Teeth Straightening
What is teeth straightening?
If you’re bothered by crooked teeth, then teeth straightening treatment can straighten your teeth making you feel happier and more confident with your smile. Teeth straightening can also be beneficial if your bite is causing problems with the health of your teeth and/or gums.
Teeth Straightening
Sevenoaks dental appointments
By attending for regular dental appointments, as often as your dentist recommends, problems can be identified early and treated quickly, reducing the risk of you needing extensive and expensive dental treatment.
Our dentists will be able to provide you with a range of solutions to address any concerns that you may have. Prior to treatment you will be provided with a full and detailed treatment plan, showing you all the available options and the associated costs. The team at Sevenoaks Dental & Implant Centre will always ensure that you have sufficient information to make an informed decision on how to proceed.
What sort of tooth/bite problems would benefit from teeth straightening treatment?
Crowded Teeth – A very common problem where there isn’t enough space for the teeth to be straight and they look “crooked” and can be difficult to keep clean.
Protruding Teeth – Most often this occurs when the top teeth are much further ahead of the lower teeth than normal.
Reverse Bite – This is where the lower teeth bite in front of the top teeth. This can in some cases cause damage to the teeth and gums.
Missing Teeth – Some people fail to develop all their adult teeth. They either have gaps between their teeth or the baby teeth remain in place.
How long will it take to straighten my teeth?
As everyone has a different type of problem with their teeth, it is very difficult to give a timescale for teeth straightening treatment. Average treatment times vary from 6 months to over 2 years. Following your assessment, you will be given an approximate timescale for your treatment.
Will I need to have teeth removed?
Modern teeth straightening techniques can help to avoid unnecessary tooth extraction. Sometimes, teeth may need to be removed if they are unhealthy or if there isn’t enough space to straighten the teeth and correct the bite.
How often will I need to attend for appointments?
You need to be seen regularly, usually every 4 to 12 weeks to check the progress of your treatment. If you don’t attend appointments or repeatedly cancel your appointments, then your treatment will take much longer than expected.
Will teeth straightening treatment affect my ability to play sports?
A mouthguard must always be worn when you are playing contact sports. If you have a removable brace, it can be taken off for contact sports, remember to place it in the protective container. If you have a fixed brace, you should wear a mouthguard.
Will I need to wear a retainer once my brace is removed?
Yes, it is very important you wear retainers. If you don’t wear retainers your teeth would try to return to their original position and become crooked again. You’ll be advised how often and for how long you need to wear retainers.
What are the benefits of teeth straightening?
Teeth straightening makes it easier to clean your teeth – Straight teeth are easier to brush and floss. There is also more room for the toothbrush bristles to get between your teeth to clean them0020properly. When you clean your teeth well, you get fewer cavities and keep your gums healthier.
Teeth straightening allows you to chew more easily – Straight teeth allow you to eat well by chewing and biting correctly. You enjoy every meal without pain or discomfort, and you keep your mouth healthier for longer.
Teeth straightening helps to increase your self-esteem – By straightening your teeth, you are much more likely to have a beautiful, healthy smile that can make you feel more confident about yourself. The benefits are obvious: you increase your self-confidence, which can help you make new friends, improve your current relationships, and even give a boost to your career!
