Number of Visits: 12 - 20 monthly visits
Completion Time: 1 - 2 years
Recovery period: One Day
5 Step Orthodontics Treatment with Smith & Jain
Step 1: Getting a Referral for the Appointment
Our Orthodontists prefer for the patient to get a referral from a dentist. If you suspect that you may be in need for orthodontics then you are still welcome to book an appointment and discuss with our orthodontists.
Step 2: Initial Consultation
You can expect this consultation, generally, to be around 30 mins. The orthodontist will examine and understand how braces will be beneficial for you.
Step 3: Dental X-Rays, Imaging and Scans
Next, we will take scans of the construction of your teeth so that the orthodontist is able to take the necessary steps to begin the procedure.
Step 4: Fitting the Braces
Expect to spend about 1 hour to fit the braces for your teeth.
Step 5: Visits for Adjustments and Examination
Once all fitting is done, the orthodontist will examine the progress of your braces. The patient will have to visit once every month for adjustment of the teeth and to check up on the status to ensure that everything is going smoothly.
Final Point
Fixed braces are removed once the entire treatment is completed and the duration of the treatment varies from individual to individual with typical treatment time being anywhere from 18-24 months. Retainers are needed thereafter for many more years.
Different Types of Braces
Fixed Braces - Metal and Ceramic Braces
Fixed braces are the most common type of appliance used to straighten teeth. The braces are attached to the teeth by square brackets which have a wire running through them.
The orthodontist adjusts this wire during each dental visit gradually moving the teeth into the correct position. There are two types of fixed braces, metal and ceramic braces.
Metal braces are made of high-grade stainless steel whereas the ceramic braces are of a translucent ceramic material. Both braces use the same components in terms of treatment, the ceramic is just a less noticeable treatment method than compared to the metal braces.
Removable Braces
This form of treatment is recommended for patients with mixed dentition, patients who still have some of their baby teeth and some permanent teeth as well, usually around the age of
7-10 years old. During this time, the patients jaw and teeth are still growing therefore it is easier to move the jaw and teeth in the correct position.
Functional appliances help guide a patients facial growth and development. An orthodontist may recommend the use of functional appliances for patients whose jaw growth needs to be corrected in order to align the jaw properly before beginning the next phase in treatment.
Use of functional appliances is ideal for children whose jaw bone and teeth are still developing and growing. There are two types of functional appliances, fixed and removable and within these two types there is various types that the orthodontist will use depending on what is required for each patient.
Retainers are the final step in the orthodontic treatment process. Retainers are given to the patient after the braces are removed, patients are instructed to wear the retainers for a certain period in order to prevent the teeth from relapsing.
There are two types of retainers, fixed and removable. Fixed retainer is thin wire that is worn across the back of upper or lower front teeth. Removable retainers is usually a combination of a wire going across the front of the lower or upper teeth that is held in place with an acrylic material.