Hey, you are wearing dental braces!

By bogaert

 

I have heard this so many times in recent weeks that I decided to write a blog about my braces! I put here the Q&A's, instead of answering the same questions again and again. Hope this will answer all questions, if you have other questions just let me know and I will update.

  

Blue Braces

The first braces (blue)

Question 1: I can not remember your teeth were not lined up nicely. Why do you need braces?

The incisors and canine teeth (all front teeth) are indeed nearly lined up. The major reason that I have braces is not the alignment of the front teeth. The problem is more in the back. The molar teeth tilted during the last years. The wisdom molars made the lower molars being tilted to the inside and the upper molars being tilted to the outside. The results is that I did not have a proper bite, called malocclusion. This problem is known as crossbite.

Leaving my teeth as they were would not change a thing over the next years. However, it would result in an early loose of the molars, they would just being knocked down and fall out. I decided to go again through orthodontic correction to solve this problem. At the same time the front teeth will be adjusted and hopefully nicely lined up.

Orange-Black Braces

The second 'Halloween' braces (orange/black)

Question 2: Shouldn't this have been done during your childhood?

I had orthodontic correction over 8 years for a reverse bite (lower teeth are in front of the upper teeth) of the front teeth (known as mandibular prognathism (progenism)). I had removable braces of all kinds, putting my front teeth as they should be. At that time I had no wisdom molars, and not the crossbite problem.

Question 3: Why do you have a secondary arch of wires?

The second wire is called torque spring, that is what I learned so far. No clue what it is needed for. I will ask and put the answer.

Question 4: How long do you have to wear the braces?

No clue, as it all depends on how fast the teeth can be rotated, tilted, and shifted to their correct position. Best guess today is around 2 years.

Question 5: Is it painful?

The first four weeks were painful, do not remind me to that period. the first week I had pain from the orthodonic spacers between the molars, then three weeks of pain due to the eight molar bands. Nowadays, I would call it a factor of (big) discomfort, in particular when eating or speaking. The braces create also noise on my voice, unpleasant while public speaking or during a call.

Question 6: You can eat easily?

Eating is not that easy, few problems when the food is soft and there is no need to chew. The easiest to eat are smoothies and ice cream. Nearly impossible to eat is meat.

Question 7: US braces looks thinner. Why are yours different? (frequent question from US colleagues)

Different types of brackets exist, in different materials such as ceramic brackets, clear brackets, and in different sizes. Apparently not all brackets have the same possibilities. My orthodontist had to use brackets that allow changing the position / angle of the teeth in all three dimensions. Smaller brackets do not provide these possibilities, rather limited to simpler alignments.

Question 8: Why have you chosen those colors?

My first braces had blue elastics bands, just because blue is my favorite color. My second braces are orange-black, chosen because of Halloween this time of the year.