ProviderBraces for a Healthier Bite
A time-tested method for straightening teeth, conventional braces have been used for decades to successfully align smiles.
Braces are made up of three basic elements: brackets, a flexible arch wire, and sometimes elastic bands.
The brackets are fixed to the teeth to hold the arch wire in place. The arch wire then places pressure on the teeth, which moves them into the desired positions. Elastic bands can be used to apply more force in specific directions.
Braces are a highly versatile orthodontic treatment option that can be used to correct many different types of orthodontic issues, ranging from moderate to complex, for children, teens and adults of all ages.
Modern braces also come in a number of streamlined options that provide a cleaner, lower profile look for those with aesthetic concerns.
Types of Braces at Clayton Orthodontics
The style of braces recommended for you will depend on a number of factors, such as your specific orthodontic condition, your budget, and any aesthetic concerns you may have. Our clinic in Halifax offers the following options:
LightForce™ 3D Printed Braces
At Clayton Orthodontics, we are pleased to offer LightForce braces – one of the newest innovations in orthodontic treatment. LightForce 3D prints your brackets to fit the unique contours of each individual tooth, giving your orthodontist total control over how individual teeth are repositioned.
Made from polycrystalline alumina, these clear brackets blend in with the natural colour of your teeth, providing you with a more discreet appearance.
Traditional Metal Braces
Known for their efficacy, durability, and affordability, traditional metal braces have been used for decades to treat orthodontic issues. However, they have come a long way from the mouth-full-of-metal you may have seen in the past. Designed to have a lower profile and be more comfortable than previous iterations, traditional metal braces use arch wires that are fed through metal brackets. These metal brackets are affixed to the teeth to apply gentle pressure, shifting teeth into place.
The wires are usually made of metal alloys, and have been optimized to provide sufficient force to straighten the teeth, while being as comfortable as possible for the patient.
Translucent Braces
Although they are referred to as 'translucent', these braces are not actually see-through. The brackets are made from a tooth-coloured ceramic, which creates the 'translucent' effect and makes them less visible than metal braces.
While translucent braces are a great option for many, they're not ideal for everyone. Ceramic is not as strong as metal, so more complex orthodontic conditions may be better resolved with traditional metal braces.
Coloured Braces
Coloured braces are the ultimate in personalized orthodontic style! With coloured braces, the archwire is held firmly in place by tiny elastic bands that are available in a wide variety of colours.
These little elastics are changed every four to six weeks as your braces are adjusted. This means that every few weeks, you can change the colour of your braces to match the season, your mood, your favourite sports team, or even choose multiple colours!
Flexible In-House Payment Plans
At Clayton Orthodontics, we believe that finances should never be a barrier to improving your smile. To help patients manage the cost of orthodontic treatment, we offer zero-interest payment plans and low down payment options.
Living with Braces
While braces may take a bit of getting used to at first, you will quickly develop new routines around them. Here are some of the elements that will affect your day-to-day life during your braces treatment:
Adjustments
Adjustments are a crucial component of orthodontic treatment with braces. Every four to eight weeks, you will have to visit our office and have your braces adjusted. This will help keep teeth moving according to your treatment plan. If your braces are not kept tight, they will not move properly.
You may feel some discomfort in the hours or days after your adjustment appointments as your mouth adjusts. This discomfort is temporary, and best managed with over-the-counter painkillers.
Elastics
Elastics can be used with traditional braces to apply additional force to certain areas of your mouth. This guides tooth movement and aids in jaw re-alignment.
Unfortunately, elastics do not keep their strength for very long, and will need to be changed out at least twice a day. Many of our patients find that making it a habit to change their elastics after each meal makes it easier to remember.
Always follow your orthodontist's instructions regarding your elastics. Contact our office if you find that your elastics break frequently, or if the hook for your elastics breaks off.
Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is even more important when you have braces. Braces create all sorts of small spaces and crevices where plaque can build up and lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and discolouration.
To keep your teeth and gums healthy during your braces treatment, be sure to brush after each meal using a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. A Proxabrush® can be helpful as it is a specially shaped toothbrush designed to clean out the spaces between braces. You can also use a Waterpik™ or air flosser to help flush out stubborn food particles.
You should also floss frequently. Just feed the floss down through the space between the arch wire and your teeth, pull the end gently towards the back of the tooth, and draw the floss up and down between the teeth.
Eating
Unfortunately, there are some foods you have to avoid while undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces.
Chewy or sticky foods (like caramel or liquorice), hard or crunchy foods (hard candies, nuts, or whole raw vegetables), and foods you have to bite into (like corn on the cob or apples) should be avoided while you're wearing braces. You'll also need to avoid sugary drinks.
Cutting food into small pieces and chewing carefully will allow you to enjoy more variety during your treatment, but always defer to your orthodontist's recommendations.
Mouth Guards
If you're an athlete, there's no reason for braces to stop you from playing the sports you love. But if you want to continue getting out on the field, court, or rink during your treatment, we recommend wearing a sports mouth guard to protect your teeth, your mouth, and the braces themselves from damage.
Retainers
After your orthodontic treatment with braces (or clear aligners) is complete, you'll need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth in their new, straightened positions while the jaw bone around their roots reforms and hardens.
Post-braces treatment, you will probably need to wear your retainer for most of the day. Eventually, your orthodontist will tell you to wear it less and less, until you only have to wear it at night.
Questions About Braces? We've Got Answers.
