Braces work by gently exerting pressure on your teeth over time and moving them into their desired positions.

Braces are beneficial to both adults and children alike. The best age for children to begin orthodontic treatment varies depending on their individual needs. However, it is essential that a child has lost all of their milk teeth and that they have been replaced by their permanent teeth, prior to the commencement of treatment. Adult patients may require a longer treatment time, as they have denser bone structure than children; however, the results are just as effective. You are never too old for braces!

Modern braces look much less bulky and noticeable. Braces no longer just look like “train tracks” running across your teeth. Today, braces are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. We have metal as well as clear ceramic brackets which are bonded or attached the front surface of teeth using special dental cements and have a wire running through the brackets bound by a clear
elastic.

Your braces will be adjusted periodically so that your teeth move correctly and efficiently. The time required for orthodontic treatment varies from person to person; however, an average treatment time is approximately 12-18 months. After your braces have been removed you will need to wear a retainer. A retainer is a custom-made, removable appliance or a fixed lingual retainer that helps keep teeth in their new, straightened position after braces have been removed.
Retainers can also be used to treat more minor orthodontic problems.

We treat children and adults with

• All kinds of irregular, protruded teeth.
• Jaw discrepancies, cleft lip and palate.
• Weak gums and bone conditions requiring orthodontic correction.
• Missing teeth requiring orthodontic correction before replacement of teeth.
• Severe jaw problems needing orthodontic treatment combined with surgery.
• Aesthetic smile enhancements combined with orthodontic procedures.

Metal braces are the tried and tested method for teeth straightening, correcting the alignment of teeth and facial asymmetries. They consist of metal brackets which are bonded on the outer/front surface of the teeth. Since the braces remain in the oral cavity for an extended time duration, they are prepared from materials that possess sufficient strength and excellent resistance to corrosion. Therefore, conventional metal braces are made of high quality stainless steel or titanium alloys.

We also have coloured elastics, specially for our cool teenagers who love to flaunt their braces with style!

Ceramic or clear braces are an excellent ,esthetically pleasing alternative to Metal Brackets , made up of clear resin or ceramic alloys and are designed to blend in better with your natural tooth color. They consist of brackets and wires, just like regular braces, but the main difference is that they are much less visible than their metal alternatives.  They are virtually invisible, stain-free, strong, effective, inert & stable in oral conditions and comfortable to wear.

It should also be understood that a metal archwire is still necessary with clear ceramic braces. This wire runs across the teeth and is held in place with a bracket on each tooth via an elastic band. With ceramic braces, the wire is usually silver, although a frosted or white wire can often be used instead so that your braces are less noticeable.

Clear Aligners or Invisalign is a type of orthodontic treatment that helps to straighten teeth without the use of the typical metal braces. This Treatment involves wearing a series of custom-made clear plastic aligners that help shift your teeth into their proper position.

In this treatment the patient has to wear a set of Invisalign trays for two weeks at a time. Each tray is manufactured so that the teeth are slightly straighter than the previous tray.The teeth will typically move 1/10mm per tray. So when you put a new tray in, the teeth in the tray are slightly straighter than your teeth. These trays then put pressure on your teeth at certain predetermined points, and over the course of two weeks your teeth will move so that they match the tray.

While this is a really good treatment option, there are certain situations where clear aligners will not work very effectively, which is why it’s important to start your treatment with a free exam at our office. The exam we will determine whether or not you are a good candidate for the aligner treatment. A key to remember is this treatment works for teens and adults.

• Kids that still have baby teeth, or adult teeth that still have to grow in a lot do not qualify.

Few Other considerations which need to be kept in mind are :

• Aligner Trays can be lost or misplaced requiring replacements, which could lead to additional costs.
• Patients with severely crooked teeth are not always good candidates for Invisalign.
• The process could take too long or the method may not fully align the teeth.