Once you can bite together correctly, you can eat more comfortably and care for your teeth and gums more easily and your smile will benefit immensely.
Most courses of orthodontic treatment begin with a referral from a general dentist to a specialist. Depending on what treatment is needed, most patients are seen by a specialist in a local practice or by a consultant in hospital. In the hospital we mainly treat more complex cases which need treatment involving other dental specialities. Some less complex patients will be seen by post graduate students who are training to be a specialist or consultant orthodontist.
Test and treatment
Every patient needs tailor made treatment, planned by the orthodontist and agreed with you, the patient. In order to decide what treatment is required for you, your orthodontist will carry out a full assessment of your teeth which is likely to include x-rays, impressions (moulds of the teeth) and photographs. Treatment can take more than two years so it is important that you are happy from the outset with what is recommended. Brace are almost always needed. Those which are used most often are:
A Fixed Brace – often known as “train tracks”. Brackets are glued onto the teeth and linked by wires. Small elastic hoops are often used to hold the wire in position. The wires exert gentle pressure to move the teeth into a new position.
A removable brace – this is sometimes used for correcting a simple problem, such as moving a single tooth or expanding the dental arch. Sometimes they are used together with fixed braces.
Functional appliances – these are used to take advantage of the growth of the jaws and improve the way the upper and lower teeth meet. They fit onto both upper and lower teeth and hold the lower jaw forward. They are mostly removable but should be worn full-time.
Retainers – at the end of treatment, all patients need to wear retainers to hold their teeth in the new position. These can be removable or fixed and are a vital part of treatment.
Our Orthodontics specialists often work closely with our Maxillofacial Surgerycolleagues, whose work includes managing diseases related to the mouth, teeth and jaws.
Referrals
Patients can request to be referred to this service through their dentists.
Contact
For further information, please call 0161 291 4886