If you're considering orthodontic treatment with braces, you likely have some questions. Read our braces FAQs to learn more about how they work, and their benefits.
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How much do braces cost?
The cost of orthodontic treatment can vary considerably based on the severity of the misalignment and the type of braces used.
Your orthodontist will provide an estimate for the cost of your treatment at the outset.
If you already have an estimate from your orthodontist, you can use our cost calculator to determine your approximate monthly payments.
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Who is a candidate for braces?
Most children, teens and adults with healthy teeth and gums are good candidates for braces. That said, certain people with significant recession or oral health conditions may not be candidates. Your orthodontist will be able to determine if braces are a good fit for you.
Since braces come in a variety of styles and can address a wide range of moderate to complex orthodontic issues, there are very few limits to who can benefit from braces.
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What are my options for low-profile braces?
At Clayton Orthodontics, we offer translucent braces as a low-profile braces option. Translucent braces have ceramic brackets that match the colour of your teeth, allowing them to blend in with your smile.
We also offer LightForce braces. If you choose LightForce, the brackets are 3D printed to fit the unique shape of each of your teeth individually, providing a perfect fit. These brackets are also translucent, so they will not be very noticeable in your mouth.
Clear aligners are also an option for low-profile orthodontic treatment, and our clinic offers both Invisalign and 3M™ Clarity™
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How long will I need to wear braces?
The average treatment time for braces is 12 to 24 months, but this can vary significantly from patient to patient. How long your orthodontic treatment lasts depends primarily on the type and severity of your misalignment. Mild or moderate cases are quicker to treat than more complex ones. Your orthodontist will be able to estimate how long your treatment will be during your consultation.
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How long until I get used to my braces?
Typically, it takes a week or two to get used to your braces after they are first put on. You may find it hard to resist poking them with your tongue as you get used to how it all feels.
You may also notice that certain areas of your mouth rub against the braces and get sore. Orthodontic wax can be placed on the braces in these areas to help create a smoother surface with less friction as your mouth adjusts. Again, this discomfort is temporary, and after a couple of weeks, you won't notice it anymore.
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Do braces hurt?
There will almost certainly be some discomfort for you at different points of your journey with braces. Just keep in mind that any pain you feel is temporary, and usually resolves in a few hours or days, and your improved smile will be forever.
Discomfort from braces usually happens for a week or so after you first get them and for a few hours or days after each adjustment appointment as the teeth begin to shift. Patients tend to describe it as a sensation of pressure or an ache. This type of pain is usually easily managed with over-the-counter painkillers until it has passed.
If your pain or discomfort is caused by your braces rubbing against the inside of your mouth, you can use orthodontic wax on the braces to create a smoother surface.
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Can adults get braces?
Yes, adults can get braces! More and more adults are opting to undergo orthodontic treatment that they missed out on when they were younger to improve their oral health and the appearance of their smiles.
Many of our adult patients prefer the lower profile, more streamlined look of translucent ceramic braces, LightForce braces, Invisalign, or 3M Clarity clear aligners. These options allow you to straighten your teeth without the metal look of traditional braces.
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Can kids get braces?
Yes, children as young as seven years old may be candidates for braces in some cases. Certain developing misalignments and bite problems can be more easily treated when children are young, as we can work with and guide their oral development rather than undoing issues that are already established.
With all that being said, we take a very conservative approach to braces for children and only prescribe them when there is a serious risk of future orthodontic problems.
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Do I have to brush more with braces?
It is a good idea to brush your teeth more often than you normally would when you are undergoing treatment with braces. It is recommended to brush your teeth at least after each meal throughout your braces treatment.
Oral hygiene becomes more important than ever while you're wearing braces because the braces themselves create nooks and crannies in which food particles and plaque can get caught.
To avoid developing cavities (not to mention tooth discolouration and bad breath), extra vigilance with your oral hygiene is essential.
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How do I floss with braces?
Flossing with braces may seem complicated, but it's fairly straightforward once you get the hang of it!
To floss your teeth with braces, feed the floss down through the space between the arch wire and your teeth. We supply floss threaders for our patients to make this easier. Pull the end of the floss gently towards the back of the tooth and draw the floss up and down between the teeth. Then, repeat this process between each pair of teeth.
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What can I eat while I'm wearing braces?
Eating with braces requires some extra care, but you should still be able to eat many of the foods you love.
You'll need to avoid hard, crunchy, or overly sticky/tacky foods. In general, it's important to chew carefully while wearing braces and take your time.
Avoid biting into foods like apples or corn on the cob (cut your apple into bite-sized pieces and shell your corn instead!), and avoid chewing gum completely.
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Can I still play contact sports if I wear braces?
We generally recommend avoiding any sports that involve direct blows to the face as a matter of routine while wearing braces. Even with a mouth guard, sports like boxing are not advisable.
Other contact sports, like football or rugby, may be possible if you wear a mouth guard, but we advise extreme caution in these cases as well.
For most sports, though, you should be able to keep playing with no problem. If you want to continue getting out on the field, court or rink during your treatment, we recommend wearing a sports mouth guard to protect your teeth, your mouth, and the braces themselves from damage.
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Braces vs. clear aligners: How do I choose which is best for me?
Braces and clear aligners are both effective orthodontic treatment options, but their differences may affect their suitability for different individuals.
Factors to consider when choosing between braces and clear aligners include your personal preferences and lifestyle, aesthetics, the nature and severity of your misalignment, and cost. You can learn more here.
Your orthodontist will assess your specific case and recommend the best treatment option for your needs.