Orthodontics Cork

Orthodontics simply refers to the straightening or correcting of tooth positions. The word comes from ancient Greek orthos, “straight” and odontos, “tooth.” Today, orthodontics is a highly specialised area of dentistry, so not all dentists may provide orthodontic treatment for their patients.

Specialist orthodontists at Bandon Dental provide orthodontic treatment for patients. It seeks to correct the position of teeth to ensure long-term dental and oral health.

Throughout our lives and through stages of dental development, our teeth are prone to grow irregularly, which can lead to crooked or misshapen teeth, bucktooth (malocclusion), or an irregular bite. Orthodontic treatment is a treatment that involves straightening or aligning the teeth.

Many forms of orthodontic treatment, but not all, involve using appliances fitted to the teeth, such as braces, retainers, and aligners. Generally, orthodontic treatment can take 1-3 years, depending on the complexity of the tooth positioning and the skill of the orthodontic dentist.

Orthodontics seek to improve your dental health, but there are some dangers to be aware of. Braces and retainers can cause more plaque and food to accumulate in your mouth, which means you’ll need to maintain good oral and dental hygiene when wearing braces. Moreover, orthodontic treatment should always be performed by a qualified and experienced dental professional.

Unfortunately, orthodontics is not guaranteed to permanently correct the position and alignment of your teeth. It may be possible that your teeth become crooked or misaligned after receiving treatment. Generally, orthodontic treatment will provide lasting dental and oral health since teeth typically do not alter their alignment drastically.

Braces are most commonly recommended for children aged 9–14, but sometimes adults may need braces to realign the position of their adult teeth. Generally, dentists will recommend children’s braces for children under 12.

An orthodontist focuses more on correcting your bite and the alignment of your teeth. An orthodontist will be trained as a specialist once basic dental training has been completed.

Most patients will experience minor discomfort after having braces fitted. The sensation of having braces tightened is unusual, but any discomfort soon subsides. In most cases, you won’t notice any discomfort after a week of wearing your braces.

Braces apply constant pressure to the jaws and teeth to change their position and push them back into a proper alignment. Brackets are glued to the teeth themselves, allowing the teeth to follow the archwire as they slowly realign.

For most patients, it shouldn’t take longer than 2 hours to have braces fitted. However, fitting time varies depending on the type of braces you’re looking to have applied to your teeth.

This varies from patient to patient. Some people may only need to wear braces for 12 months, while others may have to wear them for more than 2 years. You’ll need to visit your orthodontist regularly to have your braces adjusted.  

The cost of retainers in Ireland varies. Bonded retainers cost €150. Get in touch with our dentist in Cork to find out more.

Keeping your retainers clean is fairly simple. You should remove them each morning and rinse them thoroughly under running water. This will get rid of any surface debris and bacteria. Avoid using anything abrasive to clean your retainers. Furthermore, never clean your retainers with hot or boiling water.

Most patients will need to wear a retainer for around 4 months after having their braces removed. However, some may need to wear a retainer for up to 12 months. Retainers need to be worn all day, and you should only remove your retainers to clean them.

As well as orthodontics, dentists in Bandon offer a full range of adult and paediatric dentist treatments. Speak to us about dental bridges, fillings, Invisalign, teeth whitening and dental crowns. We also offer emergency dentist appointments and dental hygienist routine cleans.