Many patients with misaligned or crooked teeth are nervous about the prospect of having to get braces. Naturally, there are a lot of misconceptions and myths about braces involving the application process, aftercare and daily life with braces in general. If you’re thinking about getting braces to straighten your crooked teeth or correct a misaligned jawline, then you probably have a lot of questions.
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It’s important to make this decision with a clear head because for most people, getting braces is a big commitment. You might not realize how many little adjustments you’re going to have to make in your daily life until you actually get them. With that said, it’s also important to know that there’s a lot of misinformation masquerading as fact about what life with braces is really like. That’s why we’ve debunked a few common myths about braces in this article.
True or False: Braces set off metal detectors.
True and False. Actually, there’s a little truth to this statement. It all depends on the strength and settings of the metal detectors. Braces are made of tiny bits of titanium or stainless steel, which are very lightweight metals. As a result, most metal detectors won’t be able to detect them, but some might. If you’re planning on travelling any time soon, simply explain to the airport security that you have braces before going through the metal detector. They’ll be very understanding about the situation.
True or False: Your teeth will be straight forever without any further treatment or care.
False. While it’s true that braces are designed to straighten your teeth, you have to be committed to continued care even after they have been removed. Once your braces are taken off, your dentist will fit your teeth for a retainer that you’ll most likely have to wear for the rest of your life at night. Some retainers can be permanently affixed to the back of your teeth to prevent them from shifting back to their original positions. Teeth are especially prone to shifting in the weeks and months after the braces are taken off. After that, you’ll need to take special care to keep your permanent or semi-permanent retainers clean to prevent plaque buildup.
True or False: The application procedure is very painful and uncomfortable.
False. As with any dental procedure, you might experience some minimal discomfort while the braces are being applied because you have to keep your mouth open wide for a long period of time, but you shouldn’t experience any pain. If you do feel pain at any point during the procedure, it may be due to overly sensitive teeth and you should alert your dentist right away.
Keep in mind, that there’s an adjustment period after getting braces installed and you may find certain tasks a little more challenging, but your dentist will provide you with all of the information and resources you need to overcome this.
True or False: Fast Acting Adult Braces exist.
True. There is such a thing as Fast Acting Adult Braces (FAAB) and they’re mainly used by adults who want to straighten their teeth within a short period of time. Dental appliances that fall under this category include Invisalign and Six Month Smiles. These appliances are designed to quickly align teeth in as little as—you guessed it—six months to one year. The best part is that they’re discreet, so most people might not even realize that you have adult braces unless they take an extremely close look.
True or False: Your braces will rust over time.
False. Considering braces are made of metal and are located in your mouth where they’re extremely likely to come in contact with a lot of liquids, it’s perfectly understandable for people to believe this. However, braces are made from a titanium alloy or stainless steel, two very rust-resistant metals. That means that regardless of how long you have your braces—whether it’s six months or a few years—they’ll never rust. As long as you take excellent care of your braces, clean them on a regular basis and avoid eating hard foods like apples that could damage them, then there’s no reason why you should experience any discomfort or rusting.
True or False: The wires will need to be replaced frequently.
False. In fact, this is only true in certain extreme cases where very little progress is being made throughout the treatment process. You’ll need to schedule regular appointments with your orthodontist to examine the progress. If your teeth aren’t getting any straighter, then yes, your orthodontist may need to change the wire once in a while or a little more frequently to help move things along. However, the frequency of wire changes is determined on a case-by-case basis.
True or False: Braces are the only dental solution for straightening crooked teeth.
False. Thanks in large part to modern technological advancements in the dental industry, you now have numerous other treatment options to straighten your teeth. Alternatives to traditional braces include Invisalign, veneers, and tooth recontouring (usually only done on any upper teeth that are overlapping). Before deciding on any one of these alternative tooth straightening options, your general dentist and your orthodontist will need to thoroughly examine your mouth health and make a treatment recommendation based on that assessment.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your dental treatment, it’s important to bring them up with your orthodontist as soon as possible so they can be addressed.
At Princeview Dental Group in Etobicoke, our friendly and knowledgeable staff is committed to ensuring that you receive excellent dental treatment and that all of your needs are taken care of during every visit. We offer a wide range of dental treatments and procedures including teeth whitening, straightening, emergency dental care and also provide referrals to local orthodontists if requested or required.
If you have any questions or concerns about getting braces or any other type of teeth straightening procedure, please feel free to contact us!
