There’s really no escaping the fact that dental braces are not exactly what you would call one of life’s true pleasures. It is highly unlikely that anybody would choose to have braces fitted and wear them long-term if they could avoid them. Unfortunately, dental braces will continue to be of significant importance for millions of people. At least that is, those who are interested in having their teeth straightened and aligned beautifully.
In reality however, while braces may not be the most joyful of prospects, they do not need to be nearly as unpleasant as some people think. Generally speaking, when and where any patient is told they will need to wear braces, they already seem to know quite a lot about orthodontics in general. Or should that be, they think they know a lot about orthodontics and braces – the truth often proving to be quite to the contrary.
So as is the case with most things, it’s a good idea to stick with advice you can trust – advice from the experts.
With this in mind, what follows is a brief introduction to just a few common myths and misconceptions on the subject of dental braces, which really could have done with being ousted by now:
1 – In Order For Braces To Work, They Must Be Tight And Painful
While there may have been some truth to this particular misconception in years gone by, things have changed exponentially over recent decades. There was a time when the use of extremely stiff wires was standard with dental braces, which in turn meant that rather heavy pressure was placed on the teeth at all times, resulting in pain and discomfort. These days however, quality dental braces feature wires that are much more flexible and exert much less pressure on the teeth. Which in turn means that while the braces still do a fantastic job, they are not nearly as uncomfortable and are certainly not painful. The days of braces having to be painful in order to work are well and truly over.
2 – Tighter Is Better
Contrary to popular belief, having your braces tightened as aggressively as possible will not in fact necessarily have a beneficial impact on your treatment. It’s often assumed that the tighter the braces are, the quicker they will get the job done and so the quicker you will be able to take them off. In reality however, braces that are too tight can have a detrimental impact on both the teeth themselves and the surrounding tissues. While it’s necessary to have at least some force in place to move the teeth appropriately, it needs to be monitored and managed very carefully to avoid damage. Long story short – tighter is most certainly not better.
3 – Braces Are Ugly
Once again, this particular misconception may once have had some truth to it, given the fact that braces in the 70s, 80s and even much of the 90s were not exactly inspiring to look at. It might not be true to say that they were ugly as such, but at the same time they were not particularly attractive. These days however, it is perfectly possible to have braces fitted which are for the most part entirely invisible. You may be able to see traces of them up close, but as far as the vast majority of people are concerned, they will have absolutely no idea that you are wearing braces at all. So if you’d prefer your orthodontic work to remain a secret, you need only ask!
4 – Quality Braces Are Too Expensive
While it’s true to say that the most advanced invisible braces on the market may once have been extremely expensive, costs have come down exponentially over recent years. The reason being that what was once the newest and most advanced technology on the market is now pretty much the standard, used by the vast majority of leading dentists. Which in turn means that if you couldn’t afford the high-quality invisible braces you needed some time ago, there’s every chance they will be well within your budget right now.
5 – I Can Expect To See Results Almost Immediately
One of the biggest problems faced by so many people who are new to the idea of braces is that of making the assumption that results will be visible in the early days. Which is precisely why they set themselves up for enormous disappointment, when even over the course of several weeks or months, the gaps between their teeth do not appear to be closing up at all. Contrary to popular belief however, this doesn’t mean that the treatment is not working. Instead, it is often a case of braces being used to first make sure the teeth are in alignment, before moving onto the process of closing gaps. Which is why even when it looks like there is little to no progress being made, chances are the truth is actually quite to the contrary.
6 – After Using Braces, My Teeth Will Be Permanently Straight
Unfortunately, even the most successful treatment using the most advanced braces in the world cannot guarantee that the patient’s teeth will remain 100% straight permanently. The simple fact of the matter is that a thousand and one factors with regard to the mouth, jaw, gums, bone structure and other factors specific to the patient may lead to teeth once again moving out of place in the future. Nevertheless, to continue seeing an orthodontist on a regular basis is to ensure preventative measures are put in place to make sure this doesn’t happen.
7 – My Dentist Can Give Me An Exact Date When The Treatment Will Be Completed
Last but not least, it really isn’t until treatment with braces begins that any dentist has any real idea how the patient’s teeth will cooperate. In some instances, treatment takes considerably less time than expected, while in others it can be an extremely lengthy and on-going process. As such, you cannot expect your dentist to give you a concrete date by which your braces can be removed – at least not until the treatment process is well underway.
