Braces Before and After
To Help You
Understand the Treatment You Need

And now, braces before and after pictures will help you understand what the treatment can do for your smile. The results are nothing short of amazing. Here's how they work.

Orthodontic appliances were first used in the late 1800s. They were cumbersome, uncomfortable devices. But they worked. The idea of using slight continuous pressure to move and realign a tooth is credited to J N Farrar, although a number of different dentists came up with similar ideas at about the same time.

Teeth naturally move when pressure is applied. This is how room is made for wisdom teeth and other molars.

In most cases, misaligned teeth are family traits. Accidents, injuries or the shape of a person's mouth can cause overbites or under bites. They all seem to run in the family. The problems are corrected in the same way, regardless of the cause.

An arch-wire is attached to push the tooth in the desired direction. This creates stress on something known as the periodontal ligament. Stress on the ligament causes a change in the blood supply reaching the tooth.

What happens next is a complicated biological response that leads to remodeling of the bone. Basically, bone is added to one side of the tooth and reabsorbed on the other side.

The on-going process is invisible to the naked eye. That's why most orthodontists take braces before and after photos. You might not remember what your smile looked like before the process was completed.

There are many different kinds of braces today. The traditional wire and stainless steel are still used in some cases, usually only when there are severe misalignments.

The clear plastic and ceramic varieties are popular, because they are less noticeable when a person smiles. They work to correct all but the most severe problems.

There are things to do to prepare for braces before and after their removal. Before treatment begins, you may need to prepare yourself for the cost of treatment. The national average is around $5000.

Your orthodontist should be able to tell you how long treatment will take. Research suggests that the average duration is over two years, although it may take six years to complete the treatment.

You will be given instructions for care during treatment. Afterwards, you may need to return for additional follow-up checks. Your regular dentist should be able to handle those.

Although there are some complaints, most people are happy with their braces before and after. They are especially happy with their new smiles.

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