Not everyone is born with perfectly straight teeth and a properly aligned jaw. When you have crooked or crowded teeth or a misaligned jaw, it can cause pain, uneven wear on your teeth, or even trouble with being able to clean or floss. These issues can all lead to future dental problems, headaches, and a loss in confidence when smiling. When you have troubled teeth, sometimes the solution is to get a pair of dental braces. Ottawa’s Dr. Ian M. Milne favours dental braces to help straighten and position his patients’ teeth, whether they’re 4 or 74!
Some common reasons for getting braces:
Advancements in technology and materials have allowed modern braces to be less invasive, less visible and more comfortable to patients. And, in addition to having a smile that you’ll want to show off, giving you a bump in confidence, your oral health will also get a boost when you can properly clean your teeth and aren’t biting or chewing off-kilter. So, if you think you’re in need of dental braces in the Ottawa area, contact us for more information or to book an appointment.
Types of Braces
The most common bracket (or dental braces) Dr. Ian M. Milne uses is the Damon system. This is a self-ligating bracket that uses a “door” to hold the wire in place. He also occasionally uses a standard stainless steel bracket that uses coloured elastics to hold the wire in place. Both are very effective systems. Dr. Milne will use the best system depending on your case. We custom design braces individually for patients to match their needs. This will help with the proper alignment of your teeth. Once the braces are placed, we also explain to our patients in detail how they are supposed to maintain them.
The duration of wearing braces depends upon the individual patient’s dental condition. There is no standard timeline for wearing braces. It depends on several factors like age, dental condition, type of treatment you are receiving, etc. Braces are usually worn between 1 to 3 years for most individual cases. Adults need to wear braces for a longer duration than kids as their teeth are firmer and permanent.
Once your braces are in place, your orthodontist might ask you to visit the clinic every month to check your progress. We usually check to see whether the braces are applying the right amount of pressure on your teeth.
Once your braces are removed, the orthodontist will give your teeth a thorough cleaning. Some x-rays might be taken to examine the straightened teeth. In case your wisdom teeth appear after the braces removal, they might suggest you get the wisdom teeth removed to avoid your teeth from shifting position again. Part of post-braces care also includes wearing a retainer full time. Retainers help in letting your teeth set correctly and avoid shifting.
Schedule an Appointment
To learn more about dental braces in Ottawa, contact us today. We will be happy to assist you.
We also provide Invisalign treatment for those who are not comfortable with metal strips.