The best part of my job is putting on and taking off braces. Both times, the patients are so excited they can hardly contain themselves. They are so excited that I have explained to them what will happen and how easy both processes are. Let me explain how we put on braces at our Thrive Dental offices.
Are there any shots involved in putting on braces?
No, definitely not. This is the first thing I tell patients. For some reason, many people think we are going to have to numb or sedate you to put on braces. I’m not sure where that myth started, but that is not true.
Do we have to drill the teeth to put on braces?
No again! There is no drilling and no dental anesthetic used to put on braces. I like to tell people that putting on braces is easy. The reason I tell them this is because…it is! If you have ever seen anyone play the game “Watch Ya’ Mouth,” it is just that.
We use cheek retractors to put them on. These cheek retractors keep your teeth nice and clean because if any saliva gets on the teeth while we put the brackets on, the bonding will be weak. If the bonding is weak, the braces will break off.
What material do we use to bond the braces?
After isolating your teeth, we use dental etch. This is a mild acid that creates these tiny micropores on your teeth.
We use the etch because it roughens the surface of your teeth. If you have ever painted anything, you know that if the surface is slick, you cannot keep the pain on the surface, and that’s why you have to either sand the surface or add a primer.
After using the etch, we add a little bond. This is a very liquid-like agent that acts as an intermediary between the tooth and the composite (glue for the brackets). It’s very watery and can seep into all the pores created by the etching.
Once the etch and bond are completed, we bond the braces with composite, similar to the material we use to fill cavities.
Once the braces are on, we cure them with a special light, and voila! You’re done!
Fast and Easy
Putting on braces is very easy. There is no drilling, filling, or needles involved. We use several different materials and dry your teeth before putting them on. People are so surprised by how easy and fast it is for me, an orthodontist, to put on braces. Contact us for more information or a free braces consultation!
