Retainers are used after you have had your teeth straightened to ensure that they remain in their new straight position. It essential that retainers are worn as recommended by your Pittville Lawn Dental & Implant Clinic dentist in Cheltenham, in order to ensure you continue to enjoy your new, straighter smile.
There are 2 main types of retainer available:
A bonded retainer is fixed/bonded to your teeth and is not removable. It is fixed to the inside of your teeth so it is completely discrete. As bonded retainers are a permanent fixture, your teeth will stay in their new positions and will not be able to move back to where they were before. Bonded retainers do not require any special looking after, they are very easy to clean. You will simply need to brush your teeth as normal to make sure they stay clean.
Removable retainers can easily be taken out by the patient. The removable retainer functions in the same way as bonded retainers but they are not as discrete.
We recommend that you wear your retainer for 20-22 hours a day, and that you only take it out to eat, drink and brush your teeth.
Your local Cheltenham dentist will discuss your need for retainers, and advise how long you should wear these each day (for removable retainers). Should you have any other questions, please get in touch on 01242 225225.
Orthodontics
Who can benefit from orthodontic treatment?
At Portman, we have treated thousands of patients, aged from eight to 88 years old. There is never a point in life where we cannot move healthy crooked teeth into their ideal positions.
Orthodontics
Why are my teeth not straight?
There are many causes of overcrowding, gaps and crooked teeth. For some people it can be inherited or possibly acquired, either due to a habit (sucking of the thumb, prolonged use of a dummy), or because of the premature loss of milk teeth or adult teeth.
Orthodontics
What can be treated?
Orthodontic treatments have evolved enormously over the last 20 years. Now problems such as gaps between the teeth, crowded teeth, overbite (upper teeth covering the majority of the lower ones), open bite (upper and lower teeth almost don’t touch) and cross bites can all be treated.
Orthodontics
What will the impact of orthodontic treatment be?
Orthodontic problems can have a profound impact on a person and their social and professional life. Depending on the extent of a problem, you might even be too self-conscious to smile. Effective orthodontic treatment not only improves your appearance, but also goes a long way to improving your self-confidence.
Orthodontics
Should teeth be straightened for health reasons?
The correction of poor dental positioning also improves oral hygiene, as crowded or crooked teeth are often hard to clean properly. With such an improvement, the risk of gum disease for example – which can result in loss of teeth in extreme cases – is prevented.
Orthodontics
What other benefits does teeth straightening offer?
Orthodontic treatment improves chewing efficiency by re-establishing the correct relationship between lower and upper teeth, removing the difficulty you may have when chewing certain kinds of food, and so providing better nutrition.
In some cases, orthodontics can also prevent complications in the temporomandibular joint (the joint which joins the jaw to the skull). Chronic pain in the head, face, neck or ears, as well as dizziness, nausea and restricted ability to open and close the mouth can originate here.
If you're ready to book an appointment or would like to find out more about our practice, get in touch today.
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