Introduce to Tooth Repair When Wearing a Fixed Brace
Fixing teeth with a fixed brace is a long process, but it is worth every moment spent in the dental office and in front of a mirror with a brush in hand. But it is possible that caries also appears on teeth with braces
Fixed braces are one of the most useful inventions in modern dentistry, and orthodontics is much more than aesthetics. Fixed braces, ie the infamous braces and wires, are still the main choice of orthodontists for the correction of stubborn teeth.
Orthodontic therapy lasts for about two years because it takes so much for the teeth and jaws to change their position in a natural way and fix themselves in a new position. The time interval for wearing braces depends on the patient’s age, the condition of the teeth (their position), the care of the braces, oral hygiene and also wearing rubber band as per instruction. That’s why a good doctor will explain what rubber bands do on braces, because that way patients will have more motivation to wear them correctly and the therapy won’t last longer than expected.
Anyone who wears braces knows that they must brush their teeth after every meal and But what you miss some brushing, food sticks on your braces and rubber bands, and annoying caries still gets on one of your teeth?
Treatment of dental caries with braces
Caries is the most common dental problem and is the decay of teeth. Caries is caused by acid secreted by bacteria inside the dental plaque (deposits of food residue, mucus, epithelium and bacteria that develop on the tooth surface 24 hours after brushing).
Acids corrode the enamel creating a hole through which bacteria continue to thrive, and when they reach the central part of the tooth, the pulp, pain and sensitivity to warm, cold, sour and sweet are felt.
Caries is usually treated by removing or sanding and filling the cavity with amalgam or white composite. In the initial stages of caries, it can be remineralized by cleaning and multiple application of fluoride.
When repairing caries in a patient with fixed braces, the procedure is the same as in a patient without braces if the caries is located on the part of the tooth where there is no bracket. If the caries is close to the brace, it is removed in our office, the tooth is repaired and the brace is put back in place so that there is no fear of prolonging the orthodontic therapy.
However, if your orthodontist is away from your dentist, you first need to visit the orthodontist to have the wire removed and the brace removed, then to the dentist for caries repair and again to the orthodontist for the return of the wire and brace.
The procedure is much faster if the dentist and the orthodontist work in the same office.
Wisdom tooth extraction with a fixed brace
The pain that many people associate with wisdom teeth is not something that anyone wants to feel, especially when a fixed brace is still involved. But the good news is that despite the braces, you can remove the wisdom tooth without any problems.
Although for many this news is not the happiest, it is advisable to remove the wisdom tooth as early as possible as this will actually increase the likelihood of success of orthodontic therapy. The teeth will straighten faster and more correctly if the stubborn wisdom tooth is not pushed from the inside.
Removing the wisdom teeth will reduce the pressure and the teeth will have more room to align, while also reducing the risk of gingivitis. Repair when removing a wisdom tooth in a patient with braces takes the same time as in patients without braces, so prepare cold compresses and light food and do not forget about regular hygiene.
Can you get dental implants if you have braces?
Although it might sound weird, dental implant and braces are often combined in a therapy. So, if for any reason you need an implant during orthodontic therapy, your doctor will discuss the best possible solution for your case. Most usually, if you already have braces, the best option would be to plan the placement of the implants ahead and install them after you remove the fixed appliance.
Calculus cleaning with braces
Calculus on teeth is an excellent habitat for bacteria that cause caries and it is advisable to remove it. Calculus is actually a mineralized plaque and cannot be easily removed by brushing, but must be “broken” with an ultrasound machine in the office.
It is often yellowish in color, so patients mostly remove it for aesthetic reasons, but removing limescale is an excellent prevention of caries. And yes, tartar removal can be done without problems on teeth with braces, without fear of reducing the effectiveness of braces.
The only difference is that the scale around the braces is removed, because it cannot settle under it anyway because it is connected to the tooth surface. The same is the case with the sandblasting process, it can be done around the lock without any problems without any need to remove the braces.
Teeth whitening with fixed braces
If discoloration of teeth occurs during orthodontic therapy, they can be bleached in the office even if the patient wears a fixed brace. But most dentists still recommend waiting until the end of orthodontic therapy with whitening. One of the reasons is that the whitening procedure can make the teeth sensitive to cold, warm, sweet, and even brushing in some patients.
In addition, it is possible that the shade of the tooth plate that has been bleached will not match the shade of the tooth that was under the lock. Evening out the shades is demanding in this case and requires visits to the dentist, so it is recommended to wait with whitening.
Teeth with braces are not much different from teeth without braces and can be normally recovered and treated, and even beautified without complications. Even if it is necessary to remove a part of the braces for the procedure, we will do it for you in our office immediately without prolonging the procedure or orthopedic therapy.
