How are braces installed and when to remove them?

Braces systems are aimed at correcting bite problems, restoring the correct position of all teeth in the upper or lower row. They consist of orthodontic teeth, ligatures, rings with locks and the base itself. As a result of installing a brace system, it is possible to correct the bite, remove the gap between the teeth, etc.

This procedure is necessary not only for aesthetic purposes. Incorrect positioning of teeth can lead to their faster destruction and also cause pain in the jaw. Let's take a closer look at how braces are made and how to understand that it's time to remove the systems?

How to install braces: main features and stages

The actual installation of the braces system is preceded by a number of procedures in the dentist’s office. The preparatory process consists of several stages:

1. Consultation with a specialist. It is important to schedule an initial consultation with a dentist in order to understand how necessary braces are in your particular case.
2. Computed tomography of the jaws. It is necessary to take the most accurate picture possible to visualize the location of the teeth. Based on this image, the orthodontist will subsequently select and install braces.
3. Sanitation of the oral cavity. You will wear the system for several years. And during this period it will not be possible to cure your teeth: put fillings, get rid of caries. Therefore, it is better to think through everything in advance. Absolutely all teeth must be treated and restored, which can also take several weeks or months.
4. Consultation with an orthodontist At this stage, braces are directly selected. Your doctor will determine which type is right for you. Often patients want to decide for themselves what type of braces to install, based primarily on aesthetic preferences. However, there are cases where ceramic or sapphire formats are the best solution. And there are those when metal ones will be the most effective, even if you don’t really like them in appearance.
5. The orthodontist takes several photographs in profile and frontal view, studies the structure of the jaw, gives a layout for making a 3D plaster model, and carefully examines panoramic photographs.

How are braces placed? The process itself is as fast and simple as possible. Especially compared to what you had to go through before. A special material is applied to braces to allow them to attach to the base of the tooth. The dentist connects all the elements with a wire arc, adjusting them to the required parameters. At the last stage, the doctor gives recommendations on oral hygiene, contraindications while wearing braces, and so on.

How long should you wear braces?

Many patients are interested in how long it takes to remove braces? No matter what age you are when you get braces, you'll probably be wondering how long to wear them. Moreover, even if the pain completely goes away over time, a slight discomfort will still remain.

And in general, you want to quickly enjoy the finished result and a perfect smile.

On average, the duration of wearing braces is 1.5-2 years. In some cases it can take up to three years. For minor deformations and especially in childhood, the braces system can be removed even after 1 year.

Because of this lengthy process, patients often insist on getting aligners instead of braces. They are removable systems that you can put aside if necessary. What is the difference between braces and aligners? The latter are recommended only for minor defects and only after consultation with an orthodontist. In severe, neglected cases with serious problems with bite, they will not cope with their task. Then you only need a bracket system.

At what age are braces placed?

Until what age can you wear braces? Previously, braces were most often installed in childhood until more serious problems with the bite appeared. And this is the most correct decision. The faster it is possible to correct uneven teeth, the fewer problems a child will have with them as he ages. Moreover, during the period of 14-15 years, bone tissue is quite elastic. And the restoration of the dentition is much faster.

However, there is no upper limit for installing braces as such. And, if the orthodontist allows this method of treatment, it can be started at 30, 40 years old, and even at a more mature age.

But there is still a lower limit - this method of treatment is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. It is necessary to wait until the enamel is strengthened and all baby teeth are replaced.