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What is orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontic treatment involves wearing a brace (fixed or removable) to improve the appearance and function of your teeth.
What would I gain from treatment?
The benefits are wide-ranging: improving your smile and appearance, correcting crowded or crooked teeth, correcting your bite so your front and back teeth meet evenly, and reducing the likelihood of damage to prominent teeth.
At what age should I have treatment?
While childhood is often the ideal time, there's been a huge rise in adults seeking orthodontic treatment in recent years, thanks to advances in brace materials and techniques. If you have crowded or crooked teeth, or jaw strain from an incorrect bite, it could be the ideal option at any age.
Who carries out orthodontics?
We believe orthodontic treatment should ideally be carried out by a specialist orthodontist. Sorriso has its own in-house orthodontist ready to help.
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What would my treatment involve?
Very simply:
1. A consultation — our orthodontist examines your jaw, teeth and bite to recommend the best appliance for you.
2. A records appointment — X-rays, photographs and impressions, used to plan and later monitor your treatment.
3. Fitting your brace, usually in a single appointment.
4. Check-ups every 6–8 weeks to monitor progress and adjust the brace as needed.
5. Finishing treatment and fitting retainers to hold your teeth in their new position.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
This depends on the severity of your case — anywhere from a few months to two years, with most adults treated within one to two years.
While adult teeth move slightly more slowly (due to denser bone), results are just as predictable and long-lasting.
Will it hurt?
No, though you may feel some discomfort for up to two days after each adjustment, managed easily with recommended pain relief.
Appliances can feel strange to begin with as your teeth adjust.
Can I Eat with Fixed Braces
Yes!
But small dietary adjustments are needed like avoiding hard foods such as nuts, ice, and crusty bread and sticky foods like toffees and chewing gum.
After the initial adjustment period, most patients return to eating comfortably—simply with a little extra care.
What happens when my teeth are in the right position?
This is called the "retention" period.
Retainers — which may be removable and/or fixed — hold your teeth in their new position so the surrounding gum and bone can settle.
Is orthodontic work permanent?
After treatment, your teeth could move back towards their original position if you don't maintain your retainer.
It's crucial, and always advised, to wear your retainer life-long.
Can orthodontic treatment damage my teeth?
Only if you don't look after them properly. Braces themselves don't cause damage, but poor oral hygiene and too many sugary foods and drinks will. Brackets and wires can trap food, increasing plaque build-up — thorough cleaning is essential.
Regular visits with the hygienist are an important part of your care. They will gently and thoroughly clean around your braces, helping to maintain the health of your gums and protect the enamel of your teeth throughout treatment.
How do I care for my brace and teeth?
Keep up regular dental team check-ups throughout treatment, and clean vigilantly every day, including between your teeth where possible. Braces are delicate, so we'll show you the special techniques for your particular appliance.
Curious about the different types of brace available, how we care for your teeth during treatment, or what happens with retainers afterwards?
Go to our Procedure options page to find out about Fixed Braces, Lingual Braces, Clear Aligners, hygiene during treatment, and retention.
We will only place braces in healthy, well looked-after mouths, and your oral hygiene will be closely supervised throughout treatment. After fitting, we encourage a hygienist visit, where you'll receive a personalised cleaning plan and useful cleaning aids for your mouth and braces. We ask all orthodontic patients to keep up regular dental and hygiene visits with their general dentist throughout treatment — this holistic approach is essential for good oral health.
After treatment, your teeth are maintained with a combination of fixed and removable retainers. Fixed retainers are tiny wires fitted behind your front teeth — usually the first four to six teeth in the upper and lower arches. Retention is an integral part of your treatment; we offer to monitor your retainers for a minimum of 12 months after fitting. We believe this is the most important phase of treatment — the correct method and supervision of retention guarantees life-long results.
Fixed braces are normally made of metal, though most adults opt for the more discreet ceramic brackets.
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Procedure options
Clear Aligners
Smile makeovers