Two of the main goals of Orthodontic Treatment are:

1. Straighter teeth
   If you’re bothered by crooked teeth, then orthodontic treatment can straighten your teeth making you feel happier and more confident with your smile.
2. Improve your bite
   Orthodontic treatment is beneficial if your bite is causing problems with the health of your teeth and/or gums.

Orthodontics is the specialist branch of dentistry which is concerned with the growth of the teeth and jaws. Treatment involves appliances (braces) which are used to correct problems with the teeth and the bite. In recent years there have been huge advancements in brace technology particularly with regard to discrete braces.

• All Orthodontists are qualified dentists
• It takes at least 3 years of postgraduate training to become an Orthodontist.
• At the successful completion of their training, they join the Specialist List for Orthodontics of the General Dental Council
• Once they are on the Specialist List, they can then call themselves “Specialist Orthodontists”

Crowded Teeth – A very common problem where there isn’t enough space for the teeth to be straight and they look “crooked” and can be difficult to keep clean.

Protruding Teeth – Most often this occurs when the top teeth are much further ahead of the lower teeth than normal.

Reverse Bite – This is where the lower teeth bite in front of the top teeth. This can in some cases cause damage to the teeth and gums.

Missing Teeth – Some people fail to develop all their adult teeth. They either have gaps between their teeth or the baby teeth remain in place.

Your dentist can refer you . Alternatively, you can arrange an appointment to see Angus for an opinion if you’re concerned about your teeth.

The orthodontic practice is fully private and doesn’t provide NHS Orthodontic treatment.

Before deciding on which brace treatment would benefit you, you will need to have a full assessment of your teeth and bite which will include X-Rays, 3D scan of your teeth and photographs. Angus will then explain to you the options which would be suitable for your needs to give you the smile you want.

Healthy teeth can be moved with braces at any age.  A healthy, beautiful smile can improve self-esteem, no matter what your age is.

There are a number of options if you don’t wish your brace to be visible:

1. Clear braces (Damon Clear) – instead of metal brace on your teeth you can have clear ceramic braces which are much better looking. Virtually all patients can have this type of brace.
2. Clear aligners (Invisalign) – these are removable clear plastic trays which gently straighten your teeth. Most patients can have this type of brace.

Speak to Angus about your options to see which brace options are suitable for your treatment.

As everyone has a different type of problem with their teeth, it is very difficult to give an timescale for brace treatment. Average treatment times vary from 6 months to over 2 years. Following your assessment you will be given an approximate timescale for your treatment.

Modern orthodontic techniques can help to avoid unnecessary tooth extraction. Sometimes, teeth may need to be removed if they are unhealthy or if there isn’t enough space to straighten the teeth and correct the bite. The extractions are carried out by your dentist.

Soon after the brace is fitted, patients often say that their teeth feel “tight”. For the first few days the teeth may feel sore and tender. Don’t worry, the teeth are just starting to move and it is normal for the teeth to feel like this. Painkillers can help reduce the discomfort in the early days of your brace treatment and the pain will lessen within about a week.

The brace can sometimes feel like it is rubbing the lips/cheeks/tongue at the start of treatment. You will be given some wax which you can place on the brace to make it more comfortable.

You need to be seen regularly, usually every 4 to 12 weeks to check the progress of your treatment. If you don’t attend appointments or repeatedly cancel your appointments then your treatment will take much longer than expected.

Generally, brace treatment should not affect your ability to play a wind instrument.
The British Orthodontic Society has an advice sheet for musicians wearing removable or fixed braces, please click on the link below;

Advice for Musicians considering braces »

A mouthguard must always be worn when you are playing contact sports. If you have a removable brace, it can be taken off for contact sports, remember to place it in the protective container. If you have a fixed brace, you should wear a mouthguard. The British Orthodontic Society has a section of the website for advice on mouthguards, please click on the link below:

Mouthguards for contact sport »

Contact the practice to arrange an appointment: Fareham: 01329 226470 and Winchester: 01962 855 151. Please don’t wait until your next appointment, unless it is within a few days time.

Yes, it is very important to continue to see your dentist for regular check-ups throughout your orthodontic treatment.

Yes, it is very important you wear retainers. If you don’t wear retainers your teeth would try to return to their original position and become crooked again. You’ll be advised how often and for how long you need to wear retainers.