Orthodontic problems, like crooked teeth, are often caused by your lips and tongue
While the bones in our jaws may be strong, over time the constant action of muscles around them can lead to an underdeveloped jaw and poor facial appearance.
Nearly 1 million people in the UK started orthodontic treatment in the UK last year and many of them are wearing braces. Our best value metal braces are anything but traditional (in the old fashion sense of the word).
The brackets are surprisingly small and you may benefit from our low-friction system which minimises discomfort as well as shortening treatment time.
Our range of braces gently move teeth into a position that help people in many ways such as:
- Improve your smile
- Straighten crooked, crowded or protruding teeth
- Close gaps between teeth
- Correct bite (so that the top and bottom teeth can meet)
Traditional Braces
Metal braces are the most well-known orthodontic treatment and they remain the most affordable way to improve your smile with reliable, long term results.
These are never off-the shelf solutions; they require a careful study of your mouth before a detailed treatment plan can be designed. The key measure of success is not simply where your teeth end up at the end, but whether they stay there.
Every mouth is different, and the secret to really good orthodontic treatment is understanding all the forces at play in your mouth now, and once your teeth have been moved into their new positions. It’s a balancing act.
Traditional braces are made of brackets, small squares on your teeth that act like handles, and wire that exerts pressure on the brackets to slowly move your teeth.
There are several types of brackets, most commonly stainless steel, and they have little elastic bands holding the wire, which is tightened periodically over 12 to 24 months. Sometimes springs might be placed on your wires between the brackets to open or close the spaces between your teeth.
Some braces don’t need elastic bands at all because the wire is fed directly through the brackets. This type of design not only speeds up treatment time, it can improve your comfort and reduce the number of times you need to see us through the course of your treatment because fewer adjustments are needed.
Modern metal braces are smaller and less noticeable than the devices most adults of a certain age remember, but they work in the same way. They apply continuous pressure over time to slowly move your teeth in a specific direction.
As your teeth move, your jawbone accommodates the new position of the roots. You’ll be asked to see your dentist about once a month over the course of treatment and afterwards we’ll monitor your teeth for a little bit longer to make sure they remain in a sustainable position.
Paula is an extraordinary Dentist, taking great care to make you feel at ease and giving additional time when needed to discuss your health and wellbeing in detail. I'd recommend her whole-heartedly.
