by Orthodontic Gallery on Orthodontics and Braces.
Find us today
128 Woodford Avenue
128 Woodford Avenue
Call us today
020 8551 9336
020 8551 9336
Do Braces Hurt? | 6 FAQs Answered Honestly!
Posted by: Jodie Blades Diploma Level 3 in Dental Nursing
Medically reviewed by: Dr Anthony Lam BDS (Hons), MSc (Lond), MOrth RCS (Edin) Specialist Orthodontist and Clinical Lecturer at Guy's Hospital, London.
For many patients, there is a fear of the unknown when it comes to braces. Let us reassure you; Orthodontics is one of the more gentle branches of dentistry. There are no injections or needles or numbing. Your first consultation will be completely pain-free. Our orthodontists will examine and measure your teeth and jaws. You’ll likely receive an x-ray but again, this is totally pain-free. Before your ‘Bond-Up’ we will need to take photographs and impressions of your teeth, there’s no pain at this appointment either. The little braces squares (brackets) are glued to the surface of your teeth in a very particular place. In order for your orthodontist to see all of your teeth, and to keep them dry a cheek retractor will be used. The teeth are then cleaned with a gel to make sure the glue we used is as sticky and as effective as it can be. We want the bracket to stay in place for the duration of your treatment. Your teeth will be rinsed and dried a few times, a bracket placed on each one and a blue light will be used to set the glue. This doesn’t hurt at all! The wire that is attached to the brackets that were just fitted always wants to spring back to its horseshoe shape. Therefore, the thin wire will apply a very gentle force on all of your teeth to try and bounce back to its original shape. As your teeth are held in your jaw bone by a very small ligament (this acts as a shock absorber so that we don’t smash and crash our teeth when we chew) your teeth are likely to feel sore, bruised and achy for up to 1 week after the brace is fitted. If you are concerned we would advise you take a painkiller that you would normally take for a headache before your brace is fitted; To ease into this initial application of pressure. (Always follow the dose instructions on the packet). Because your cheeks are used to sitting next to soft, smooth teeth – it can be a bit of an adjustment to sitting against brackets. Your soft tissues adapt unbelievably fast. But, there can be one or two brackets that cause irritation and that can take a bit longer to adapt. We will give you clear, soft wax to cover the troublesome bracket to alleviate any rubbing. Top Tip! Make sure the bracket is totally dry before sticking on the wax – hold your cheek out of the way and give it a blast with a cool hairdryer! Don’t use tissue; it shreds! Don’t use a towel; the loops can get caught on the corners of the bracket! The pain after adjustments will not compare to when you first had your brace fitted. Your ligaments will now be stretched to allow the teeth to move. However, each time your brace is adjusted there is a potential for you to feel a bit more pressure on one or all of your teeth. While this is usually everyone’s favourite appointment, some patients can be a little nervous about having their brace removed. To get the brace off we have to ‘debond’ the small patch of glue on the back of the bracket. We do this with a special tool that holds the bracket and gently clips it off. You may dislike the feeling of pressure; But there will be no pain and before you know it, your brace will be off! We’ll make sure to clean any leftover glue off your teeth; Again you might feel some pressure as we do this, but it won’t be painful. The most painless thing about our iTero Scans & Consultation is; they are Free!Do Braces Hurt?
Do Braces Hurt When They’re Fitted?
Do Braces Hurt After They’ve Been Fitted?
Do Braces Hurt Your Cheeks?
Do Braces Hurt When They Are Adjusted?
Do Braces Hurt When They’re Removed?
Types of braces
find out more
Before and Afters
find out more
Testimonials
find out more
Free iTero®
Scan
find out more
