What are braces?

What are braces? and other common questions about orthodontics

Braces are fixed dental appliances designed to move the teeth.  Well, that was pretty clinical. 

Braces are used by an orthodontist to improve the smile and bite.  An orthodontist is a dental specialist who has completed a two to three year residency following dental school.  More broadly, orthodontists correct the alignment of the teeth and jaws to provide an esthetic and functional alignment of the teeth and jaws.

The orthodontists use fixed and removable appliances.  Fixed appliances are defined as those devices which stay attached to the teeth, removable appliances may be taken out by the patient (retainers are a great example). 

How can you get braces? 

The first step is to have an orthodontic exam performed by an Orthodontist. I capitalized orthodontist because some general dentists provide orthodontic treatment.  Maybe I'll rant about this later, but if you had a need for stomach surgery, would you let your family doctor do it? Some people would, but you may not be happy with the outcome.  See a real orthodontist.

Back on topic..call an Orthodontist and get an evaluation.  The orthodontist should listen to your concerns about the bite or smile. They will usually take photos of the teeth and face and may additionally get x-rays and moulds of the teeth. An full oral exam should look at the jaw alignment, musculature, jaw movement, TMJ, tooth position, eruption timing and examine the swallowing pattern.  A panoramic x-ray can determine timing and check for the presence or absence of teeth.

Once a complete exam is performed, the orthodontist will present a tentative treatment plan or plans and estimate the length of time the treatment will take.  The treatment plan should address all your concerns and correct any additional problems discovered during the exam.  The office should be able to present a fee based on the tentative treatment plan.  Payment options are also often offered.

By this point you should have the info to decide if the office is a good fit, that you are comforable with the pace of the office.  You should have confidence that your concerns have been addressed.  If you have a feeling that something doesn't make sense or unsure of what is being recommended, stop ask for clarification. If you're not satisfied, get a second opinion.

Do you have a common question about orthodontics?