Most children or teenagers go to an orthodontist like Candlewood Dental Centre to have braces fitted to their teeth. It is natural for them to feel very nervous about the whole thing, wondering what will happen and whether it will hurt. This is natural since they can easily equate this trip with going to a dentist, where they may have had some fillings done.

However, when you go to the dental specialist to assess your teeth for treatment, the good news is that it won’t cause any pain, at least on the first consultation. This is the time when you will have –

• x-rays
• photographs
• digital scans or
• perhaps plaster moulds are done,

often by a dental hygienist rather than an orthodontist.

The second part of the dental checkup is when the orthodontist examines all these things, assesses the shape of your face, teeth, gums and jaw, and tells you precisely what is needed. They will give you all the details you need, and you can ask questions about things that might worry you. You may want to consider this for a while before making any decisions. However, if you or your child needs braces, it is best to go ahead quickly with the treatment to get it over and done with.

Booking a session early is essential, especially if you need to have the treatment started during the school holidays. These times are at a premium, and book out quickly.

When the braces are fitted for the first time, the orthodontist will usually glue metal brackets to the teeth joined with wire, which is tightened gradually over the weeks to ensure the teeth come into alignment. There may be some discomfort initially, as the wires must be tight. Taking painkillers for a few days is fine until you get used to the feeling.

The orthodontist or hygienist will discuss what you must do to look after your new braces. Careful cleaning is essential to prevent decay. They will tell you which foods and drinks to avoid and how to clean the braces. Not all props are of metal.

You may have transparent braces or aligners that are the same colour as your teeth and so not very visible in your mouth. These options are often used for adults who need treatment for crooked teeth and don’t want to wear a mouthful of metal. Braces are much less chunky than they used to be, so they’re more comfortable and less invasive.

The main thing to remember is that when your teeth are straightened, your smile will be a lot more attractive, and you won’t have crooked teeth any more.