Metal Braces Bournemouth - Dorset Orthodontics

An effective long-term solution to straightening your teeth and correcting your bite is orthodontics. Orthodontics is a subspecialty area in dentistry that focuses on aligning and straightening teeth using wires and brackets, applying gentle pressure to the teeth to move them into a particular position. The discipline has advanced over decades and today treatment is a lot faster and more comfortable than it was in the past.

Here is an overview of orthodontics:

Patients who have problems with their bite and the way their top and bottom teeth line up against each other are good candidates for orthodontic treatment.
Impressions, photos and x-rays are taken at the start of treatment to determine the course of action.
Brackets are bonded to individual teeth and wires clip onto them that gently guide the teeth into position over time.
Good oral hygiene habits are essential during treatment and regular visits are required for check-ups and adjustments.

Life benefits

Straighter teeth are healthier teeth, as there are no gaps for plaque to build up in over time.
Having an attractive smile will have a positive effect on your confidence.
Orthodontics is a long-term investment in your oral health.
Thanks to fixed permanent retention you can be assured that your teeth won’t move after treatment is completed.

Fixed Metal braces

Despite innovations in removable braces and fixed lingual braces over the past 20 years, fixed standard braces remain a mainstay of orthodontic treatment, and for good reason: they are reliable, safe, predictable and, with modern systems, can be less conspicuous than they once were.

The fixed standard brace assembly uses brackets affixed to the surface of the teeth with wire running through the brackets to apply force, causing gradual movement over time.

Our in depth assessment and diagnosis enables us to form a detailed and highly accurate picture of how to move your teeth to achieve this balance.

Advantages of fixed standard braces:

We can get teeth to move three dimensionally to a greater degree of accuracy than is possible with many removable systems
Many removable appliances such as Invisalign use high force over a short range. Although it might seem like this would cause teeth to move faster, the opposite can be true. Too much force can cause issues with the underlying bone, slowing down the movement of teeth and potentially damaging their roots
Fixed standard braces use lower force over a longer range, reducing the risk of damage to the teeth and encouraging faster and more controlled movement

Once fitted, fixed standard braces will remain in place from anything from six months to three years, although an average treatment length would be one year to 18 months. For some people, it might be too difficult to live with a prominent appliance so they might want to consider clear braces as a less visible alternative. There are more discreet options available too, such as fixed lingual braces, and these are all things your specialist orthodontist will discuss with you in your teeth straightening consultation.

Case Studies

RB -14Y

A male patient, aged 14y at the start of the treatment, with Class I skeletal bases on an average angle pattern.

Dentally, there was anterior crowding with a lack of space for upper permanent canines and deep-bite.

Treatment