stone fruit (peaches, nectarines), chicken thighs and nuts, as this may cause a bracket to dislodge.

If one of your brackets dislodges, your arch wire comes off or something else happens, call our clinic. The receptionist will talk to the treating physician and let you know if you should come in immediately for the system to be corrected, or if it can wait until your next appointment.
You must see your orthodontist regularly throughout your treatment.