Procedure

The first step is to determine if braces are suitable for the patient. The doctor consults with the patient and inspects the teeth visually. If braces are appropriate, a records appointment is setup where X-rays, molds, and impressions are made. These records are analyzed to determine the problems and proper course of action. 'Typical treatment times vary from 6 months to one and a half years depending on the complexity of the case' There is no age restriction for orthodontic correction of teeth. It is always better to have the treatment done in the early years ( anywhere between 9-10 yrs)as the bone is still developing and is relatively less dense which enables it to sustain corrections better. However, we do perform orthodontic corrections on 50 year olds too.
Braces are available as metal and ceramic. A new form of ortho treatment is avilable which is known as Invisalign treatment or invisible braces. This can be done on patients who have some amount of natural spacing already in the mouth and require only minor changes.These consist of clear acrylic trays fabricated with orthodontic models and software to bring about the desired changes in the mouth..a new tray will be worn every month and since these are clear, patients can function normally wearing them throughout the day with no noticable appearance change as it does not involve metallic wires , brackets or bands.