Some of us, if not most of us are obsessed with ensuring we are always at our best in every situation. We want to look and appear perfect, and we would do whatever is within our power to ensure we achieve this. We desire to have the best smiles in the world. The kind of smiles that will set eyes rolling and all the cameras flashing our way when we walk into a room. However, sometimes, we are faced with some challenges, usually with teeth imperfections such as malocclusions and misalignment. One sure way to correct this is by use of braces. Braces have gained popularity and are used majorly for the correction of tooth defects. Maybe you have considered getting yourself a fitting. Or maybe, you have thought your son or daughter needs to get braces to straighten their young teeth. At Nairobi sterling dental clinic, we offer braces fitting to all at friendly prices. Here are a few things you need to know about braces before you get yourself some.

What are braces?

 Braces are fixed appliances which are attached to the teeth with an adhesive material. They are used for treating virtually all types of orthodontic problems. They consist of the following parts.

• Brackets- They are the metallic parts that are attached to the teeth. Brackets have slots on each side.
• Connective wires- They are threaded through the slots on the brackets. These are used to connect the brackets.
• Rubber bands- They hold the wires to the brackets. They come in different colours and help add some aesthetic value to the braces.

How do braces work?

When we think of our teeth, we see these fixed structures, attached to the jaw bone and sticking right out through the gums. We consider teeth to be permanently fixed and think it is hard for them to move. However, this is very far from the truth. Our teeth are not permanently fixed, as we imagine. Braces work by exerting constant pressure on teeth and jaws to change their position. The brackets glued to the teeth hold the archwire in place which places pressure on the teeth. Over time teeth move into the desired position.  The soft tissue that surrounds the teeth and bone are periodontal ligaments. These ligaments hold teeth in place and can stretch or compress as teeth move. When braces move a tooth to the right, the ligament on the right compresses and new bone forms on the left to fill the gap.

The types of braces.

There are various types of braces, available at our dental clinic. These include:

• Metal or traditional braces- are made of metallic material. They have a bracket attached to the front side of teeth or bands that fit around each tooth. They also have flexible wires or archwires to hold the brackets or bands together and into position. Some may also include a rubber band to link the brackets to the wire, while also increasing the pressure on the teeth.
• Ceramic braces- They are a special form of traditional braces, only that they are made of ceramic that matches tooth colour. This helps lower the conspicuousness of the braces and make them less noticeable. Apart from ceramics, they can be made from steel or clear material.
• Clear aligners- They are also called invisible braces. These are clear plastic trays that fit snugly onto teeth. They are removable and should be taken off when eating, brushing, or dental flossing. We advise our clients to wear them for at least 22 hours a day for them to work well.
• Lingual braces- these are bracing whose brackets are fitted on the back side of teeth, facing the tongue. They are less noticeable as compared to other types, but more uncomfortable and harder to maintain.

Things you should know about braces.

What is the process of braces fitting?

To starts with, your orthodontist will create an impression of the teeth and soft tissue to make the braces. An impression is essentially a cast of your teeth that helps orthodontists study the relationship between the teeth and jaw. You will need to adequately clean their teeth before getting braces so that they properly attach to the teeth. We recommend that you have professional teeth cleaning before getting the braces. Additionally, you will be required to brush and floss before the appointment. The actual procedure should take about 90-120 minutes. A retractor will be placed in the mouth to keep it as dry as possible while the brackets will be placed on each tooth with a special adhesive. After all the brackets are on, the wire will be threaded through them. The wire will most likely be held to the tooth with the help of tiny rubber bands.

You can have braces at any age.

There is a common misconception that braces are only useful for teenagers. This is far from the truth. Braces are useful for anyone at any age. They can be used by children, teenagers and even adults. They are however more effective on children and teenagers. This is because, during childhood and teenage, the soft tissues of the mouth are easy to change and accommodate changes. They allow the movement of teeth into their new positions easily and adapt to the new locations. However, in adults, the tissues are fully grown. Although the movement of teeth is still possible, it’s just not so easy and not so fast . It takes more time to achieve an effective repositioning in teenagers, as compared to adults. This however shouldn’t discourage you from getting braces in your adulthood. You will get the results you need. It might just take longer than a teenage son’s or daughter’s treatment.

Braces aren’t just for aesthetics.

Yes, we have to admit it, braces do look nice on teeth, especially the ones with beautiful colours that blend well with your teeth. Furthermore, the impact of the braces is also pleasing to look at. You will be proud of your newly straightened and well-arranged set of dentures and might flaunt a few more smiles than you are used to. However, beauty is not the only advantage of braces. Braces help to correct misaligned teeth, which also helps avoid other teeth defects. Malocclusions make it hard to brush teeth, which increases the likelihood of getting cavities, tooth decay as well discolourations. Braces will help to correct malocclusions, making it easier to brush your teeth and avoid these problems. We can easily say that braces help save your teeth from defects and even loss.

Braces may hurt or be painful at times.

The saying that beauty is pain can sometimes apply to braces. Well, fitting braces isn’t a completely pain-free experience. Our specialists however try to make it as painless as possible. You might however consider some painkillers to relieve you of the pain after the procedure. It will however be uncomfortable, due to all the activity going on in your mouth. In addition to this, it may take some time for you to get used to having braces on your teeth. You might feel some slight discomfort. Furthermore, the brackets may at times get in contact with your gums or inner mouth tissues. At times, the braces may be loose and may get into contact with the soft tissues of your inner mouth.  They may injure the inner mouth parts, and cause slight bleeding or swelling, which are uncomfortable or painful sometimes.

Brushing and flossing with braces may be difficult.

Braces are meant to put a stop to dental defects. They may however create a new challenge for you if you aren’t too careful. Food can easily get stuck between the braces and the teeth. if not well removed, these particles can accumulate here, leading to the formation of plaque. Plaque is responsible for teeth discolouration, cavities and even tooth decay. We advise our patients to ensure they brush their teeth well, and regularly. Furthermore, we issue you with dental pricks to help remove food particles underneath the braces. You could also get a proxa brush to aid in eliminating food under the braces. In addition, we also recommend careful flossing of teeth. You could use a waxed thread for flossing since they give the best results.

Handling loose braces.

Sometimes braces can get loose, and may even injure your mouth. However, dealing with loose braces may be handled in a variety of ways, depending on the situation at hand. If your braces have become loose, you need not worry, because dealing with a loose bracket is easier than you might think. It is always a good idea to immediately inform your orthodontist if a brace becomes loose, or if you are having any other issues related to your braces.  Feel free to contact your orthodontist at any time for help. You could also drop in at their office for retouching and re-tightening.

In conclusion…

Braces are an important tool in ensuring healthy teeth. Moreover, they also help ensure we are as beautiful as ever and ensure we have the best smiles. Braces not only help in improving our aesthetics and appearance, but they also help increase our self-esteem and confidence. You will feel more confident and appreciate yourself more if you are in a room with people who admire your smile or the look of your straightened teeth. It is therefore important to consider getting yourself braces, to help solve most of your dental problems. If you are looking for the best place to have your braces, and you are around Nairobi and its environs, look no further than Nairobi Sterling Dental Clinic. We are a world-renowned dental clinic, located at the Park Suite Building in Parklands, Nairobi. Visit us here today for your braces as well as other dental services. You could also contact us to book an appointment or make enquiries about us.