Like
in the visible orthodontic technique the appliance consists
of brackets that are bonded to the enamel of the teeth
and metal wires that are engaged in the bracket slot.
The brackets allow the fixation of the wire to the teeth.
The elasticity of the various alloys used for the wire
fabrication together with the tension of the wire on malpositioned
teeth create the required force for tooth movement.
The wire is maintained in
the bracket slot by elastic
or metal ties.
BRACKET BONDING
In order to achieve a perfect alignment of the teeth,
the brackets have to be positioned at the same distance
from the edge of each tooth, and the bracket slot
has to be oriented according to the long axis of
the tooth.
This very accurate positioning cannot be achieved
directly because visibility and access are difficult
on the lingual surfaces of teeth. The brackets
are first positioned in the laboratory on plaster
models, and then transferred into the mouth by
means of an elastomeric splint.
The so called « indirect » bonding
technique allows the bonding of all the brackets
in your mouth in a few minutes.
THE ADAPTATION
PERIOD
The brackets that have been newly placed in the mouth
require an adaptation period of about 20 days.
During this stage, the patient will experience:
Irritation of the tongue, the tip of which unconsciously
comes to rub against the brackets during the first day
of treatment.
Chewing difficulties when chewing hard food (only if
the upper arch has braces), thus fish and vegetables
are recommended at the beginning of treatment.
Mild speech disorders: the brackets on the upper arch
disturb the tongue rests on the teeth. « S »sounds
and whistling consonants can whistle more than usual
during the first hours or even the first days of treatment.
However, this will never be so pronounced that people
can no longer understand you.
You might be more or less affected by this adaptation
period, depending on your own sensitivity and on your
motivation.
The different protection materials we provide and our
availability to help you will minimize the discomfort
during this period.
THE MONTHLY APPOINTMENTS
Their length varies depending on the difficulty of the
orthodontic problem to solve, on the treatment stage
you are in, and also depending on whether the appliance
is in good shape or not. Generally, appointments are
given for 15 to 60 minutes.
TREATMENT TIME
For your personal problem, a personalised treatment plan
is needed.
In addition to braces, teeth extractions may be necessary
for your treatment, either in order to create space for
crowded zones, or to allow for retraction of flared teeth.
Sometimes, stripping of the teeth in order to decrease
their width can be used rather than extractions, and
rubber bands sometimes need to be worn during treatment
between the upper and the lower jaw.
The average treatment time is approximately 24 months
in cases where extractions are needed, and 12 to 15
months in cases without extractions.
STABILITY
Teeth are placed in a « corridor » between
the tongue, the cheeks, and the lips, which have a permanent
influence on the tooth position.
Teeth are « set « in the bone which can
develop and thus modify the way it holds them.
No orthodontist can guarantee the stability of orthodontic
treatment without a retainer.
We want the beauty of your smile to stay with you permanently
and to this end, we bond very thin metal wires (0,4
mm) on the invisible side of your front teeth, immediately
after removing the braces. These retention wires are
almost unnoticeable, and you will soon forget about
them.
The wire is maintained in
