Can You Explain The Process Of Getting Braces To Me Please?

2

2 Answers

Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Basically, you get referred to an orthodontist, then you get put on a waiting list. It can take up to a year to be seen or maybe even longer. Then you will get a letter telling  you that you have an orthodontic appointment. When you go, you will get an x-ray done of your teeth, this doesn't hurt at all, its just a machine that takes a picture. He will have a look at your teeth and tell you if you need any teeth out before you get your braces. Some people do, some people don't. If you do he will make another appointment for you and that's when you will get the teeth out. Don't worry, your mouth will be numb for this. If you don't need any teeth out he will just generally talk to you about braces and whether you really want them or not. Then he will call you back sometime soon and you will get your moulds done. Now I'm not going to lie, moulds do not hurt at all, but they are disgusting. He puts like this gold mushy play-Doe stuff in your mouth first covering your top teeth and then your bottom teeth. He keeps it on for less than a minute, but the texture and feeling is just disgusting. But that it is definitely the worst experience you have. After that he will either schedule you for another appointment or he will put spacers in while you are there. Spacers are little tiny plastic rectangles the orthodontist puts in between your two back molars. They make little space to make it easier to clip the back bit of the brace in. Don't worry this doesn't hurt at all. It is a bit strange feeling them between your teeth but it soon becomes normal, however it is important that you do not try to pick the spacers out, because they are essential for fitting the braces. You keep them on until your next appointment, then he will take them out and you will be left with a space between the two molars. This is when your orthodontist will start putting on the braces, none of this hurts. Its just a process. First of all he puts two metal bits onto the back bit of the two back molars and then he simply puts glue on your teeth, then you choose the colour or colours you want your braces to be, then he will fix the braces onto the teeth with the colour. After that he fits a metal wire inside each bracket which runs around your row of teeth. And that is pretty much it. You get called back every month or so to get your braces tightened and you can change your colours then as well. But getting braces on doesn't hurt at all, your mouth will be slightly sore for a little while after you get them on, but nothing to hard to deal with. Then every time you get them tightened they hurt a little, but after sometimes of getting them tightened you hardly notice. When you get your braces off, you have to wear a retainer day and night for a period of time, and then just at night for about a year and after that everything is back to normal, but you have lovely straight teeth.
Hope that helped. (:
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered

I have an addition to what was said above. Yes they hurt at first but really, there's nothing to be afraid of! Also just some advice, LEAVE RUBBER BANDS ON. It will lengthen your treatment time so be careful. Also make sure you stay away from sticky foods and such. This can also lengthen treatment. Best of luck!

Answer Question

Anonymous