Risks of Orthodontic Treatment
Having made the decision to undergo orthodontic treatment, WE can achieve the best possible treatment result together, BUT I require your close cooperation to do so. Professor Johal and his team will provide you with detailed verbal and written care instructions, in the form of a pack, at the time of brace. It is important that you care for your brace, teeth and gums in order to achieve the best result and as such MAINTAIN regular check-ups with your dentist during the brace treatment
Brace treatment is NOT without its risks and they can include:
Permanent marks on the teeth or damage to the supporting gums through poor cleaning and care. Thorough cleaning as demonstrated to you at the start of treatment by Professor Johal and his team is crucial. Equally, avoid fizzy pops and excess juices, as they can be high in sugar and acid content, both of which are very damaging to your teeth.
Breakages: Avoid chewy, sticky foods or hard foods, as these can damage your brace. If an appliance breaks or becomes loose, it can cause pain and delay treatment. Rarely when components of the braces become loose or broken they can be ingested or inhaled. This is extremely uncommon but can necessitate medical treatment. If any part of the brace becomes loose, it is important to let the practice know and to seek repair to make it safe as soon as practical. If possible feel free to remove any loose part and inform Professor Johal.
Discomfort: Following fitting of your brace and occasionally after subsequent adjustment, whilst gentle forces are being applied to the teeth, this may cause some discomfort or occasional pain. This typically lasts 1-3 days and then eases off.
Root damage: When braces are used to move teeth, the roots can become shortened or blunted as a result of the treatment - this is called ‘resorption’. In the vast majority of cases, this is usually very minor and of no concern. Professor Johal will ensure this keeps to a minimum by using light forces and monitoring more carefully, in situations where the roots appear short at the start of treatment as these at higher risk.
Length of treatment: The total treatment time may be longer or shorter than estimated. Favourable or unfavourable jaw growth, a lack of patient co-operation, broken appliances and missed appointments are all important factors which could lengthen treatment time and affect the quality of the result.
Spacing: Adult patients not infrequently, following the straightening of the teeth, patients can observe the appearance of “dark triangles” between the teeth, below the contact points and above the gum. This is partially related to normal recession of the gums that occurs with aging. Professor Johal will make every attempt to correct this by undertaking to some reshaping between the teeth [interdental stripping] using fine polishing strips. In a few patients there can be extensive shrinkage/recession of the gums, which may necessitate your dentist placing a tooth-coloured filling material between the teeth.
Teeth move back: Following brace treatment teeth want to move back towards their crooked start position. In addition, we also know that teeth have a tendency to move throughout life. To help prevent this, professor Johal will provide you with fixed retainers [placed on the inside of the top and/or bottom front teeth], wherever feasible, and supplement them with a clear removable retainer, to be worn on a gradually reducing night-time basis. Co-operation in wearing these is essential. If you wish to maintain straight teeth indefinitely, you must wear retainers indefinitely.
Fixed retainers to the inside of the teeth.