Your first step will be to attend a consultation. During this visit, we don’t carry out any active treatment, but we do take clinical measurements of your teeth and face. At this stage, it is important for us to establish your concerns and requirements, and work out which orthodontic treatment will be best for you.
When you come and see us for the second time, we carry out a thorough orthodontic examination, taking facial photographs, as well as intraoral and extraoral x-rays. We then provide you with the following:
A comprehensive treatment plan with objectives
Treatment options
Estimated treatment time
Treatment investment and finance options
Following your approval of the above, we will arrange to fit your braces.
We offer a number of different options for both adults and children including fixed, hidden and removable braces. We will carefully select the most appropriate appliance for you.
Fixed Braces: After cleaning and conditioning your teeth, we affix metal or ceramic brackets. A thin piece of wire is then attached to these brackets and held in place with elastics.
Removable Braces: These can either have a resin or plastic base with bespoke metal wire components, which clip into place, or be a series of clear, custom-made aligners, which can be taken out for eating, drinking and cleaning.
The brace fitting process itself does not hurt. Braces use gentle pressure to move teeth gradually, and this may cause some discomfort during the first few days. There may be an increase in saliva flow, temporary effects on speech, a feeling of tightness, tenderness when biting and slight looseness of the teeth. Please be reassured that these are all normal symptoms and over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol, will help.
If parts of the braces rub on the lips, cheeks and tongue, a small piece of orthodontic wax can be placed on the area causing irritation, to minimise discomfort.
After an initial settling in period, you will start to become less aware of your braces and be able to get on with your life without worrying about them.
Not everyone will need to have teeth taken out, but it may be advisable in certain situations, for example, if you have severe crowding of the teeth. We will let you know which options will work for you, and inform you of the advantages and disadvantages of each.
We are all unique, so your orthodontist will use their expertise to gather all the necessary information (using x-rays, models and photographs) before devising a treatment plan that will achieve the best possible result for you.
The treatment time often depends on your age, the complexity of your case and how well you follow your orthodontist’s instructions. Most people need to wear their brace for eighteen months to two years, and this will usually need adjusting every four to six weeks.
Successful orthodontic treatment involves a team effort. If you follow our professional advice, make sure you keep your teeth clean, look after your braces and attend appointments, it will help to reduce the overall treatment time. You must remember that the most sophisticated treatment plan or appliance therapy will not produce a satisfactory result if you do not follow the professional advice of your orthodontist.
Although orthodontic treatment requires a certain level of commitment, it is definitely worth the effort, as you will eventually be rewarded with a more attractive smile.
Yes. Technological advancements and clinical research have revolutionised orthodontic treatment in recent years. Braces can now be attached to crowns, veneers or fillings using a special adhesive. As long as the teeth beneath are healthy, we will be able to carry out orthodontic treatment.
Fortunately, it is rare to have a serious orthodontic emergency, but you may break or lose your brace, or have problems with long wires. In these cases, please telephone the practice as soon as possible for advice or an emergency appointment. If an emergency occurs outside normal surgery hours, please leave your details on our answer machine, and we will return your call as soon as possible. Call us on 020 8551 9336. If the practice is closed, we will offer an alternative option so you can still be seen.
You can minimise any irritation caused by broken braces or long wires by covering the area with soft orthodontic wax until you can see us.