What to Expect When Your Braces Come OffCosmetic DentistryUpdated on Nov 4, 2014 View more like this | Visit SAN DIEGO, CA | Contact Crystal Clear Digital Marketing |
Getting your braces off is an exciting time in your life, after all, you've only been waiting years for this moment. So now that the wait is over, and you are on your way to your final orthodontist appointment, just exactly what should you expect once your braces come off? Well, for starters you can expect a straighter, healthier smile, but that's not all to expect.
Most likely, during your last visit, your orthodontist has informed you that your braces will be removed during your next visit. Keep in mind, this is only a speculation, because if your teeth have not moved enough, or have moved unexpectedly before your final appointment, it could postpone the removal of your braces.
How Long Will It Take To Get My Braces Removed?
To get your braces removed, generally takes about one hour.
Will There Be Any Discomfort?
You should experience little pain when having your braces removed, however, you will hear a loud clipping sound, and you will feel a bit of pressure as the orthodontist removes the brackets. Once your braces are removed, and you are wearing your retainer, the retainer may hurt a bit.
What Will Happen When I Get My Braces Removed?
First, the orthodontist will use pliers to remove the brackets from your teeth. They do this by clipping the curve back on the braces, which gently breaks the bond between the braces and your tooth. Once the brackets are loose, they are pulled off along with the wire. Your orthodontist will then carefully scrape and clean the glue from your teeth using a high speed hand disk and polisher to gently smooth the teeth. And lastly, your orthodontist will take a mold of your teeth for your new retainer.
What Will My Teeth Look Like Once My Braces are Removed?
The condition of your teeth, once your braces are off, varies greatly on how well you took care of them while wearing your braces. If you cared for your teeth properly, then expect great looking teeth, however, if you did a poor job, you may have tartar marks or "white scars" on your teeth. This can be removed with a dental cleaning.
After My Final Visit, Am I Finished Seeing My Orthodontist?
Almost all patients require the use of a retainer once their braces are removed. The retainer helps hold the teeth in their new position, therefore, you will still need to see your orthodontist for retainer visits. Some orthodontist recommend wearing your retainers for years, sometimes indefinitely, after having your braces removed to prevent your teeth from slowly shifting out of place.
How Do I Care For My Teeth Afterwards?
Your gums and teeth will be a little sensitive after your braces are removed, so don't rush out and eat previously forbidden foods such as crunchy or chewy, sticky foods. Instead, continue your regular eating habits, then slowly work crunchy and chewy foods back into your diet to allow your teeth and gums time to adjust.
Most likely, there are areas of your teeth that have been neglected while wearing your braces, but if you have incorporated good dental hygiene, you may not have these issues. However, if you find that you have "white scars" or tartar build up, you will need to schedule a dental cleaning to remove the tartar and white spots from your teeth. You may even want to look into teeth whitening, however, wait at least a month or so before scheduling bleaching or whitening treatments to give your sensitive teeth time to time to adjust.
Adjusting To Your New Retainer
Once your braces are removed, you will usually be required to wear a retainer. A retainer is a mouthpiece that is made of plastic or rubber with metal wires on the outside of the teeth. The retainer is needed, because even though the braces have successfully strengthened your teeth, your teeth have not completely settled until the gums, bone and muscles have adapted to the change. Retainers are usually required to be worn every day for the first few months, except when eating or drinking, then gradually adjusted to every night for about 10-12 hours.
When you first wear your retainer, it may make you drool or salivate a bit. This will usually go away within the first day or so. You may also find it difficult to speak, or you may speak with a lisp. Practice speaking, singing and reading aloud to help your mouth adjust to working with the plastic and wires. This will usually go away in a day or so.
When taking your retainers out to eat, avoid leaving them on a napkin. This is the most common way that retainers are thrown out or lost.
There are three types of retainers:
• Essix Retainersare made of clear plastic and resembles teeth whitening trays.
• Hawley Retainers are molded to your mouth and kept in place by a wire.
• Permanent Retainers are attached to the back of the teeth.
