What it is
Small brackets, in metal or tooth-coloured ceramic, are glued to each tooth and joined by a thin wire. Every six to eight weeks Stavros adjusts the wire. Braces can do things aligners cannot, especially for bigger bite problems, and they work whether or not you remember to wear them.
Who it is for
Teenagers from about 11 or 12, and adults. A first look at around age 8 helps us spot problems worth treating early.
Does it hurt? Honestly
Fitting takes an hour and does not hurt. The teeth ache for three or four days afterwards and after each adjustment; soft food and pharmacy painkillers help.
Whatever we are doing, raise your left hand and we stop. How we work with nervous patients
Afterwards
- Avoid hard and sticky food: toffee, hard nuts, crusty bread ends.
- Use the little brushes we give you around each bracket.
- Wear a mouthguard for contact sports.
