BRACES FOR YOU
RISKS AND BENEFITS OF ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT
PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY
Benefits
Orthodontic treatment may have overall benefits in:
· the appearance of your teeth
· the appearance of your face
· making it easier for you to maintain good oral hygiene
· reducing the risk of trauma to prominent teeth
· making chewing easier
Not all of these benefits will be applicable to you. There is a great variation in each individual's response to treatment, and this, on occasions can affect the final result.
Risks
As with any form of treatment there are some risks associated with orthodontic treatment. Whilst every effort is taken to minimise these, you can help by following treatment advice carefully and fully.
1. Tooth decay and enamel damage can occur if there is frequent intake of sugary or acidic foods, and/or if tooth brushing is not maintained at a high standard. This damage can occur at any time, but is more likely when fixed appliances are worn. In addition to good tooth cleaning, we recommend the use of a daily fluoride rinse. IF, AFTER WARNINGS YOU STILL FAIL TO KEEP YOUR TEETH AND BRACES CLEAN IT MAY BE ADVISABLE FOR YOUR TREATMENT TO BE DISCONTINUED LEAVING YOU WITH AN UNSATISFACTORY RESULT.
2. Orthodontic tooth movement involves light pressure being placed on the
teeth. In some patients changes such as root shortening may occur. The
causes of this are not well understood. In the majority of cases where this
occurs there are no significant consequences.
3. "Head-gear" injury. Some patients are required to wear "head-gear". If not worn correctly this could cause injury. It is imperative that the written instructions are followed when using a headgear appliance.
4. Some people may experience jaw joint discomfort during orthodontic
treatment. This is usually a transitory phase, and, indeed, such symptoms
can occur in patients wearing orthodontic appliances.
5. Some aspects of orthodontic treatment are particularly prone to post-
treatment changes. Following fixed appliance treatment retainers will need to
be worn. However, throughout life the position of teeth alters. Growth
changes occurring around the time that the "wisdom" teeth erupt can lead to
crowding up of the lower front teeth. This occurs irrespective of whether
orthodontic treatment has been carried out previously.
6. Medical history - general medical problems may influence orthodontic
treatment. It is important to inform your orthodontist of any changes in your
medical health.
7. Failure to complete treatment, or to follow instructions can leave you with an unsatisfactory result. Before starting any orthodontic treatment be sure that you understand what is involved and that you are prepared to cooperate fully right until the end of treatment. You will be given an estimate of the length of time your treatment will take, but occasionally treatment can take a lot longer than expected, this is especially true if you repeatedly break your brace.
Rupinder K Sidhu BDS MFDS MSc MOrth
43 Bedford Place, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 2DG
T: 02380 220 008 E:
Company Number: 06867199