A
high percentage of teenagers request orthodontic treatment to achieve a confident smile and improved self image.
Usually by your 12th birthday most of your adult teeth have erupted. These teeth may erupt misaligned, crowded, with spaces, or in such a way that you are left with a poor bite. These issues cannot correct themselves and this is why you and your parents may seek advice from a specialist orthodontist.
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Fixed Metal Braces
A metal bracket is bonded to each tooth. A flexible archwire is fed through each bracket. Made of nickel titanium or stainless steel, this wire moves the teeth and requires changing every four to eight weeks.
Fixed metal braces may require the use of part-time accessories:
- Small rubber bands or ligatures to secure the archwire to the brackets.
- Elastics to help move teeth in certain circumstances.
- Teenagers will be able to choose from a colourful array of rubber bands and elastics.
- Headgear at night is occasionally required to help hold or move teeth into the correct position.
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Ceramic Braces
Subtle in appearance, they are so-called because the brackets, such as InVu, are made of off-white ceramic to blend in with your teeth.
Made of copper, nickel titanium or metal, the archwire is very fine and hardly noticeable.
Ceramic braces may require the use of part-time accessories; including:
- Small rubber bands or ligatures to secure the archwire to the brackets.
- Elastic bands to help move teeth, in certain circumstances.
- Headgear at night is occasionally required to help hold or move teeth into the correct position.
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Six-Month Braces
Six-month braces are fixed metal or ceramic appliances that are used to correct minor orthodontic irregularities that can be treated in a shorter time.
It is not specifically a different type of treatment but six-month braces can be very effective and cost efficient in certain cases.
Your suitability for six-month braces will be determined at your first consultation.
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Invisalign
We take a mould of your upper and lower teeth and fit you with a custom-made clear, removable aligner. A number of aligners will be required to completely straighten your teeth.
Invisalign technique may require the use of part-time accessories.
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Growth Modification Appliances
We use growth modification appliances in children where an imbalance between the upper and lower jaw is developing: where the upper jaw is outgrowing the lower jaw or the lower jaw is outgrowing the upper jaw.
Part-time accessories may include:
- Headgear to slow down the forward growth of the upper jaw.
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Retainers
At the end of your orthodontic treatment, you will be required to wear a retainer for a prescribed period of time.
At O’Donnell Orthodontics you can avail of a permanent wire retainer, a removable clear retainer or a removable Hawley retainer.
