Once you know when your braces will be removed you can read a few stories of other people’s experiences. You can also find videos of the procedure online. Remember everyone’s experience is likely to be a bit different.
It’s possible that your teeth may have moved around unexpectedly between trips to the orthodontist. Or, they may have not moved enough and require a little more time with the braces. Even a week or two can make a huge difference in the end result. If this happens, don’t get too dispirited. They will come off, it’s just a waiting game.
Don’t let your dental hygiene slack off when you see the end is in sight.
Just removing the braces could take only a few minutes. After the braces are off there is more work to be done by the orthodontist.
If you hear some cracking noises or other odd sounds, just know that this is absolutely normal. Don’t worry if you hear anything like this. If you have bands across individual teeth, the orthodontist will remove these with pliers. You will feel some pressure when the brackets or bands are removed but little or no pain.
Depending on your teeth, you may feel a little sensitivity during this process. You’ll be desperate to see your new teeth, but be patient!
In some cases retainers can be fixed, meaning that your orthodontist will bond a metal or fiberglass wire behind your front teeth. The orthodontist may make the mold for your post-braces retainer around a week before the day you get them removed. Or they might do it a week after.
The way a retainer works is that it literally “retains” the shape of your teeth’s new alignment by gradually removing the “memory” of how your teeth looked before so that your teeth cannot go back to their original shape. You will need to take good care of your retainer. This involves cleaning it properly, and not losing it. Make sure you wear the retainer as advised or you could undo all your good work. Wearing the retainer provided for you is also a way to help to reduce the pain.
The best way to deal with this is to speak and sing a lot so that you get used to the retainer. Do this, and your lisp should disappear in a few days. If you find you have some excess drool or saliva don’t worry, this is part of the adaptation and should go in a few days. Make sure you use your retainer according to your orthodontist’s indications. After a while, you will only have to use it during the night.
The newly exposed enamel will be extra sensitive and dry, so wait at least a month before any whitening or bleaching treatments. Speak to your dentist about a safe way to whiten any stains on your teeth left from the braces. There are many ways to whiten your teeth including some home remedies that do not use chemicals.
Book an initial follow-up visit for a couple of weeks after your braces are removed.