The type of retainer you will need will be determined by your orthodontist.
Now that your braces are off, you will still need to practice healthy hygiene habits such as brushing, flossing and scheduling regular dental cleanings in order to maintain your beautiful smile.
Most likely, during your last visit, your orthodontist has informed you that your braces will be removed during your next visit. Keep in mind, this is only a speculation, because if your teeth have not moved enough, or have moved unexpectedly before your final appointment, it could postpone the removal of your braces.
How Long Will It Take To Get My Braces Removed?
To get your braces removed, generally takes about one hour.
Will There Be Any Discomfort?
You should experience little pain when having your braces removed, however, you will hear a loud clipping sound, and you will feel a bit of pressure as the orthodontist removes the brackets. Once your braces are removed, and you are wearing your retainer, the retainer may hurt a bit.
What Will Happen When I Get My Braces Removed?
First, the orthodontist will use pliers to remove the brackets from your teeth. They do this by clipping the curve back on the braces, which gently breaks the bond between the braces and your tooth. Once the brackets are loose, they are pulled off along with the wire. Your orthodontist will then carefully scrape and clean the glue from your teeth using a high speed hand disk and polisher to gently smooth the teeth. And lastly, your orthodontist will take a mold of your teeth for your new retainer.
What Will My Teeth Look Like Once My Braces are Removed?
The condition of your teeth, once your braces are off, varies greatly on how well you took care of them while wearing your braces. If you cared for your teeth properly, then expect great looking teeth, however, if you did a poor job, you may have tartar marks or "white scars" on your teeth. This can be removed with a dental cleaning.
After My Final Visit, Am I Finished Seeing My Orthodontist?
Almost all patients require the use of a retainer once their braces are removed. The retainer helps hold the teeth in their new position, therefore, you will still need to see your orthodontist for retainer visits. Some orthodontist recommend wearing your retainers for years, sometimes indefinitely, after having your braces removed to prevent your teeth from slowly shifting out of place.
How Do I Care For My Teeth Afterwards?
Your gums and teeth will be a little sensitive after your braces are removed, so don't rush out and eat previously forbidden foods such as crunchy or chewy, sticky foods. Instead, continue your regular eating habits, then slowly work crunchy and chewy foods back into your diet to allow your teeth and gums time to adjust.
Most likely, there are areas of your teeth that have been neglected while wearing your braces, but if you have incorporated good dental hygiene, you may not have these issues. However, if you find that you have "white scars" or tartar build up, you will need to schedule a dental cleaning to remove the tartar and white spots from your teeth. You may even want to look into teeth whitening, however, wait at least a month or so before scheduling bleaching or whitening treatments to give your sensitive teeth time to time to adjust.
Adjusting To Your New Retainer
Once your braces are removed, you will usually be required to wear a retainer. A retainer is a mouthpiece that is made of plastic or rubber with metal wires on the outside of the teeth. The retainer is needed, because even though the braces have successfully strengthened your teeth, your teeth have not completely settled until the gums, bone and muscles have adapted to the change. Retainers are usually required to be worn every day for the first few months, except when eating or drinking, then gradually adjusted to every night for about 10-12 hours.
When you first wear your retainer, it may make you drool or salivate a bit. This will usually go away within the first day or so. You may also find it difficult to speak, or you may speak with a lisp. Practice speaking, singing and reading aloud to help your mouth adjust to working with the plastic and wires. This will usually go away in a day or so.
When taking your retainers out to eat, avoid leaving them on a napkin. This is the most common way that retainers are thrown out or lost.
There are three types of retainers:
• Essix Retainersare made of clear plastic and resembles teeth whitening trays.
• Hawley Retainers are molded to your mouth and kept in place by a wire.
• Permanent Retainers are attached to the back of the teeth.
The type of retainer you will need will be determined by your orthodontist.
Now that your braces are off, you will still need to practice healthy hygiene habits such as brushing, flossing and scheduling regular dental cleanings in order to maintain your beautiful smile.
